What You Can Do Before the First Practice
Basketball season doesn’t begin with the first game. or even with tryouts.
The work you put in beforehand can help you arrive more confident, conditioned, and ready to compete. You don’t need a complicated training program to prepare. Consistent work on a few fundamentals can make a noticeable difference.
Whether you’re hoping to play Middle School or Upper School basketball at ICI, here are some ways to get ready.
Start Getting in Basketball Shape
Running a mile and playing basketball aren’t the same thing.
Basketball requires repeated bursts of sprinting, stopping, changing direction, defending, jumping, and recovering.
Try incorporating:
- Short sprints
- Defensive slides
- Jump rope
- Shuttle runs
- Bodyweight exercises
- Core work
- Regular pickup basketball
You don’t need to exhaust yourself every day. Consistency is more valuable than one extremely difficult workout.
Get Comfortable With the Basketball
One of the easiest things to practice on your own is ball handling.
Work with both hands.
Practice stationary dribbling, crossovers, changing direction, changing speed, and keeping your head up while handling the ball.
Even 10–15 focused minutes can be productive when you do it consistently.
Work on Your Shooting Form
Don’t spend all your time launching three-pointers.
Start closer to the basket and focus on good mechanics. Gradually move farther away while maintaining your form.
Practice layups from both sides of the basket and with both hands. Those fundamental shots matter.
Don’t Forget Defense
You can practice defensive movement without even having a basketball.
Work on staying low, moving laterally, changing direction, closing out under control, and keeping your balance.
Effort on defense is something every player can bring to the court.
Play Basketball
Drills are important, but they don’t replace playing.
Pickup basketball helps you learn spacing, decision-making, communication, defense, passing, and how to react when things don’t happen exactly the way you practiced them.
Take advantage of opportunities to get on the court.
Prepare Mentally, Too
Come into the season ready to learn.
You don’t need to know everything. You don’t need to be the best player in the gym. You do need to be coachable, willing to work, and ready to be part of a team.
Ask questions. Listen. Hustle. Encourage your teammates. Be willing to try something even when you’re not sure you’ll get it right the first time.
That’s how players grow.
Don’t Miss Basketball Opportunities
We’re building ways for ICI girls to stay involved with basketball beyond just the official season. BAND will be one of our primary ways to communicate opportunities and information.
Join the ICI Girls Basketball BAND:
Join our BAND group,
Follow ICI Girls Basketball on Instagram:
Follow @icimagine.wbb on Instagram
and for official school athletics information, including schedules, scores, forms, and announcements, visit: