Time CrunCh 16 tips to make productive use of gym time By Chris Wellman, North Idaho College Basketball Camps C ommunities frequently find it difficult to accommodate all the basketball teams in their areas that need practice time. This is much more difficult than it was 20 years ago because of legal constraints, insurance costs, and lack of cooperation among different basketball teams that need gym time. I organized a meeting with local coaches to talk about holding productive practices in a shorter period. I refer to this type of practice as being concise. Our program developed a list of concise habits that would shorten team practices, yet allow teams enough time to improve their skills and stay in shape. Many younger basketball teams need help getting practice facility time. The best way for coaches of young teams to practice with their players is to be concise with their use of time and prioritize the skills that should be taught. n 14 COACH & A.D. | WINNING HOOPS COACHES PLAYBOOK 2024 1 Make up a practice plan that is divided into five and 10-minute blocks. 2 Invest in a basketball drills for skills book. " There is always something new! " 3 Before practice, tell players about some of the skill drills they will be doing. 4 Remind them about the value of concentration. 5 Make sure every player has a ball. 6 Always tell players why they are doing a specific drill. 7 Make concentration a word used frequently in practice. 8 As a coach, you are a teacher. Refine your teaching and communication skills. 9 Utilize multiple skills and competitive practice drills. 10 No drill should go beyond 10 minutes. 11 Utilize aerobic fastbreak or mass dribbling drills for conditioning. 12 Keep players aware of how much practice time remains. 13 Communicate with players about skills they should practice on their own. 14 You may have players of different ages and skill levels on your team. Utilize your older more experienced players in helping the younger players develop their skills. 15 Many coaches forget to tell their players about the academic and physical value of playing sports. Athletes are more fit and get better grades than non-athletes. 16 Players should have a basketball skill checklist that they can use as a reference for individual practice sessions.