Basketball practice plan
90-Minute High School Basketball Practice Plan
A full in-season practice that builds defensive habits, pushes the ball in transition and gets every player game-speed shooting reps.
90 minutesHigh schoolFocus: Defense, transition and shootingBalanced mix
Warm-upDrillConditioningWater breakSkillCompetitionCool-down
Equipment
Basketballs · Pinnies · Cones · Shot clock or phone timer · WhiteboardThe plan, block by block
1. Warm-up
Dynamic warm-up and form shooting
10 min0:00 - 10:00
- Lane-line dynamic stretches
- Form shooting close to the rim, then step back
Coaching points
- Same shot every time
2. Drill
Shell defense
15 min10:00 - 25:00
4 on offense, 4 on defense, half court.
- Ball movement only at first: defenders jump to the ball
- Add dribble penetration and help-and-recover
- Live: play to a stop
Coaching points
- Ball, you, man
- Talk on every pass
3. Conditioning
3-man weave to 3v2, 2v1
12 min25:00 - 37:00
Full court, three lines.
- Weave down, finish with a layup
- Shooter and passers sprint back on defense against the next three
Coaching points
- Fill the lanes wide
- Defense: stop the ball first
4. Water break
Water break
3 min37:00 - 40:00
5. Skill
Game-speed shooting
15 min40:00 - 55:00
Partners at each basket, one shooter, one rebounder.
- Catch-and-shoot from 5 spots
- Shot off one dribble each direction
- Track makes out of 50
Coaching points
- Feet set before the catch
- Shoot it at game speed
6. Drill
Set offense walk-through and live reps
15 min55:00 - 70:00
5 on 5, half court.
- Walk through the two main sets
- Run at full speed against dummy defense
- Live: score or get a stop
Coaching points
- Run your cuts hard
- Read the defense, don't force it
7. Competition
Scrimmage with situations
15 min70:00 - 85:00
Full court 5v5.
- Run 4-minute segments
- Start with end-of-game situations: down 2 with 30 seconds left
Coaching points
- Communicate on every possession
8. Cool-down
Free throws under fatigue
5 min85:00 - 90:00
- Sprint a down-and-back, then shoot 2
- Team goal: make 80 percent
Coaching points
- Same routine every time
Coach's notes
Keep drills short and intense. If the effort drops, end the drill and move on rather than letting bad habits creep in.How to adapt this plan
- Day before a game: cut the shell and conditioning, add more walk-through.
- Track shooting makes on a whiteboard so players can see progress.