Warm Up Basketball Drills

Before your basketball team hits the court for a practice or a game, make sure that your players are properly warmed up. The game of basketball uses a lot of quick movements such as jumping, fast speed bursts and changing direction during play. Loosing up muscles will help your team play to the best of its ability, as well as stave off injuries that might have occurred without the warm-up.

  1. Movement

    • You want to get the blood pumping through the body of your players and have them mimic movements that will occur during the game. Start with some simple movement exercises such as a light jog around the court several times. This should be followed by other movements such as running backwards, side-stepping, skipping, back-kicking and heel walking (where the players walk on their heels with the toes pointed up). This will allow the legs of the players to become limber.

    Layups

    • Having your team practice layups is a nice a way to ease into a warm-up. Have the team form two lines. One line will have basketballs and the other will not. The players in the line with the basketballs will drive to the hoop and make a layup while the players from the other line will rebound the ball. The focus on this warm-up is for the players to begin dribbling, making layups and rebounding at a half-speed pace. Halfway through the drill, switch the basketballs to the other line to practice layups on the other side of the court.

    Three-man Weave

    • The three-man weave focuses on movement, sharp passing and making a layup. Players will divide into three groups and stand at half court. One group will be in the center with the basketball, and the other two on the left and right. Call these players X, Y and Z, with X on the left, Y in the center and Z on the right. Y passes to Z and Y moves behind Z on the right side. Z passes to X, and Z moves behind X on the left side. X passes to Y, and X moves behind Y. Y passes to Z, whose player ultimately takes a shot. If done correctly, the amount of dribbling will be minimal if at all. To see a video of the drill, click the link in Resources.