U15 basketball drills

Basketball drills for U15 players (ages 13–14): game-speed shooting, team defense, transition and offensive actions like the pick and roll.

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Ball Handling · Intermediate

1-on-1 Zig-Zag

Ball handler zig-zags the length of the floor against a defender who shuffles and turns them.

8 min2+ playersAges 9+
12345Chead · waist · knees · figure 8
Ball Handling · Beginner

Ball Wraps & Figure 8s

Stationary ball-control series: head, waist and knee wraps, then figure 8s through the legs.

5 min1+ playersAges 6–14
1
Ball Handling · Intermediate

Cone Attack Series

Attack cones at the wing, elbow and top with a different game move at each, finishing every rep.

8 min1+ playersAges 9+
1
Ball Handling · Intermediate

Cone Change-of-Direction Series

Attack a line of cones with a game move at each, finish at the rim.

8 min1+ playersAges 9+
123
Ball Handling · Beginner

Full-Court Speed Dribble

Lines on the baseline push the ball the length of the floor with 3–4 dribbles per half court.

6 min3+ playersAges 7+
1
Ball Handling · Intermediate

Retreat Dribble & Attack

Attack a cone, retreat two dribbles under control, then explode with a change of direction.

6 min1+ playersAges 9+
12345Cpound · alternate · crossover
Ball Handling · Beginner

Two-Ball Stationary Dribbling

Stationary two-ball series to build weak-hand strength and rhythm.

6 min1+ playersAges 8+
1
Ball Handling · Beginner

Zig-Zag Dribble

Full-court change-of-direction dribbling between staggered cones.

8 min1+ playersAll ages
1
Conditioning · Intermediate

Full-Court Speed Layups

Make as many full-court layups as possible in one minute, alternating ends.

5 min1+ playersAges 10+
117 touches
Conditioning · Advanced

Sideline 17s

Touch sideline to sideline 17 times across the width of the court in under a minute.

6 min1+ playersAges 13+
Conditioning · All levels

Suicides (Lines)

Baseline sprints to free-throw line, half court, far free-throw line and far baseline.

5 min1+ playersAges 12+
123
Conditioning · Intermediate

Tip Drill

Players in a line tip the ball off the backboard one after another, keeping it alive.

4 min3+ playersAges 10+
X11
Defense · Intermediate

1-on-1 Closeout Live

Defender passes out, closes out, and plays live 1-on-1 with a two-dribble limit.

10 min2+ playersAges 10+
12X1X2Animated
Defense · Intermediate

2-on-2 Help & Recover

Ball handler drives; the help defender stunts or helps, then recovers to their player on the kick-out.

10 min4+ playersAges 11+
15X1X5
Defense · Advanced

Ball-Screen Defense: Hedge & Recover

2-on-2 pick-and-roll: big hedges to stop the ball, guard fights over the top, big recovers to the roller.

10 min4+ playersAges 13+
X1123
Defense · Beginner

Closeout Drill

Pass out from under the rim and close out under control to a shooter on the perimeter.

8 min2+ playersAges 9+
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Defense · Beginner

Defensive Slide Lane Drill

Slide, backpedal, slide, sprint around the lane — the classic defensive conditioning box.

5 min1+ playersAges 8+
X
Defense · Beginner

Defensive Zig-Zag Slides

Slide, drop-step and slide again the length of the floor in a zig-zag, staying in a low stance.

6 min1+ playersAges 7+
1234X1X2X3X4Animated
Defense · Intermediate

Shell Drill 4-on-4

Team defensive positioning — on-ball, deny, and help — as the ball moves around the perimeter.

12 min8+ playersAges 11+
1234X1X2X3X4Animated
Defense · Advanced

Shell Drill: Drive & Rotate

4-on-4 shell where offense drives gaps; defense helps, rotates and recovers on each kick-out.

12 min8+ playersAges 12+
1X2outside the arc
Defense · Intermediate

Taking a Charge

Teach the help defender to beat the driver to the spot, set feet outside the restricted area and fall safely.

5 min2+ playersAges 12+
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Defense · Intermediate

Transition Defense: Sprint Back

On a coach's whistle, the shooting team sprints back to protect the rim and stop the ball before half court.

8 min6+ playersAges 10+
1
Finishing · Advanced

Euro-Step Finishing

Attack a cone in the lane and Euro-step around it to finish on the other side.

8 min1+ playersAges 12+
1C
Finishing · Advanced

Floater Series

Drive into the lane and shoot a one-foot and two-foot floater over a contesting coach.

8 min2+ playersAges 12+
1X
Finishing · Intermediate

Layups with a Chaser

Ball handler starts a step ahead from half court; a chaser tries to block or foul the layup from behind.

8 min2+ playersAges 9+
1Animated
Finishing · Beginner

Mikan Drill

Continuous alternating layups under the rim to build touch and footwork with both hands.

5 min1+ playersAll ages
1C
Finishing · Intermediate

Power Finishes Through Contact

Drive from the wing and finish strong while a partner gives a controlled bump with a pad.

8 min2+ playersAges 11+
1
Finishing · Intermediate

Reverse Mikan

Mikan drill using reverse layups on the far side of the rim.

5 min1+ playersAges 9+
1
Finishing · Beginner

Weak-Hand Layup Series

Dribble with the weak hand around a cone at the wing and finish with the weak hand every rep.

6 min1+ playersAll ages
123first to exactly 21
Games · All levels

21

Every player for themselves: 2 points for a basket, then free throws worth 1; first to exactly 21.

10 min3+ playersAges 8+
123X1X2X3next team waits at half court
Games · All levels

3-on-3 Winners Stay

Half-court 3-on-3 games to 3 baskets; the winning team stays on, the next team comes in.

15 min9+ playersAges 8+
stay inside the arc
Games · Beginner

Dribble Knockout

Everyone dribbles inside the circle or key and tries to knock others' balls away while keeping their own.

5 min6+ playersAges 6–14
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Games · Beginner

Hot Shot

Shoot from marked spots worth different points in 60 seconds — highest score wins.

6 min2+ playersAges 6–14
KC
Games · All levels

King of the Court

1-on-1 winner stays: score to stay on, losers go to the back of the line.

10 min4+ playersAges 8+
1234
Games · Beginner

Knockout

The classic elimination shooting game from the free-throw line.

8 min4+ playersAges 6–14
1234
Passing · Intermediate

Four-Corner Passing

Lines in the four corners of the half court; pass, follow your pass, and catch on the move.

8 min8+ playersAges 8+
12Animated
Passing · Beginner

Give and Go

Pass to the wing, V-cut to the basket and get it back for a layup.

8 min2+ playersAges 7+
1234X1X2
Passing · Beginner

Keep-Away (3-on-1 / 4-on-2)

Passers in a small square keep the ball away from the defender(s) in the middle without dribbling.

8 min4+ playersAll ages
1234
Passing · Beginner

Partner Passing

Partners 12–15 feet apart cycling chest, bounce and overhead passes.

6 min2+ playersAll ages
5X52
Passing · Intermediate

Post Entry Passing

Feed the post from the wing against a fronting or three-quarter defender.

8 min3+ playersAges 11+
C412
Passing · Intermediate

Rebound & Outlet

Rebound, pivot to the outside, and hit an outlet at the wing who pushes the ball ahead.

6 min3+ playersAges 9+
123Animated
Passing · Intermediate

Skip Pass & Shoot

Drive-and-kick and skip passes across the floor to an open shooter in the weak-side corner.

8 min3+ playersAges 11+
12345
Passing · Intermediate

Star Passing

Pass and follow around a five-point star — sharp passes on the move.

8 min5+ playersAges 8+
12
Passing · Intermediate

Two-Ball Partner Passing

Partners pass two balls at once: one chest pass, one bounce pass, at the same time.

5 min2+ playersAges 9+
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Rebounding · Intermediate

3-on-3 Box Out

Coach shoots, defenders find, hit and hold their man, then go get the ball.

8 min6+ playersAges 10+
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Rebounding · Beginner

Circle Box-Out

Ball in the middle of the circle; defenders keep their player off it for 3–5 seconds.

5 min2+ playersAges 7+
C42
Rebounding · Intermediate

Rebound, Outlet, Race

Rebounder secures the miss, outlets to the wing, and both sprint to the other end for a layup.

6 min3+ playersAges 9+
1
Rebounding · Intermediate

Superman Rebounding

Throw the ball off the glass to the opposite side of the rim and go get it outside the lane, continuously.

5 min1+ playersAges 10+
C12X1X2
Rebounding · Advanced

War Rebounding

2-on-2 or 3-on-3 in the paint: coach shoots, whoever rebounds scores; no fouls called within reason.

8 min4+ playersAges 12+
12
Shooting · All levels

Around the World

Shoot from five spots around the arc; make it to move on.

10 min2+ playersAges 8+
1me 7 · pro 6
Shooting · All levels

Beat the Pro

Shooting game against an imaginary pro: +1 for a make, the pro gets +2 for a miss. First to 11.

6 min1+ playersAges 8+
12
Shooting · Advanced

Corner-to-Corner 3s

Sprint corner to corner along the baseline, catching and shooting a 3 in each corner.

6 min2+ playersAges 12+
124Animated
Shooting · Intermediate

Down Screen Shooting

Come off a down screen at the wing and catch-and-shoot, curl or fade depending on the read.

10 min3+ playersAges 11+
12
Shooting · Intermediate

Elbow Pull-Ups

One-dribble pull-up jumpers from the wing to the elbow, both directions.

8 min2+ playersAges 10+
13ft5ftFT
Shooting · All levels

Form Shooting

One-hand shots close to the rim to groove a repeatable release before moving out.

6 min1+ playersAll ages
12
Shooting · All levels

Free Throws Under Fatigue

Sprint the floor, then knock down two free throws — game-like pressure and tired legs.

6 min2+ playersAges 10+
12
Shooting · All levels

Free-Throw Routine

Build a repeatable routine: shoot in sets of two, partner rebounds and records.

5 min2+ playersAll ages
12
Shooting · All levels

One-Minute Partner Shooting

Shoot for 60 seconds from one area while your partner rebounds and passes; count makes, then switch.

8 min2+ playersAges 8+
12Animated
Shooting · All levels

Spot-Up Shooting with Passer

Shooter relocates between corner and wing, catching on a hop from a passer under the rim.

8 min2+ playersAges 9+
12312345
Shooting · All levels

Two-Minute Team Shooting

Groups at each basket shoot from five spots for two minutes; team target of combined makes.

6 min6+ playersAges 8+
12345Animated
Team Offense · Intermediate

4-Out 1-In: Pass & Cut

Motion offense basics: pass and basket cut, fill the open spot, post player reads the cuts.

12 min5+ playersAges 10+
125Animated
Team Offense · Intermediate

Back Screen (UCLA Cut)

Pass to the wing, then cut off a back screen at the elbow for a layup — the classic UCLA cut.

8 min3+ playersAges 11+
12345Animated play
Team Offense · Intermediate

Box Set Baseline Inbound

Baseline out-of-bounds from a box: screen the screener for a shooter in the corner or a layup.

8 min5+ playersAges 10+
12Animated
Team Offense · Intermediate

Dribble Handoff Series

Dribble at a teammate on the wing and hand it off; the receiver reads to shoot, drive, or reject.

8 min2+ playersAges 11+
15Animated
Team Offense · Intermediate

Pick & Roll 2-on-0

Guard and big rehearse the ball screen: set, use, roll, and the read.

10 min2+ playersAges 12+
15X1X5Animated
Team Offense · Advanced

Pick & Roll 2-on-2 Live

Run the ball screen against live defense and read the coverage: turn the corner, hit the roll, or pull up.

10 min4+ playersAges 13+
12345X1X2X3X4X5Animated play
Team Offense · Advanced

Zone Offense: Overload vs 2-3

Overload one side of a 2-3 zone, flash the high post and skip the ball to the weak side.

12 min10+ playersAges 12+
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Transition · Advanced

11-Man Fast Break

Continuous 3-on-2 full court: outlet players at each end turn every defensive stop into a break the other way.

12 min11+ playersAges 11+
12XAnimated
Transition · Intermediate

2-on-1 Full Court

Two attackers vs one defender full court — make the defender commit and finish with a layup.

8 min3+ playersAges 9+
123X1X2Animated
Transition · Advanced

3-on-2, 2-on-1 Continuous

Three attack two in tandem defense; the shooter and the two defenders go back 2-on-1.

12 min5+ playersAges 11+
1234X1X2X3
Transition · Advanced

4-on-3 Advantage

Four attack three in the half court after a full-court push; the defense must rotate to cover the extra player.

10 min7+ playersAges 12+
51324
Transition · Intermediate

Fast-Break Lanes 5-on-0

Teach the five lanes: rebounder outlets, point guard pushes, wings sprint wide, rim runner and trailer fill.

8 min5+ playersAges 10+
123Animated
Transition · Intermediate

Three-Man Weave

Full-court pass-and-go-behind in three lanes, finishing with a layup.

10 min3+ playersAges 10+
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Warm-up · Beginner

Dribble Tag

Everyone dribbles inside the half court; taggers try to tag players or knock their ball away.

5 min6+ playersAges 6–14
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Warm-up · All levels

Dynamic Warm-up Lines

Four lines moving baseline to half court through a dynamic movement series.

8 min4+ playersAll ages
LMLM
Warm-up · All levels

Partner Mirror Warm-up

Partners face each other in a stance; one leads, the other mirrors slides, drops and sprints.

5 min2+ playersAges 7+
12345
Warm-up · All levels

Two-Line Layups

The classic pre-practice layup lines: one line shoots, one line rebounds, then switch.

6 min6+ playersAll ages
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