6-week pre-season training program for Under-18s

• Make sure every drill is at game speed and contested
• Develop players' ability to make decisions under pressure while fatigued
• Implement advanced offensive and defensive schemes that rely on fundamental execution

Here’s a complete 6-week pre-season training program for an Under-18 basketball team, designed to develop elite-level skills, advanced team concepts, and game awareness. This program prepares players for high-level competition by focusing on individual skill refinement, team execution, conditioning, and mental toughness.

Under-18 Pre-Season Basketball Training Program

Duration: 6 Weeks
Sessions per week: 2-3
Session length: 90 minutes

Program Goals

✅ Enhance elite individual skills (ball-handling, shooting, finishing, defense)
✅ Implement advanced offensive and defensive team concepts
✅ Improve game awareness, decision-making, and basketball IQ
✅ Build mental toughness, conditioning, and leadership

Week 1: High-Level Fundamentals & Conditioning

Focus: Sharpening basic skills at game speed, building endurance

Warm-up (15 min)

• Dynamic warm-up & agility drills – Lateral slides, sprints, reaction drills
• Full-court dribbling & passing drill – Players dribble under pressure and make quick passes in transition
• Finishing at full speed – Layups, floaters, and contact finishes

Skill Development (45 min)

• Ball-handling: Two-ball dribbling, game-speed moves – Players dribble two balls simultaneously and execute attack moves under pressure.
• Passing: Skip passes, post-entry, pocket passes – Players work on precision and quick decision-making.
• Shooting: Catch-and-shoot, one-dribble pull-ups, step-backs – Players focus on shooting at game speed with defensive pressure.
• Footwork: Advanced pivots, step-throughs, jab series – Teaches effective scoring footwork.

Scrimmage & Games (25 min)

• Controlled 3v3 closeout drill – Players must attack the defender’s closeout and make quick decisions.
• 4v4 fast-break drill – Transition offense execution.

Cool-down (5 min)

• Static stretching & review

Week 2: Defensive Execution & Full-Court Pressure

Focus: On-ball defense, team rotations, and handling defensive pressure

Warm-up (15 min)

• Closeout & reaction drill – Players work on closing out properly and reacting to offensive movement.
• 1-on-1 full-court defense – Players must pressure the ball and contain without fouling.

Skill Development (45 min)

• Defensive footwork: Sliding, drop steps, recovery – Players improve lateral quickness and defensive reaction.
• Defensive rotations: Help-side, trapping, weak-side recovery – Players work on team defensive communication.
• Rebounding & outlet passing: High-pointing, boxing out, and pushing transition – Teaches rebounding responsibilities and fast-break initiation.
• Breaking the press: Players work on passing and dribbling through full-court pressure.

Scrimmage & Games (25 min)

• 4v4 full-court defensive pressure drill – Teams practice pressing and breaking the press.
• Half-court 5v5 defensive execution – Emphasis on help-side defense and rotations.

Cool-down (5 min)

• Team reflection & strategy discussion

Week 3: Advanced Finishing, Shooting, and Transition Play

Focus: Scoring against defenders, shooting under pressure, transition offense

Warm-up (15 min)

• Fast-break layup decision drill – Players run 2v1 or 3v2 and make the right pass or finish.
• Quick release shooting drill – Players take shots in rhythm while a coach/defender closes out.

Skill Development (45 min)

• Finishing moves: Euro step, reverse layup, floater, up-and-under – Players work on scoring creatively at the rim.
• Shooting: Off-the-dribble, off screens, contested shots – Simulates in-game shot creation.
• Fast-break execution: Outlet passing and transition spacing – Players execute fast breaks with numbers advantage.
• Defensive transition: Sprinting back and stopping the ball – Improves transition defense and communication.

Scrimmage & Games (25 min)

• 5v5 controlled transition scrimmage – Teams emphasise quick decision-making in fast-break situations.

Cool-down (5 min)

• Recovery stretching

Week 4: Half-Court Execution, Spacing, and Pick & Roll

Focus: Running structured offense, spacing, and advanced offensive sets

Warm-up (15 min)

• Pick-and-roll decision-making drill – Players read the defense and react (shoot, drive, or pass).
• Defensive communication drill – Players call out screens, switches, and help-side responsibilities.

Skill Development (45 min)

• Half-court spacing & movement: Motion offense, cutting – Players execute off-ball movement and spacing.
• Pick-and-roll execution: Reads for the ball-handler and screener – Players work on creating scoring opportunities off screens.
• Post play & weak-side action: Guards work on entry passes, post players work on positioning – Improves offensive execution inside and outside.
• Defensive adjustments: Switching, hedging, drop coverage – Defenders practice adjusting to different offensive actions.

Scrimmage & Games (25 min)

• Controlled 5v5 play with offensive sets – Players must execute team offense against a set defense.

Cool-down (5 min)

• Reflection on execution

Week 5: Game Situations, Late-Game Execution, and Toughness

Focus: Handling pressure, executing in clutch moments, and mental resilience

Warm-up (15 min)

• 1v1 full-court ball pressure drill – Ball-handlers must break pressure while staying composed.
• End-of-clock decision-making drill – Players get a set time to execute a shot or pass.

Skill Development (45 min)

• Handling defensive pressure: Breaking traps, double-teams – Players practice staying composed under heavy pressure.
• Late-game execution: Managing time and score, running specific plays – Players simulate end-of-game scenarios.
• Drawing fouls & finishing through contact: Attack the rim aggressively – Players practice drawing fouls and finishing under contact.
• Defensive stops under pressure: Players must lock in defensively in close-game situations.

Scrimmage & Games (25 min)

• Game-scenario scrimmage – Teams run through different late-game situations with a shot clock.

Cool-down (5 min)

• Team huddle, mental focus discussion

Week 6: Competition, Leadership, and Team Chemistry

Focus: Applying all skills in competitive situations

Warm-up (15 min)

• Full-court passing & transition drill – Sharp passing on the move
• Quick shooting drill – High-rep shooting under time constraints

Skill Development (45 min)

• Shooting competition: 3-point contest, free throw challenge – Encourages consistency under pressure.
• Defensive challenge: 1-on-1, 2-on-2 stops – Players compete to get defensive stops.
• Small-sided games: 3v3, 4v4 controlled play – Forces players to execute offensive and defensive concepts.

Scrimmage & Games (25 min)

• Full-court 5v5 competitive scrimmage – Players apply everything learned in a structured game setting.

Cool-down (5 min)

• Team huddle, reflections, and goal setting for the season

Coaching Tips for U18 Basketball

✅ Push tempo & intensity – Every drill should be at game speed.
✅ Demand precision – Passes, shots, and execution must be sharp.
✅ Develop leadership – Encourage communication and accountability.
✅ Simulate pressure – Prepare players for late-game situations and adversity.