How to Warm Up Before a Basketball Game

Pre-game preparation is critical to a team's success. This preparation includes a combination of physical and mental preparation that leads not only to an effective start to the game, but also injury prevention and mental focus. For many youth teams in tournaments you have only 5 minutes of court time to prepare for your next game. With this in mind, you must maximize those 5 minutes in addition to doing things that do not necessitate the use of the basketball court. Here are effective steps for warming up.

Things You'll Need

  • Open Space
  • Quiet Area
  • 4 basketballs
  • Half-court with 1 basketball hoop
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Instructions

  1. How to Do Off-Court Preparation

    • 1

      Gather the team together 30 minutes prior to the game start time. This gathering should be done in a quiet area with the team seated on the floor.

    • 2

      When the team is assembled, instruct everyone to close their eyes and take deep breaths through their noses and exhale out their mouths. While they are doing this, provide commentary on clearing their mind of what has happened earlier in the day and anything else that is on their mind--put their focus on the task at hand, which is the upcoming basketball game.

    • 3

      With their eyes still closed, have each player visualize themselves on the court competing against his/her opponent. They should see what it looks like and how it will feel. Once they have this picture, instruct them to visualize themselves performing at a high level with important team concepts (e.g. closing out properly on defense, boxing out, making a nice pass, making an open jump shot, making a free throw). Instruct them to continually visualize these activities in their head for about a minute. This will help them to adapt quickly when the game starts, as it will seem like they have already been in the game.

    • 4

      Perform team stretching exercises. These stretches should be done with all parts of the body to maximize performance and minimize injuries. While doing these stretches, encourage the players to converse with one another and encourage each other regarding the upcoming game (e.g. "Hey Joe, you're gonna play some nasty "D" on those Hornets today!"). This stretching routine should take approximately 10 minutes and will take you to approximately 15 minutes before game time (10 minutes before you can get on the court).

    • 5

      Take about 5 minutes to review the keys to the upcoming game. This is the time to emphasize the most important team aspects that will maximize performance. Try to keep this at 3 to 5 key points. Any more than this and the team will lose focus. Some examples include communicate on defense, box out on every shot and run through the offensive options.

    How to Do On-Court Preparation

    • 6

      Form two lines at the top of the key: one line just right of center and the other just left of center. The first person in each line does not have a ball--the next two players in each line each have a ball.

    • 7

      The first person runs to touch the baseline and makes a hard cut to the block. The pass is delivered and a shot is taken. The shooter gets his/her own rebound and returns it to the line. That player then goes to the back of the other line. This process continues with each player getting two shots from each block.

    • 8

      After taking block shots, the players then make the baseline cut to 5 feet above the block (mid-lane) for a catch and shoot. They take two shots from each side.

    • 9

      After the mid-lane shots, the players then make the baseline cut to the elbow for a catch and shoot. They take two shots from each side.

    • 10

      With the above warmup, the body's extremities should be properly warmed up and each player has taken 12 shots at game speed.

    • 11

      With about 30 seconds before the buzzer sounds, bring the team together to review the focused team strategy and provide a confidence-boosting comment about the game.

    • 12

      Allow the team a few moments to bond with one another without the coaches, as they do a team unity activity. This should be developed by the players and not the coaches. It is important that the team bonds on the level that they develop.

    • 13

      Send the starters onto the court of the opening tip.