The preseason is where champions are made.
Before the lights come on and the games begin, preseason basketball is a crucial time for setting the tone, building team chemistry, and laying the foundation for success. One of the most important tools a coach can have during this period? A solid practice plan.
With FastBreak PlayBook, you can:
- Use our practice plan template to build out your team’s practice schedule.
- Find drills in our FastBreak PlayBook database.
- Begin to work on your plays created in your FastBreak Playbook membership.
- Edit with Ease: Every play is fully editable, so you can adjust it to fit your team’s skill level.
- Pair your plays with video.
Structure Creates Success
In the preseason, players are eager to improve, and coaches are balancing skill development, conditioning, and system installation. Without a structured plan, practices can become scattered or unfocused. A good practice plan ensures that every minute on the court has a purpose—from warmups to the final whistle.
What Should a Preseason Practice Plan Include?
- Dynamic Warm-Ups: Prepares the body and prevents injuries.
- Fundamental Drills: Ball-handling, shooting, passing, and defense never go out of style.
- Team Concepts: Begin installing offensive and defensive systems early so players can learn through repetition.
- Conditioning: Build endurance and mental toughness without overtraining.
- Competition: Include controlled scrimmages or challenges to build game instincts.
The outline below is a good example of a pre-season practice plan. This and much more can be built inside FastBreak PlayBook.
Set Goals and Track Progress
Use your practice plan to set daily and weekly goals. Whether it’s reducing turnovers, improving communication, or learning a new defensive scheme, tracking progress keeps the team motivated and accountable.
Bottom Line: Preseason is more than just getting in shape—it’s about setting a winning culture. With a focused practice plan, you’re not just running drills—you’re building a team ready to compete.
