First Practice of the Season

A first-day practice built around establishing standards and culture before installing any real system — introductions, conditioning baseline, core fundamentals, and clear expectations for the season ahead.

90 minutes

All coaches

Ages 13-15

1Team Meeting — Expectations & Standards

Warm-up · 10m

2Dynamic Warmup & Conditioning Baseline

Warm-up · 12m

17s (Baseline Sprints)

3Ball-Handling Fundamentals

Skill work · 12m

Pound Dribble Series Two-Ball Rhythm

4Shooting Form Baseline

Skill work · 12m

Form Shooting Ladder

5Defensive Stance & Slides Fundamentals

Drill · 15m

Defensive Stance & Slides Closeout & Contain

6Finishing Fundamentals

Drill · 10m

Mikan Drill Contact Layups

7Small-Sided Scrimmage — Get a Feel for the Group

Scrimmage · 15m

8Team Talk & Cooldown

Cooldown · 4m

Frequently asked questions

Who is the First Practice of the Season practice plan for?

First Practice of the Season is built for all coaches coaching players in 13-15, and can be adjusted in length or intensity for other age groups.

How long does the First Practice of the Season practice plan take?

First Practice of the Season runs 90 minutes total across 8 blocks: 2 warm-ups, 2 skill works, 2 drills, 1 scrimmage, 1 cooldown.

What drills are included in the First Practice of the Season practice plan?

First Practice of the Season uses: 17s (Baseline Sprints), Pound Dribble Series, Two-Ball Rhythm, Form Shooting Ladder, Defensive Stance & Slides, Closeout & Contain, Mikan Drill, Contact Layups. Each links to its full breakdown in the drill library.

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