20 Shooting

Video by BreakthroughBBall

20 shooting is a really tough shooting drill. Track your score over time and see how you improve. You will use 5 shooting spots. Corners, wings & top of the key. You must make 3 in a row from each of the 5 spots. When you reach the opposite corner, the goal is to make 5 in a row coming back (1 from each spot). You have 2 minutes to complete the drills. (Diagram 1) You get 3 points for each spot you get through in round 1 plus how far you get back on round 2. If you made it through all 5 spots for round 1 and 2 spots in round 2, your score would be 17. Hold your follow through. It’s easy to rush because of the time element. Be quick but don’t hurry. Stay positive. This is a mental drill, too. It’s easy to get frustrated if you miss some shots, but work on a ‘next shot’ mentality. Made by Breakthrough Basketball

14 in :90

Video by BreakthroughBBall

This is another drill that puts some time pressure on you. Track your score. This drill uses 7 spots - corners, low wings, high wings, & top of the key. (Diagram 1) You must make 2 in a row to move to the next spot. Your goal is to make it from spot 1 through spot 7. If you make it through all 7 spots, shoot at the top of the key and add to your total score. Each of the 7 spots is worth 2 points. Individual makes don’t count, you only get points for completing a spot. Each 3 you make after making it through the 7 spots is an additional point. You have :90 to complete the drill. Hold your follow through. It’s easy to rush because of the time element. Be quick but don’t hurry. Stay positive. This is a mental drill, too. It’s easy to get frustrated if you miss some shots, but work on a ‘next shot’ mentality. Sprint spot to spot. You must maximize the time allotted. Be shot ready to get off as many shots as possible. Made by Breakthrough Basketball

Nuggets Drill

Video by BreakthroughBBall

Nuggets Drill is a great drill to work on our focus while integrating shooting on the move. It also adds a conditioning element to your workout. This drill uses 5 spots - the corners, the wings, & the top of the key. (Diagram 1) Start at spot 1. You must make 3 shots in a row at every spot. At spots 1 & 5, you will slide up towards the wing, then drift back to the corner. You’ll catch a pass and shoot a 3. (Diagram 2) At every spot, if you miss 2 shots in a row, you must sprint to the opposite baseline & back before the next shot. After making 3 in a row in the corner, move to the wing. At each wing spot, you’ll shoot transition 3’s. Sprint from the arc to the volleyball line. Sprint back to the wing for a catch & shoot 3. After making 3 in a row on the wing, go to the top of the key. Once again, you’ll shoot transition 3’s. Sprint from the top of the key to half court & back. Catch and shoot a 3. Aim for BRAD (back rim & down shots). As you get tired, this helps prevent you from coming up short. Focus on your footwork as your catch on the move. SPRINT your transition 3’s. The more game-like you make the shots, the more carry over you’ll see to your games! (Diagram 3) (Diagram 4) Your score is the time it takes you to make it through all 5 spots. Made by Breakthrough Basketball

Arc Finishing

Video by BreakthroughBBall

The following drill is a better way to simulate game situations where you will be coming from all different angles to shoot a lay-up. Step 1: Before you start the drill, you must set up 5 cones around the three point line (marked as X's on the diagram to the right). Start by dribbling with your right hand around the first cone and then come back to the basket to shoot a right handed lay-up. Step 2: As soon as you complete a lay-up around cone #1, you will progress to each one of the cones. Once you make a lay-up from each spot with your right hand, you will go back through each spot, this time shooting and dribbling with your left hand. By the end of the drill, you should have completed 10 lay-ups (5 right handed & 5 left handed). Extend the Ball: As soon as you get around the cone, extend the ball as you dribble to accelerate your pace to beat the defense to the basket. Chin Up / Eyes Up: When completing the lay-up, remember to get your chin up and your eyes on the basket. This will help you finish in traffic. (Diagram 1) (Diagram 2) Drive Your Knee To Your Nose: During your lay-up, drive your knee to your nose. This will help you get the maximum height out of your vertical leap & keep your body under control. Push Yourself: Make sure that you perform this drill full speed. You want to best simulate game situations, so dribble and move as you would during a game. By doing that, this also becomes a great conditioning drill. Variations: Use different finishing moves at the basket such as the Rondo, Euro, Runner, etc. Made by Breakthrough Basketball

2-Minute Catch-and-Shoot Challenge

Video by Coach Ashworth

A fatigue-shooting finisher: from the top of the key, players catch and shoot for two minutes straight and count total makes. Around 30 makes in two minutes is a solid target for an experienced group — high school and college-level shooters can push into the mid-to-upper 30s, while younger players will land lower — but the value is in shooting well while gassed, late in the workout when legs are heaviest. This drill comes from Coach Ashworth.

Catch-and-Shoot Conditioning (Threes)

Video by Coach Ashworth

The same half-court sprint-and-touch conditioning pattern, moved out to three-point range: three makes from five spots, with a full sprint to the center cone and back between every catch-and-shoot rep. For an extra layer of pressure, swap the target to three makes in a row per spot instead of three out of five — a good way to simulate the pressure of needing a shot to fall late in a game. This drill comes from Coach Ashworth.

Five-Spot Shooting Conditioning

Video by Coach Ashworth

A catch-and-shoot drill with conditioning built in: after every shot, make or miss, the shooter sprints to touch a cone or ball rack at half court before getting back to their spot for the next pass. Go to five makes from five spots — the constant movement between shots makes it far more game-like than standing and catching comfortably, and the fatigue becomes part of the test. This drill comes from Coach Ashworth.

Four Touches Layups

Video by Coach Ashworth

A conditioning-and-finishing relay from sideline to sideline: the first four layups are caught and finished with no dribbles off a pass on the run, the next set comes off one hard dribble from around the three-point line, and the last four have to be caught in the air — an alley-oop finish for players who can play above the rim, or a tip-in-style catch-and-finish for guards. Rotate passer and finisher after each set of four; it's as much a conditioning and passing-touch drill as a finishing one. This drill comes from Coach Ashworth.

Freeze Tag

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

Classic freeze tag with a dribbling twist: two taggers try to freeze everyone else while they dribble around the three-point line, and a frozen player can only get back in by setting their ball down and doing five jumping jacks. Because taggers close distance fast, players learn to shrink their dribble low and under control near defenders so they can plant and change direction quickly to escape. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Sharks and Minnows

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A basketball twist on the schoolyard classic: 'minnows' line up on a goal line, each with a ball, and try to dribble to the opposite goal line without the coach — the 'shark' — knocking their ball away. Any minnow who loses their ball becomes a shark and helps tag the next wave, until only sharks remain. Players have to keep changing speed and direction to protect the ball, which builds the same instincts they'll need to shake off a defender in a real game. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Ball Handling Warm-Up Combo

Video by One Up Basketball Training

A combo warm-up that builds ball handling while you get your legs moving: dribble lunges, lateral dribbling, dribbling while jogging, and box dribbling, back to back.

Michigan State Passing

Video by Championship Productions

Roadrunner

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

Partners face off across a cone circle as 'roadrunner' and 'coyote,' with the coyote getting 15 seconds to chase and tag the roadrunner around the circle. Run it first with no balls, then with the roadrunner dribbling, then with both players dribbling, so players build the same chase-and-evade instincts whether they're the one being chased or trying to keep the ball under control while doing it. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Baseketball

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A baseball-themed relay combining running and shooting: 'shooters' at the free-throw line try to make three baskets (rebounding and passing to the next teammate each time) before a 'runner' from the other team can complete a full lap around a marked rectangle. A completed lap before three makes is a 'home run' worth a point for the runners; three makes first is an 'out' for the shooters. After three outs, teams switch roles. Reinforces shooting under time pressure without sacrificing form. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Sharks & Minnows

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A dribble-and-evade classic: 'minnows' line up on one goal line and try to dribble to the far line without the coach (the 'shark,' stationed in the middle) knocking their ball away. Any minnow who loses their ball becomes a shark and helps tag the rest on the next wave, continuing until everyone has been converted. Builds change-of-pace and change-of-direction dribbling under pressure. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Snake

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A group tag game: one volunteer starts as the 'snake' with no ball while everyone else dribbles freely in a half-court space; anyone tagged sets their ball aside and joins the snake, growing the chain each round. The game continues until the snake has tagged every dribbler, and since the chain has to stay linked to make a tag count, it becomes as much about the snake communicating and coordinating together as it is about the dribblers evading. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Gimme Five

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A dribbling warm-up that doubles as an icebreaker: everyone dribbles around a half-court space and tries to high-five as many teammates as possible with their non-dribbling hand in a 30-second round. Play multiple short rounds and challenge players to beat their previous high-five count — a low-pressure way to get beginners comfortable dribbling with their head up and eyes open instead of watching the ball. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Mascot Tag

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A team-based reaction and speed-dribble game: two teams line up facing each other at mid-court, each named after a 'fastest team' mascot of the coach's choosing. The coach tells a story, and the moment a team's chosen name is mentioned, that team turns and dribbles for the nearest sideline while the other team chases and tries to tag them before they reach safety. Points go to whichever side wins the race — reaching the line safely or tagging the runner first. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Team Tag

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A two-team dribble tag game inside the three-point line: one team is 'it' and works together to tag as many opposing dribblers as possible within a set time, while tagged players must do five jumping jacks before rejoining. Track each team's tag count, then swap roles and challenge the new tagging team to beat the previous score. Encourages players to scan for open space and change direction to avoid getting tagged. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

1v1 With A Chaser

Video by BreakthroughBBall

A speed-dribble finishing drill: one player attacks the rim at full speed while a defender starts a step or two behind and chases them down, closing space and contesting without fouling. Start the chaser further back so the attacker has early success, then move the chaser closer for a tighter, more competitive rep once players are comfortable. This drill comes from BreakthroughBBall.

Tunnel Ball

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A two-team relay combining shooting and dribbling, set up about 10 feet from a (lowered, if needed) basket. One team ('tunnelers') sits on the ground facing away from the baseline with legs spread to form a tunnel; the other team ('shooters') lines up at the cone. On go, shooters take turns shooting, rebounding their own shot, and passing to the next teammate, scoring a point per make, while at the same time the tunnelers roll a ball down their human tunnel — once it reaches the end, that player sprint-dribbles to the front and the tunnel resets. Shooting stops once every tunneler has had a turn at the front; then teams switch roles and try to beat their score. Watch shooting form (balanced feet, eyes on rim, elbow in, full follow-through) since the tunnel action nearby is distracting. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Red Light, Green Light

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A classic reaction game adapted for dribbling. Everyone starts at a baseline with a ball. On 'green light' players speed dribble forward; on 'yellow light' they slow down; on 'red light' they jump-stop and bring the ball into triple-threat position at the waist. Once players reach the far line they turn around and keep going. After a round or two, add a wildcard color tied to a bonus action (e.g., jumping jacks with the ball) to keep it fresh. Reinforces fingertip control and keeping the ball low. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

Sleeping Giant

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A dribbling and speed-control game. Players line up on the baseline, each with a ball; cones ('treasure') are scattered near half court where the coach stands as the 'sleeping giant' with their back turned. On go, players dribble toward the treasure; whenever the giant turns around, everyone must jump-stop and freeze — anyone caught still moving goes back to the baseline. Once a player grabs a piece of treasure, the giant wakes up and chases everyone back to the baseline, trying to tag them. First player to bank three pieces of treasure wins. Remind players that in a real game, standing still without dribbling is a travel. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).

The Floor Is Lava

Video by MOJO (yougotmojo)

A partner passing game played on a half court scattered with cones ('islands') about five feet apart. Pairs share a ball and can only pass and catch while standing on an island — no dribbling allowed, since the floor is lava. After passing, a player must run to a new open island before they can receive the next pass. Play short, timed rounds and have pairs try to beat their own pass count each round. Reinforces two-handed passing form: step toward the target and follow through with both arms. This drill comes from MOJO (yougotmojo).