The purpose of these guidelines is to encourage coaches to think carefully about the most important principles of training before a major competition.

One of the fundamental considerations is that the opponent’s known strengths and weaknesses are just as important as our own.

The training program should therefore reflect both:

• what our team does well,
• what still needs improvement,
• and what the upcoming opponents are likely to demand from us.

Key Principles

A pre-competition training program should include:

• a structured shooting program,
• fundamental defensive techniques,
• offensive transition,
• fast-break situations,
• attacking an unorganized defense,
• controlled isolation,
• structured half-court offense,
• and transition from offense to defense.

Defensive fundamentals should first be practiced technically, then under increasingly realistic pressure.

For example, a defensive task can eventually be maintained for approximately 30 seconds in 3-on-3 or 4-on-4 situations.

1. Start Every Practice with High-Energy Work

Every practice should begin with dynamic, high-tempo activities.

However, progression remains essential.

One possible approach is to use approximately five three-minute blocks.

Examples include:

Three-Ball Transition Drill

Start from the baseline in pairs using three balls.

• dribble to half court,
• make one pass,
• continue with the dribble,
• finish with a layup.

Variation with a Paint Finish

Use the same structure, but finish with a shot from inside the paint.

Rebound and Outlet Sequence

One player begins near the baseline and sideline in an outlet position.

The player with the ball:

• self-passes the ball off the backboard,
• rebounds,
• takes one dribble,
• and makes the outlet pass.

The drill continues in a continuous rotation.

Continuous Footwork

Include a continuous footwork exercise emphasizing:

• balance,
• speed,
• coordination,
• and defensive movement.

Free Throws Under Fatigue

Shoot free throws in sets of three immediately after physical loading.

The objective is to reproduce the physical state in which free throws often occur during games.

2. Practice Advantage Situations

Include two or three full-court drills emphasizing numerical advantages.

Each can last approximately 4–5 minutes.

These situations should teach players to recognize and exploit advantages quickly.

Press-break concepts can also be practiced without defenders first so that spacing, timing and movement become automatic before pressure is added.

3. Defensive Fundamentals

Fundamental defensive exercises should remain part of the program.

At the same time, offensive players should execute technically correct actions so that both sides of the drill improve.

Use two or three foundational exercises and then build them gradually toward:

• small-sided team situations,
• and eventually 5-on-5.

Examples include:

Defending the Ball Handler

Practice containment and influencing the direction of the dribbler.

This can be done:

• full court,
• in court segments,
• from half court,
• from specific positions,
• with a layup finish,
• or with a jump-shot finish.

Boxing Out

For example, the coach takes the shot.

Players execute the box-out and then continue immediately into full-court 1-on-1.

Denying Cuts

Practice defending offensive cuts in 2-on-2 situations.

Correct Help Defense

Use 2-on-2 situations to reinforce proper help positioning and recovery.

4. Build from Small-Sided Situations

In small-sided team situations, approximately the first two-thirds of the action can be predetermined.

The final part should then allow players to finish creatively.

This structure gives the coach control over the tactical objective while still requiring the players to:

• read the defense,
• make decisions,
• and create solutions.

5. Basketball-Specific Conditioning

Conditioning should also take place on the basketball court.

Use 1–3 minute blocks involving basketball-specific activities such as:

• defensive work,
• agility,
• shooting,
• rebounding,
• and transition.

The exercises can be organized:

• as a team,
• in pairs,
• or in groups of three.

The objective is to condition the players through movements and decisions that resemble the game.

6. Practice the Offensive Style

The team should rehearse its offensive identity and transition game.

Against a set defense, practice situations such as:

Quick Offense into Longer Possessions

Players must understand when to attack immediately and when to continue into a longer half-court possession.

Inbound Plays

Practice sideline and baseline situations that may become important in close games.

Situations Following Free Throws

Players should know their responsibilities immediately after both made and missed free throws.

Cutting Actions

Rehearse offensive actions based on purposeful cutting and coordinated movement.

Finishing Situations

Practice possessions that finish through:

• 1-on-1 creation,
• or interior passing and post play.

7. Finish with 5-on-5

The practice should ultimately progress toward 5-on-5.

Before each block, clearly define:

• the offensive objective,
• and the defensive objective.

The coach should avoid stopping play too frequently.

Only major mistakes should interrupt the action.

Players need extended periods in which they can:

• read situations,
• solve problems,
• communicate,
• and maintain continuity.

Players resting outside the 5-on-5 action can perform upper-body and trunk-strengthening exercises.

At the end of practice, include approximately 3–5 minutes of jump rope.

Jump rope can also be used earlier in practice as part of the warm-up.

Build Each Practice on the Previous One

The next practice should always build on what was done before.

However, training should continue to progress.

A useful guideline is that approximately 70% of the practice should move the team forward.

Only the most important elements should be repeated extensively.

The objective before a major competition is not simply to rehearse everything the team already knows.

The objective is to sharpen the elements that will matter most.

Training should therefore become increasingly:

• specific,
• purposeful,
• game-like,
• intense,
• and connected to the demands of the upcoming opponent.

The closer the competition becomes, the clearer the priorities should be.