INTRODUCTION
Most practices waste more time than they should — and coaches don’t even realize it.
Basketball practice should look like basketball: players moving, making decisions, playing with urgency. Every minute matters. And yet, many coaches fall into habits that eat up valuable gym time without building game skills.
These 5 common habits silently kill your practice momentum. Replace them today — and watch your team grow faster, compete harder, and get more out of every session.
1. WARM-UP LINES & STATIC STRETCHING
Classic layup lines and group stretching routines feel comfortable — but they don’t get players ready for the game.
Replace with: Game-speed skill circuits, dynamic warm-ups, or high-rep shooting ladders. Warm up with intention and with the ball.
Start with movement, decision-making, and communication. Set the tone right away.
2. TWO-LINE PASSING OR “SHOWBOAT” DRILLS
If the drill doesn’t happen in a game, don’t waste time on it in practice.
Three-man weaves are a coaching tradition — but they don’t simulate anything close to live basketball. You’ll never see three players pass and fill in a circular motion during a game.
They might serve as a warm-up, but they don’t prepare your players to execute in traffic, make reads on the move, or deliver passes under pressure.
Replace with: Full-court passing or shooting drills that are timed, scored, and simulate real game conditions — like outlet-to-push-ahead shooting, full-court transition passing with defenders, or 2-on-0 build-ups into 2-on-1s.
Build warm-ups that activate skills, not just bodies. 2-on-1 or 3-on-2 full-court drills, passing under pressure, or advantage situations (e.g., 3-on-2 to 2-on-1).
The best passing drills demand decision-making.
3. LINES THAT STALL DEVELOPMENT
Long lines kill energy, reps, and engagement. If players are waiting more than they’re working, you’re not developing your team — you’re babysitting it.
Replace with: Station-based skill work, small group breakdowns, or continuous-action drills where everyone is involved.
Use assistant coaches or managers to help run stations. Make your gym active, loud, and efficient. If you’re using just one basket for ten players, rethink your setup.
Reps create habits. Standing in line doesn’t.
4. LONG, UNSTRUCTURED SCRIMMAGES
Letting teams scrimmage 5-on-5 for 15+ minutes with no scoring, no feedback, and no focus? That’s just open gym — not coaching.
Replace with: Short, scored live segments (5 minutes max) with constraints, goals, and consequences. Teach in the gaps. Reset with purpose.
Make every possession count. No dead time.
5. BULK FREE THROW TIME
Ten straight free throws with no stakes or pressure won’t prepare your team for game night.
Replace with: Pressure free throw games, “make to win” competitions, or validation drills after live segments. Keep it short, sharp, and competitive.
COACH’S TIP: Try “Win the Game” — your whole team shoots two free throws each at the same basket. One after the other. Make = 1 point. Miss = +2 for the opponent. You start at 78:78. Your team must win the game — or run and repeat.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
Every coach says they want to maximize gym time — but few actually build a system that does it.
Remove what doesn’t serve your players. Tighten every drill. Score everything. Cut the fluff and teach with urgency.
When your players walk out of the gym better than they walked in — that’s practice.
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