— TRAINING SESSION

Pressure Shooting (U12)

Block and Bank · 52 minutes · 7 drills · Generated 13 May 2026

Age group: U12
Focus: Shooting
Duration: 52 minutes
Drills: 7

Game shots come tired and contested. Build mental toughness through pressure formats and consequences.

7DRILLS

52MINUTES

7AVG / DRILL

1 Passing Lines Warm-Up

4 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u8 Court: Half

Pairs, 5 metres apart. 20 chest passes, 20 bounce passes, 20 overhead passes, 20 one-handed push passes (10 each hand).

Fundamentals warm-up every coach should run every practice. Countless turnovers prevented.

Coaching points

Step into every pass.
Fingertips on follow-through.
Receive with both hands, fingers spread.
Bounce passes: 2/3 of the way to your partner.
Overhead passes: snap wrists, from the forehead.

2 Five Spot Shooting

8 min Difficulty: Intermediate Age: u14 Court: Half

Five marked spots: both corners, both wings, top of the key. Player must make 5 shots from each spot before moving to the next. Coach times the whole thing. Track personal bests on the wall.

Relentless shooting drill that builds touch from every spot on the floor.

Coaching points

• Quality over speed — but speed comes from quality reps
• Same form every shot — fatigue is the test
• Use a partner rebounder — keep the pace high
• Track times publicly — pressure makes shots
• Reset feet completely before each shot

3 Sprint to Shoot

8 min Difficulty: Intermediate Age: u14 Court: Half

Player sprints from baseline to the three-point line, receives a pass from a partner under the basket, and shoots immediately on the catch. Sprint, catch, shoot. 10 makes from each of 5 spots.

Replicates real-game shooting fatigue. Pure shots are easy; tired shots win games.

Coaching points

Sprint — actually run hard, not jog.
Set feet on the catch — don't fade away.
Same form whether you're fresh or gassed.
Breathe — exhale on release.
Commit to the shot — no second-guessing.

4 Pressure Free Throws

10 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u12 Court: Half

Each player shoots two free throws after a hard physical task (10 push-ups, sprints, rebounds). Best percentage on the team sits out the next sprint.

Replicates late-game fatigue. Most missed FTs happen at 4-2 with 6 seconds left, not in calm drills.

Coaching points

Same routine every time, automatic.
Slow down on the line, fatigue tempts rushing.
Three dribbles, breath, shoot. DO IT.
Follow through and hold.
Misses don't matter, next one is what counts.

5 Beat the Pro

10 min Difficulty: Intermediate Age: u12 Court: Half

Shooter takes a shot. Make = 1 point. Miss = pro (coach) gets 3 points. First to 11 wins. Brutal but addictive.

Builds the focus required for game-winning shots.

Coaching points

Quality shots, don't rush.
Same routine every shot.
Don't talk smack, focus inward.
Between shots: reset, breathe.
Finish with a make, never end on a miss.

6 Knockout

8 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u10 Court: Half

Players line up at the free throw line, two basketballs at the front. First player shoots; if they miss they rebound and try again. Second player shoots immediately after the first releases — if they make it before the first player makes theirs, the first is OUT.

Fan favourite. Builds shooting under pressure and rebound urgency.

Coaching points

• Quick rebound off your miss — speed matters more than form
• If you're behind, you can shoot from anywhere — just make it before the player ahead
• Stay alert — the line moves fast
• Last player standing wins
• Coach calls 'no granny shots' for older groups

7 Cool Down Routine

4 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u8 Court: Half

End-of-practice: 30 seconds each, toe touches, quad stretch, hamstring stretch, calf stretch, lunge stretch, cobra back stretch, shoulder rolls. Total 4 minutes.

Most coaches skip it. Don't. Recovery starts here. Players who stretch consistently miss less practice from soreness.

Coaching points

Slow movements, no bouncing.
Breathe, exhale on stretch.
Don't push through pain, just to the edge.
Hold each stretch.
Debrief while stretching: what worked today?