1. Shorten practice as the season progresses, but maintain intensity.
2. Alternate easy and hard segments of practice.
3. Only emphasize one side of a drill.
4. Don’t stay on one thing more than 10 minutes. Come back to it the next day.
5. Stress fundamentals early in practice and build to team play later.
6. Make the players keep a notebook.
7. Have practice gear for them to wear. (varsity only)
8. The group that finishes practice as starters start the next day.
9. Practice should be harder than the game. Make players confidently look forward to the next game.
10. Spend more time with the offense early since the offense will take more time to develop.
11. Practice should be tough but variety is essential.
12. Reward playing time to those players who practice well.
13. Don’t punish after a bad game – TEACH!
14. Stay with your practice plan. If things aren’t working move on anyway and return to the problem the next day.
15. Use peer pressure to elevate the practice mood. If that fails, throw someone out. (anyone)
Bob Hurley is one of the great coaches of high school basketball. We became friends at Golden Valley Sports Camp in the 1990’s!