Basketball Practice Plan for 5 to 7 Year Olds (45 Minutes)

Basketball·Elementary·Beginner·45 min·Fundamentals·Ball HandlingPassingShooting

By the Practice Plan App Coaching Team · Published September 2026

1.What Should a Basketball Practice Look Like for 5 and 6 Year Olds?
2.The Four Skills, in Kid Words
3.How Do You Know the Practice Worked?
4.The 45-Minute Practice Plan
5.What You'll Need
6.How Do You Keep 5 and 6 Year Olds Listening at Basketball Practice?
7.Common Problems With First-Time Players and Quick Fixes
8.Adjustments for Group Size, Basketballs and Hoops
9.What Should You Do at the Next Practice?
10.Frequently Asked Questions

This 45-minute basketball practice plan is for kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd grade players who have never played before, and it teaches dribbling, stopping, passing and shooting on lowered hoops through eight short games instead of drills.

It works best with 6 to 12 kids, one coach and one parent helper, on half a court with one or two hoops. Every period is 5 to 7 minutes long, and in every period all of the players are moving at the same time. If another team has the other half of the gym, keep every game inside the three-point line or the volleyball lines so loose balls do not roll into their practice.

What Should a Basketball Practice Look Like for 5 and 6 Year Olds?#

For kindergartners and first graders, practice should look like a series of playground games that happen to use a basketball. Children this young learn by doing, lose interest when they wait, and cannot take in more than one instruction at a time. So this plan follows three rules:

A ball for every player whenever possible, so nobody waits for a turn.
No lines. Warm-ups go in one wide wave, and skill games are played in pairs or in open space.
Show it, then play it. Ten seconds of demonstration, then straight into the game.

Set out the cone rectangle, the partner discs and the shooting discs before players arrive. Once practice starts there is no spare minute to lay out equipment, apart from the water break.

The Four Skills, in Kid Words#

Dribble: “Push the ball down.”
Stop: “Land on two feet and hug the ball.”
Pass: “Two hands, push it to your partner’s tummy.”
Shoot: “Two hands, bend your knees, aim high.”

Do not worry about travelling, double dribbles or shooting form yet. Those come later. For now, a player who is bouncing the ball and smiling is doing it right.

How Do You Know the Practice Worked?#

You are looking for two things by the end. First, when you call “Statue!” the players stop, hold the ball and look at you. Second, most of them can bounce the ball a few times in a row without chasing it across the gym. If both of those happen, it was a good first practice, whatever the shooting looked like.

The 45-Minute Practice Plan#

8-period beginner elementary practice · 45 min

0:00–0:05

Welcome and Statue Freeze Game

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Players come to the baseline and get a ball. Teach two words you will use all practice:

“Statue!” means freeze, hug the ball, eyes on coach.
“Park it!” means ball on the floor with one foot on top.

Then make it a game right away. Players walk anywhere inside the half court hugging the ball. Call “Statue!” and see who freezes first. Play 5 or 6 rounds, changing how they move each time: tiptoe, giant steps, sideways, backwards.

If a few keep moving to test you, skip the lecture. Say “Try again” and praise the first three who freeze. Finish with one “Park it!” so you can explain the warm-up in one sentence.

0:05–0:10

Animal Walk Warm-Up

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Everyone spreads out along the baseline and goes at the same time, so nobody waits. Travel to the free-throw line and back. Balls are parked on the baseline for the first three.

Bear walk out, jog back.
Frog jumps out, jog back.
Crab walk to halfway, jog back.
Penguin walk with the ball hugged to the tummy, out and back.
Kangaroo: hold the ball in two hands and hop on two feet, out and back.

Cues: “Stay in your own lane.” “Soft landings.”

End with 10 seconds of fast feet on the spot, then “Statue!”

0:10–0:17

Red Light, Green Light Dribbling

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Mark a big rectangle with cones, about the size of half the court. Every player has a ball inside it. Stand where everyone can see you.

Green light: dribble and walk anywhere in the rectangle.
Red light: stop on two feet and hug the ball.
Yellow light (add after 3 minutes): tiny low dribbles on the spot.

Play rounds of 20 to 30 seconds. After each red light, name one thing you saw (“Maya stopped on two feet”) and go again. You should get 8 to 10 rounds.

Dribbling with either hand is fine, and so is using two hands or catching the ball between bounces. If a player cannot keep a dribble going, give them bounce-and-catch while walking. If heads stay down, hold up fingers on green light and ask them to shout the number.

0:17–0:23

Water Break and Treasure Hunt Dribbling

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First 2 minutes: water on the sideline with balls parked. While they drink, scatter 20 to 30 beanbags or cones around the half court and put a bucket on the baseline.

Last 4 minutes: Treasure Hunt. Everyone dribbles out to a piece of treasure, stops on two feet, picks it up, and carries it back to the bucket while holding their ball. Then they go again until the floor is clear.

One piece of treasure per trip.
The whole group is one team. Time the first round and try to beat it in the second.
Walking is fine. Running with the ball in their arms on the way back is fine too at this age.

Watch for collisions around the bucket. If it gets crowded, add a second bucket at the other corner.

0:23–0:29

Partner Passing: Popcorn Catches

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Pair players up, one ball per pair, each player standing on a disc about 5 to 6 feet from their partner. If there is an odd number, a coach or helper is the partner.

Minutes 1–2: gentle underhand toss. Catcher shows ten fingers, catches with two hands, and freezes.
Minutes 3–4: bounce pass. “Push it to the floor in the middle.”
Minutes 5–6: group challenge. How many catches can the whole team make in 30 seconds? Count out loud, then try to beat it.

Cues: “Show me your hands.” “Step toward your partner.” “Aim for the tummy.”

If passes are coming in too hard, move the pair one step closer and stay on bounce passes. A player who is nervous about catching can start by rolling the ball back and forth.

0:29–0:34

Dribble, Pancake Stop and Pass

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Stay in the same pairs. Move the two partner discs about 12 feet apart and put a third disc, the pancake, in the middle. All pairs go at once, so there are no lines.

The player with the ball dribbles from their disc to the pancake.
They stop with two feet on the pancake and bounce pass to their partner.
They run back to their own disc. The partner now dribbles to the pancake, stops and passes back.

Keep it going for about 90 seconds, call “Statue!”, give one tip, and restart. Aim for three rounds.

The thing to look for is the stop coming before the pass. If players are throwing on the run, have them say “pancake” out loud when both feet land.

0:34–0:40

Feed the Hoop Shooting Game

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Lower the hoops as far as they go. Put 5 or 6 discs in a half circle about 3 to 5 feet from each basket. Split the group evenly between the hoops, every player with a ball.

Shoot from a disc, get your own ball, dribble to a different open disc, shoot again.
No more than 4 shooters at a hoop at one time. Extra players shoot into a hula hoop held up by a helper, and swap in every 90 seconds.
The whole team counts makes out loud together. Set a target such as 15 and see if they can feed the hoop that many times.

Cues: “Two hands.” “Bend your knees.” “Aim high.”

Safety: eyes up when you are near the basket, and only pick up your ball once it has stopped bouncing under the hoop. If nobody is making shots, move the discs closer.

0:40–0:45

Sharks and Minnows and High-Five Huddle

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First 3 minutes: players are minnows and line up along the baseline with a ball. Coaches are the sharks and stand in the middle. On “Swim!” the minnows dribble to the half-court line. Sharks walk, never run, and gently tap a ball away now and then.

Nobody is out. If your ball gets tapped away, get it, do 5 dribbles on the spot, and keep going.
Play 4 or 5 crossings.

Last 2 minutes: “Park it!” on the baseline. Ask two questions: “What does Statue mean?” and “Who can show me a pancake stop?” Let two players show it. Finish with a high-five line, and every player puts their ball in the bag on the way out.

Time	Period	Coaching Notes
0:00–0:05	Welcome and Statue Freeze Game	Players come to the baseline and get a ball. Teach two words you will use all practice: “Statue!” means freeze, hug the ball, eyes on coach. “Park it!” means ball on the floor with one foot on top. Then make it a game right away. Players walk anywhere inside the half court hugging the ball. Call “Statue!” and see who freezes first. Play 5 or 6 rounds, changing how they move each time: tiptoe, giant steps, sideways, backwards. If a few keep moving to test you, skip the lecture. Say “Try again” and praise the first three who freeze. Finish with one “Park it!” so you can explain the warm-up in one sentence.
0:05–0:10	Animal Walk Warm-Up	Everyone spreads out along the baseline and goes at the same time, so nobody waits. Travel to the free-throw line and back. Balls are parked on the baseline for the first three. Bear walk out, jog back. Frog jumps out, jog back. Crab walk to halfway, jog back. Penguin walk with the ball hugged to the tummy, out and back. Kangaroo: hold the ball in two hands and hop on two feet, out and back. Cues: “Stay in your own lane.” “Soft landings.” End with 10 seconds of fast feet on the spot, then “Statue!”
0:10–0:17	Red Light, Green Light Dribbling	Mark a big rectangle with cones, about the size of half the court. Every player has a ball inside it. Stand where everyone can see you. Green light: dribble and walk anywhere in the rectangle. Red light: stop on two feet and hug the ball. Yellow light (add after 3 minutes): tiny low dribbles on the spot. Play rounds of 20 to 30 seconds. After each red light, name one thing you saw (“Maya stopped on two feet”) and go again. You should get 8 to 10 rounds. Dribbling with either hand is fine, and so is using two hands or catching the ball between bounces. If a player cannot keep a dribble going, give them bounce-and-catch while walking. If heads stay down, hold up fingers on green light and ask them to shout the number.
0:17–0:23	Water Break and Treasure Hunt Dribbling	First 2 minutes: water on the sideline with balls parked. While they drink, scatter 20 to 30 beanbags or cones around the half court and put a bucket on the baseline. Last 4 minutes: Treasure Hunt. Everyone dribbles out to a piece of treasure, stops on two feet, picks it up, and carries it back to the bucket while holding their ball. Then they go again until the floor is clear. One piece of treasure per trip. The whole group is one team. Time the first round and try to beat it in the second. Walking is fine. Running with the ball in their arms on the way back is fine too at this age. Watch for collisions around the bucket. If it gets crowded, add a second bucket at the other corner.
0:23–0:29	Partner Passing: Popcorn Catches	Pair players up, one ball per pair, each player standing on a disc about 5 to 6 feet from their partner. If there is an odd number, a coach or helper is the partner. Minutes 1–2: gentle underhand toss. Catcher shows ten fingers, catches with two hands, and freezes. Minutes 3–4: bounce pass. “Push it to the floor in the middle.” Minutes 5–6: group challenge. How many catches can the whole team make in 30 seconds? Count out loud, then try to beat it. Cues: “Show me your hands.” “Step toward your partner.” “Aim for the tummy.” If passes are coming in too hard, move the pair one step closer and stay on bounce passes. A player who is nervous about catching can start by rolling the ball back and forth.
0:29–0:34	Dribble, Pancake Stop and Pass	Stay in the same pairs. Move the two partner discs about 12 feet apart and put a third disc, the pancake, in the middle. All pairs go at once, so there are no lines. The player with the ball dribbles from their disc to the pancake. They stop with two feet on the pancake and bounce pass to their partner. They run back to their own disc. The partner now dribbles to the pancake, stops and passes back. Keep it going for about 90 seconds, call “Statue!”, give one tip, and restart. Aim for three rounds. The thing to look for is the stop coming before the pass. If players are throwing on the run, have them say “pancake” out loud when both feet land.
0:34–0:40	Feed the Hoop Shooting Game	Lower the hoops as far as they go. Put 5 or 6 discs in a half circle about 3 to 5 feet from each basket. Split the group evenly between the hoops, every player with a ball. Shoot from a disc, get your own ball, dribble to a different open disc, shoot again. No more than 4 shooters at a hoop at one time. Extra players shoot into a hula hoop held up by a helper, and swap in every 90 seconds. The whole team counts makes out loud together. Set a target such as 15 and see if they can feed the hoop that many times. Cues: “Two hands.” “Bend your knees.” “Aim high.” Safety: eyes up when you are near the basket, and only pick up your ball once it has stopped bouncing under the hoop. If nobody is making shots, move the discs closer.
0:40–0:45	Sharks and Minnows and High-Five Huddle	First 3 minutes: players are minnows and line up along the baseline with a ball. Coaches are the sharks and stand in the middle. On “Swim!” the minnows dribble to the half-court line. Sharks walk, never run, and gently tap a ball away now and then. Nobody is out. If your ball gets tapped away, get it, do 5 dribbles on the spot, and keep going. Play 4 or 5 crossings. Last 2 minutes: “Park it!” on the baseline. Ask two questions: “What does Statue mean?” and “Who can show me a pancake stop?” Let two players show it. Finish with a high-five line, and every player puts their ball in the bag on the way out.

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What You'll Need#

Small basketballs, one per player if possible
Flat discs or cones (20 or more)
Beanbags or extra cones to use as treasure, plus a bucket
1 or 2 hoops lowered as far as they adjust
Hula hoop (shooting target if the hoop cannot be lowered)
Ball bag or bin
Phone timer

How Do You Keep 5 and 6 Year Olds Listening at Basketball Practice?#

Use the freeze word every time. Call “Statue!” before you explain anything. If balls are still bouncing, wait and try again. Do not talk over the noise.
Get low. Kneel so you are at eye level, and keep each explanation to one sentence.
Show, do not tell. Use a player to demonstrate. The others watch a child more closely than they watch an adult.
Praise by name and be specific. “Eli stopped on two feet” works better than “good job.”
Change the game before they are bored. If a game is falling flat after two minutes, move to the next period early and come back to it another day.

Common Problems With First-Time Players and Quick Fixes#

The ball keeps running away. Players slap at it. Have everyone do 5 slow pushes on the spot while you say “push it down,” then restart the game.
Nobody stops on red light. They are watching the ball. Move closer, clap once as you call it, and replay the stop until most of the group gets it.
Passes come in too hard or too high. Move partners a step closer and use bounce passes only.
A player will not join in. Let them stand with the helper and hold a ball. Invite them into the next game with a job, such as putting the treasure in the bucket. Most join within a period or two.
Tears after a bump or a miss. A short sit with a parent and a drink of water is fine. Welcome them back without any fuss.

Adjustments for Group Size, Basketballs and Hoops#

More than 12 players: split the half court in two with a line of cones. One adult runs the dribbling and passing games while the other runs shooting, and the groups swap at the water break.
Fewer than 6 players: coaches become partners in the passing games, and everyone shoots at one hoop.
Not enough basketballs: pair players up. One dribbles to a cone and back, hands the ball over, and the partner goes. Keep the distance short so the wait is only a few seconds.
Only one hoop: half the group shoots while the other half shoots into a hula hoop held by a helper, and they swap every 90 seconds.
Hoop cannot be lowered: use the hula hoop, a laundry basket on a chair, or a taped square on the wall as the target. Making shots matters more for confidence than the height of the target.

What Should You Do at the Next Practice?#

Keep the same freeze word, the same warm-up and Red Light, Green Light, because young players settle faster when the start of practice is familiar. Change one or two of the later games. Good next steps are dribbling with the other hand on yellow light, and a simple 1-on-1 where a player dribbles from the pancake to the hoop and shoots while a coach plays gentle defense.

Frequently Asked Questions#

What should a basketball practice plan for 5 year olds include?▾

Short games that put a ball in every child's hands: a freeze game, animal walks, Red Light Green Light dribbling, partner passing from a few feet apart, and close-range shooting on a lowered hoop. Keep each game to 5 to 7 minutes and avoid lines. Rules like travelling and double dribble can wait.

How long should basketball practice be for kindergarten and 6 year olds?▾

About 45 minutes is plenty for most kindergarten to 2nd grade groups. Break it into short periods with a water break in the middle. If the group is fading before the end, finish with a favorite game and stop early.

What size basketball and hoop height should 5 to 7 year olds use?▾

Use the smallest ball your league provides, which is usually a size 4 or a size 5 (27.5 inch). Lower the hoop as far as it adjusts, ideally to somewhere around 6 to 8 feet. If it cannot be lowered, shoot at a hula hoop or another low target so players can make shots.

How do I keep 5 to 7 year olds from standing in line at practice?▾

Give every player a ball and use games where everyone goes at once. Run warm-ups in one wide wave from the baseline, do passing in pairs, and let players shoot, rebound their own ball and move to a new spot. If you ever see more than three children waiting, add another starting spot.

What if I only have one hoop or not enough basketballs?▾

With one hoop, half the group shoots while the other half shoots into a hula hoop held by a helper, then swap every 90 seconds. With too few balls, pair players up and have them take turns over a short distance. The dribbling, stopping and passing games need no hoop at all.

What do I do when a young player will not listen or will not join in?▾

Stay calm and keep the game going for everyone else. Give the child a simple job, such as collecting cones, or let them watch beside a helper for a few minutes. Most first-time players join in once they see the others having fun.