January/February 2019 - 24

PRACTICE DRILLS
'BUCKETBALL'
CONDITIONING
GAME
By Kevin Weigand, Cape Coral High School, Florida
This is a game that is typically played on Fridays during
our preseason conditioning program, but coaches can
use it during the season. It's usually the last activity of
both the day and week. I found that playing this game on
Friday keeps our players more focused during the workout,
because they enjoy it and they know they must earn the
right to play it by working hard throughout the week.
Breaking it down
Coaches need two buckets (we use 2 ½ gallon
buckets), tennis balls and cones. Our captains choose
two teams. I allow the teams to determine the order
of players participating in the drill. The clock is then
set for the game. Each game typically runs for eight
minutes, meant to simulate an eight-minute quarter in
our games.
DIAGRAM 1: Cones are set up on the baseline and
the buckets for each team are set up at midcourt. More
cones are set up three steps away from each bucket. Once
the whistle blows, the objective is for each player on each
team to run to the cone with the tennis ball and shoot the
ball into the bucket. This is done with a soft underhand or
overhand flip.
DIAGRAM 1
DIAGRAM 2: Players must then retrieve their ball and
either throw it or run it back to the next player in line. If
they make an errant throw, teammates can help retrieve
the ball.
Each made basket is worth 2 points, and teams keep
track of their own scores. If there is a tie at the end of
regulation, there is a three-minute overtime period. The
losing team has a consequence, such as one suicide.
Bucketball benefits
This game allows for competition and teamwork. Our
players push each other in a constructive manner, as they
all want to win and avoid a consequence. It also enables
players to interact and work with players they may not
know very well, such as upperclassmen working with
freshmen or sophomores.
The game also emphasizes skills that are necessary
during the season, such as focusing when tired, shooting
under pressure, and competing in tight games.
Bucketball is a great way to complement what's being
done with other conditioning exercises. Players run and
push hard, but they maintain focus much like they should
when competing in a game.
DIAGRAM 2
24 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
January/February 2019

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