90-Minute Tryout Practice Plan For Middle School Beginners

Meet them on the baseline. Hand out pinnies (two colors) and tell them where to put water bottles and bags (one spot, out of bounds).

Explain how today works: stations + scrimmage, and you’re grading effort, listening, and improvement as much as makes/misses.

• Cues: “Sprint on the whistle.” “Next rep starts when the ball hits the floor.” “If you’re not up, you’re rebounding.”
• Watch for: who looks at you when you talk and moves immediately when you point.

Common issue: kids drift to friends and form clumps. Fix: assign spots: “Line up on this sideline by height—tall to short—go.”

Spread across the court in lanes (use flat discs if you need boundaries). Everyone has a ball if possible; if not, partner up and alternate.

Go: jog to half and back, then defensive slide to half and back, then high knees, then backpedal. Finish with 30 seconds each: right-hand pound, left-hand pound, crossover in place.

• Cues: “Athletic stance—hips down.” “Ball below your waist.” “Eyes up—find the far wall.”
• Watch for: players who can keep their head up while dribbling, even for 2–3 seconds.

Adjustment: If you’re tight on balls, make it mirror-dribble—one ball per pair, partner copies footwork without a ball.

Set two dribble lanes with cones/discs from baseline to half court. Split into two groups; 3–4 players per lane max so they’re not standing.

Players go one at a time: jog-dribble to first cone, quick change of direction at the cone, then speed dribble to half and stop on two feet. Walk the ball back on the outside to reset.

• Cues: “Push it out in front on speed.” “Low and tight on the turn.” “Stop on two—show me your balance.”
• Watch for: change of pace—can they go slow/fast on purpose?

Common issue: carrying or palming on the turn. Fix: demonstrate “fingertips on top” and have them do one slow, clean rep before rejoining speed reps.

Adjustment: Stronger kids add a second change (crossover then back) at the middle cone; newer kids just do one clean change and a strong stop.

Pair up 12–15 feet apart (use the lane lines as spacing). If you have an odd number, make one group of three with a middle passer.

Run 3 rounds: chest passes (10), bounce passes (10), then “catch, rip, pivot, pass” (10 each). Make them count out loud with their partner so you can hear who’s locked in.

• Cues: “Thumbs down on the follow-through.” “Step to the target.” “Two hands—snatch it.”
• Watch for: the ball arrives on time and on the receiver’s chest, not floating.

Common issue: one-hand catches and the ball pops out. Fix: stop the group and make everyone clap hands together once before the next catch—then restart immediately.

Adjustment: Better passers take one dribble after the catch before they pivot/pass; newer players stay stationary but must freeze their pivot for one second.

Water on the whistle and back in 2 minutes. Use the last minute to assign station groups for finishing/defense/1-on-1.

• Coach script: “When you come back, you go straight to your color cone. No shooting during water.”
• Watch for: who returns on time without being chased.

Use two lines at one basket (right side and left side). Put a disc at each start spot on the wing. One rebounder under the rim; after your layup, you become the rebounder, and the rebounder outlets to the next shooter.

Run 4 minutes right-hand, 4 minutes left-hand, 4 minutes “choice” (coach calls “right/left” late so they adjust).

• Cues: “Outside foot first.” “Eyes on the top corner of the square.” “Finish high—freeze your hand.”
• Watch for: correct steps without stutter steps into the paint.

Common issue: kids drift under the backboard and shoot from behind it. Fix: move the start disc wider and tell them, “Hit the lane line, then turn in.”

Adjustment: If they’re advanced, add a pad/no-contact bump from the side (or a coach with hands up). If they’re struggling, start from the short corner instead of the wing.

No-ball station to evaluate effort and body control. Put three discs in a line about 6–8 feet apart. Players go in waves of 3–4.

On your clap: slide to disc 2, slide to disc 3, then close out to you (short choppy steps, hand up), then backpedal to start. Next wave goes immediately.

• Cues: “Chest up, butt down.” “Don’t click your heels.” “Short steps on the closeout—hands high.”
• Watch for: they stay low the whole rep instead of popping straight up.

Common issue: crossing feet on slides. Fix: put a disc between their feet path and say, “If you step on the disc, you crossed—redo it.”

Use one side of the court. Offense starts on the wing with a ball; defense starts one arm’s length away. Everyone else lines up behind offense and defense spots (two lines).

On the whistle, offense has 3 dribbles max to score. If defense gets a stop or a rebound, they become offense and stay on; new defender steps in. Keep it moving—next pair ready at the spots.

• Cues: “Attack the front foot.” “One hard move—go.” “Defense: slide first, then contest.”
• Watch for: do they compete through contact and keep playing after a miss?

Common issue: offense dribbles in circles until they lose it. Fix: enforce the 3-dribble rule hard and count dribbles out loud for them.

Adjustment: Stronger kids start with a live closeout (defender runs from the paint). Newer kids start with defender squared up and hands back for the first rep.

Play 5-on-5 if numbers allow; otherwise 4-on-4. Use pinnies to balance teams. Start each possession with a check at the top (no jump ball) so you get more half-court reps.

Play two short games with a quick reset in between. Stop only for 10–15 seconds to fix one thing, then play.

• Cues: “Fill the corners.” “Pass and cut—don’t stand.” “Shot goes up—two go to the glass, two get back.”
• Watch for: spacing and decision-making—do they pass to an open teammate or force a shot into traffic?

Common issue: everyone follows the ball and the lane gets crowded. Fix: freeze play, physically point: “You two wide, you cut, you replace.” Then restart with a check.

Keep score, but also note who talks on defense, who sprints back, and who helps a teammate up—those are tryout separators.

Line up at one basket. Each player shoots 2 free throws while you quickly call names and make one last note. Rebounders rotate fast.

• Cues: “Same routine both shots.” “Bend knees.” “Hold your follow-through until it hits.”
• Watch for: who can settle down and repeat a routine when they’re tired/nervous.

Finish on the baseline: thank them, tell them when results/practice info will be shared, and remind them to put balls back on the rack.