NBA BASKETBALL SCHOOL CURRICULUM

Elevate Program – After-school

 STAGES OF BASKETBALL TRAINING

From the definition of the model of player(vision) that is intended to be trained

in the future and facing the sports training process as a long-term process (8 to
10 years), it is important to define which technical-tactical contents and game
principles should be seek to teach in each of the stages of sports training.
Bearing in mind that the characteristics and needs of practitioners are different
in each of these stages, it is natural that the objectives, contents and training
methods themselves vary according to these differences.

However, it is possible to establish a guideline that determines a coherent and

articulated progression between the different levels with regard to the technical,
tactical, physical and psychological development of practitioners. The proposed
stages, aligned with the official age groups, presuppose a progression in which
each of them is based on the skills acquired in the previous ones, but these
stages should not be understood as watertight with each other. Obviously,
content introduced/taught at any level is considered learned and is assumed as
such at the next level, that is, it continues to be addressed, but already in a
phase of improvement and training - teach first, train later. It must always be
born in mind that learning is an individual process, each player learns at his
own pace and, being a continuous process, its effects are not visible
continuously, but in moments, it is common to hear that that kid took a leap",
referring to his evolution. In practice, this means what a coach with some
experience knows: the development process of a player is not linear, it has ups
and downs, advances and setbacks. Ultimately, a "good" training program aims
at the player (it's about training players, not teams) to acquire the ability to
effectively execute (domain of individual technique, of the "hows" of the game)
the adequate response to the several game situations, which requires him to
do good "readings" (domain of individual tactics).

Complying with a training program, generically delimited between the Under-12

and Under-18 (the Under-8 and Under-10 we see as a stage of sports
animation), a player will be able to play in Seniors, which does not means that
you are prepared to compete at a high level... To be a top player, capable of
competing at a high level, there is a final stage of training that can only be
completed in Seniors, in a context of highly demanding training and
competition, high yield. Obviously there are "out-of-series" ones, but those are
extremely rare.
General objectives:

INITIATION

(5-9 YEARS OLD)

Participation and fun playing are the main premises of this phase, the athlete
must have access to a healthy lifestyle based on the modality, basketball,
where he will have contact with the competition inherent to the game but
without the “weight” of winning , but in trying the overcoming factor in a fun
way, where the end result is an attachment, only the process matters.

DEVELOPMENT (10-16 YEARS OLD)

At this stage, the focus should be on deepening all fundamental skills

(physical and technical). This phase will serve as a gradual preparation and
a “DRAFT” for athletes in the long term. The basis of training will be based
on the great development of individual skills and on teaching the game
through fundamentals, always having the inherent intensity.

SPECIALIZATION (16-18 YEARS OLD)

The athlete at this stage is in the final stage of his maturation at a technical,
tactical, physical and psychological level. It is still important to train these
skills, but in an intense and frequent way, based on monitoring by
professionals in the basic areas of sport (medical, psychological and
scientific training). Not all athletes reach this stage, but those who do, are
athletes ready to compete at the highest level for clubs and national teams
(not important for the NBA SCHOOLS PROGRAM).
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

INITIATION
(5-9 YEARS OLD)

Physical Component

• Basic general training – development of basic motor patterns (running forwards and
backwards, jumping, stopping, pulling off, throwing, throwing);

• Development of coordination skills: body and space notion; races with changes of
direction; balance games; speed games.

Technical Component – Tactical

• Understand the purpose of the game as well as the notion of attack and defense space;

• Introduction of technical fundamentals with the ball (passing, dribbling and launching in
support and passing) and without the ball (reception and demarcation) in a fun way;

• Teaching tactical fundamentals through the game - “Learn to play by playing”

Psychological Component;

• Training fun learning basketball;

• Apprehend collective form of participation in collective sports;

• Respect teammates and opponents;

TECHNICAL CONTENT

At this stage, the technical contents to be taught/developed should be the following:

Offensive Individual Technique

• Basic Offensive Position

• 1 and 2 stops and rotations (axis foot)

• Dribbling protection and progression

• Chest and shoulder pass

• Shooting in support with 2 hands

• Shooting in support/jump with differentiation between shoot and support hand

TACTICAL CONTENT

In this age group, the main objectives are learning the different fundamentals of individual
offensive technique and basic tactical fundamentals.

OFFENSE:

• Receiving the ball with both hands, stopping (1 and 2 times), and framing the basket,
protecting the ball and turning on the pivot foot depending on the defender's position and
placing themselves in the Basic Offensive Position;

• Finish close to the basket with a shoot in support, with a shoot in the stride after
progressing dribbling and after passing and receiving the ball;

• Pass the ball effectively, using different types of passes (chest, 2 hands over head,
shoulder) according to the competitive situation;

• Rationally occupy the space, positioning yourself “4 steps away from your colleague”,
avoiding moving towards the ball carrier;

• In possession of the ball, passing the ball whenever a pass line is open, then cutting
towards the basket – PASS AND CUT – with the target hand asking for the ball; penetrate
in a dribble to the basket if the path is clear or after unbalancing the defender in a 1v1
situation;

• Without possession of the ball, intentionally move towards the basket, changing direction
and speed and, if you do not receive the ball, occupy a free position next to the ball carrier.

DEFENSE:

Individual Defense – Each one defends his and only his;

• Defend the player without the ball respecting the fundamental defensive references:

• Always be between the basket, the ball and the man;

• Be closer to the basket than my attacker.

• Respect 3 basic rules when defending the player with the ball:

• Opponents don't steal the ball;

• Maintain the ball-basket frame and follow the movement of the ball in frame;
• Keep an arm's length away from the direct attacker;
• Opponents don't disarm launches, they gain positions that prevent easy
launches.
PHYSICAL CONTENT:

In these initial levels of practice, there should be a concern with the following aspects
associated with the physical component of athletes:
• Development of basic motor patterns (basic body techniques) such as running forwards
and backwards, jumping, stopping, starting, throwing, throwing, etc...;
• Development of coordinative abilities associated with body and space notions and
balance;
• Development of speed, particularly reaction and execution speed (associated with
technical aspects).

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

• The GAME (the 3x3 in the under-8s and the 4x4 in the under-10s) is the best means of
learning the CONTENTS that are intended to be taught.

• The proportion of TIME spent between game situations must be greater than in
analytical exercises:
• In the under-8s, 15-20% are allocated to exercises and 75-80% are allocated to
matches;
• In the under-10s, 20-30% are devoted to exercises and 80-70% are devoted to
knowledge of the Game.

• Use of playful games with opposition to teach and develop technical fundamentals in a
playful and fun way.

• Use of reduced games:

• In the sub-8, predominance of simple game situations of 1x1, 2x2 and
numerical superiority (i.e., 2x1, 3x1);
• In the sub-10, predominance of game situations of 1x1, 2x2 and 3x3 and in
numerical superiority (i.e., 2x1 and 3x2);

• Use of specific technical exercises for:

•Technique without the ball with requests for jumps, 1 and 2 time stops and
rotations
•(catching, stepping, hitting and running, electric current, knee touching)
•Ball handling with different displacements, postures and objectives;
•Protection and progression dribbling - use of both hands, balance laterality and
remove
•the presence of the ball's gaze.
•Pass with the aim of teaching technique in chest and shoulder passes.
•Passing with opposition (eg different ways of “playing madness”) with the aim of
•teaching variants of traditional passing in the face of opposition – individual
tactics.
•Support and jump throws that seek to intervene on the technical aspects of
shooting mechanics:

· In Under-8s, Incidence in terms of the general body scheme of the act of

throwing - facing the basket, flexion and extension of the body, legs and
arms and trajectory in an arc to give the ball;

· In Sub-10s, start demanding a distinction between the throwing hand and

the support hand.

• Throwing in pass on both sides – right and left side with requirements for technical
execution.
• Use of exercises that stimulate the coordinative component, such as balance games,
games with a technical component and reaction to a variable context (fox game, caught in
dribbling, etc...)

• Use of exercises that develop reaction speed - with different stimulation (auditory, visual
and kinesthetic) and initial positions (standing, sitting, lying down) - and the speed of
execution associated with technical aspects (for example, dribbling relays or pass).

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

DEVELOPMENT (10-16 YEARS OLD)

Physical Component

• Development of coordination skills: static and dynamic balance skills; sense of rhythm;
speed of reaction and displacement;

• Development of flexibility;

Technical Component - Tactical

• Development of technical fundamentals: different types of passes; jump shoot; shoot after
dribble; fakes, changes of direction dribbling

• Introduction of the first offensive tactical combinations: “pass and cut” and “clearing”
• Development individual defense (player with or without ball)

• Acquisition of the collective dimension of the game: moving away from the ball; filling the
corridors on the counterattack; improvement in the choice of shooting;

Psychological component

• Fun training and learning basketball

• Apprehend the collective form of participation in collective sports • Respect the decisions of
the referee, teammates and opponent

TECHNICAL CONTENT

At this stage, the technical contents to be taught/developed should be the following:

Offensive Individual Technique

• Basic Offensive Position

• 1 and 2 stops and rotations (axis foot)

• Fakes (from dribbling, passing and shooting) • Footwork

• Start in direct and crossed dribble
• Dribbling protection and progression
• Changes of direction while dribbling (front, back
back, crotch and inversion)
• Chest pass (and its variants; one-handed passes), shoulder and side pass (with and
without interposition of the leg;
• Throwing in jump with differentiation between throwing and supporting hand

Individual Defensive Technique

• Defensive Basic Position • Defensive Sliding

• Recovery Step

TACTICAL CONTENT

In this age group, the main objectives are learning the different fundamentals of individual
offensive and defensive technique and basic tactical fundamentals. To accomplish these
goals, the game principles are based on:

a) Constant attempt to play in COUNTER-ATTACK (C.A.) through permanent insistence on

the quick transition from defense/attack (reaction to ball possession) – Introduction of
openings and transferring the ball in dribbling or passing and finishing in numerical
advantage ;

b) Connection of the CA with the attack of position: do not stop playing; always be
AGGRESSIVE in 1x1 with the ball;

c) In positional attack, in the 5 OPEN system:

• Ball carrier always passes the ball to the teammate who is further ahead and
unmarked.
• Ball carrier passes the ball and cuts to the basket
• A player without the ball must move to the basket and, if he does not receive the
ball, he occupies a free position next to the ball.
• Players without the ball replace the free spaces, respecting each other's spaces.

d) Individual defense FULL Court.

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

• Clear predominance of the game (70-60%) as a fundamental means of teaching,

keeping the defense on the attacker with the ball conditioned only if the game is not very
collective and the players show little control of the ball.

• Small games of 1x1, 2x2, 3x3, centered on rebounding, reacting to changes in ball
possession, and balanced occupation of space in attack, very simple 2x2 combinations
(passing and cutting, clearing the dribble)

• Transition exercises with 2 and 3 players using the pass and the dribble in progression
to acquire the notions of lanes and finalization in numerical advantage. Focus on the 2
against 1 situation as the numerical advantage situation that young people must know
how to solve.

• Reaction exercises to possession of the ball (attack-defense and defense-attack

transitions) in situations of 1 against 1, 2 against 2 and 3 against 3, preceded by an
offensive and defensive rebound;

• Analytical exercises, without opposition, take a greater proportion of time (30-40%) and
with a clear predominance of the basic fundamentals of the Individual Offensive
Technique:

•Footwork technique (jumps, 1 and 2 time stops and rotations) associated with
other technical elements, particularly in finishing close to the basket;
•Protection and progression dribbling (strong and weak hand) and dribbling
direction changes (front, back, legs and reversal).
•Pass with the objective of teaching the technique in chest passes, 2 hands over
the head and shoulder, in displacement and with greater speed;
•Passing with opposition with the aim of teaching variants of traditional passing in
the face of opposition – individual tactics.
•Throwing that seek to intervene on the technical aspects of throwing mechanics:
•Throwing in the pass on both sides – right and left side with technical execution
requirements

• Physical development exercises that require:

•Basketball-specific forms of coordination, such as,

•Manipulations of other objects and balls with upper and lower limbs;
•Launches for different types of targets with a differentiated mechanical structure;
•Mastery of the body scheme and integration of an adapted notion of body,
balances
•(different support surfaces), various runs and displacements, jumps and multi-
jumps.
•Development of reaction speed, speed of execution - integrate with training
exercises for individual offensive technique (relay races with tasks, passing
competitions,
•dribbling and throwing, with different displacements and different distances)
•General strengthening of the locomotor system using your own body weight
through
•playful games with different positions and displacements
•Start of flexibility work (2 to 3 times a week);
 Monthly Topics

Elevate Programme

TERM 1 – SUBJECTS for Macrocycle 1

June 2025 July 2025 August 2025 September 2025 October 2025

Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up)

Shooting form(2 hands) Shooting form Shooting routine Shooting routine Shooting after pass

lay ups after dribbling lay ups after dribbling Combo moves with pass,
Lay ups after dribbling Lay ups after passing
dribbling and jump shoot

Full court defense in Passing, follow the pass ,

Full court defense Full court defense
Dribbling in same spot small side games finish with lay up or jump
position position
shoot

SMALL SIDE GAMES AND SMALL SIDE GAMES AND SMALL SIDE GAMES AND
GAME SITUATION GAME SITUATION GAME SITUATION SMALL SIDE GAMES AND SMALL SIDE GAMES AND
GAME SITUATION GAME SITUATION
Hit the cone drill Hit the cone drill 2x1 half court and Full
(without (without dribble) court 2x2 (full court) and 2x2 (full court) and Hit
dribble)situation (full situation (full court) Hit the cone drill (2 Hit the cone (3 dribbles the cone (NO restrition
court) driblles allowed) alowed) for dribbling)
2x1 Full court situation (full court)
2x1 Full court
TERM 2 – SUBJECTS for Macrocycle 2
November 2025 December 2025 January 2026 February 2026 March 2026

Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up) Fun Drills (warm-up)
Fun Drills (warm-up)
Shooting rotine and Shooting rotine and Shooting rotine and Shooting rotine and
Shooting rotine and
every player must make every player must make every player must make every player must make
every player must make
20 shoots tries in the 30 shoots tries in the 40 shoots tries in the 50 shoots tries in the
30 shoots tries in the
pratice. pratice. pratice. pratice.
pratice.

Combo moves, finish Competitions drills of Competitions drills of

Combo moves, same Combo moves, finish
with jump shoot (1 and 2 pass, shooting and pass, shooting and
place (analytic workout) with lay ups
stop) dribbling dribbling

Full court defense and Full court defense and

Defense position full Defense position full half court(working one, half court(working one,
Defense position (Half
court, situation of 2x1, court, situation of 2x1, correct position, correct position,
and full court defense)
3x2 and 4x3 always full 3x2 and 4x3 always full quickness, close outs, quickness, close outs,
court court box-out and footwork) box-out and footwork)

SMALL SIDE GAMES AND SMALL SIDE GAMES AND

SMALL SIDE GAMES AND SMALL SIDE GAMES AND SMALL SIDE GAMES AND
GAME SITUATION GAME SITUATION
GAME SITUATION GAME SITUATION GAME SITUATION

3x2(Full court), and hit 3x3 half court and 5x5

3x2(full court), and hit 3x3 half court, and 4x4
the cone game(full court) 3x2(half court), and 4x4 full court (just for U-14
the cone game(full court) full court
full court and U-16 categories), the
rest 4v4