Basketball-Specific Warm-Up: From Mobility to Layups

A warm-up that moves from on-the-spot ball handling to running layups. It gets the body going with basketball moves so students reach the main part ready to play.

How to play

1. Stationary handling: ball around the head, waist and knees, then figure eights through the legs (2 min).
2. Stationary dribbling with right and left hand, high and low; then easy dribbling around the court (3 min).
3. Dribble, jump stop on the whistle, then pivot forward and back on the pivot foot (2 min).
4. Layups with no defense: two lines per basket, one on each side, right-hand side then left (3 min).
5. Short-shot rotation around the basket while those waiting do wrist and finger mobility (2 min).

Rules

• In layup lines, the next player goes once the previous one has their rebound.
• After the layup, return around the outside, not under the basket.
• While waiting, hold the ball; don't dribble.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: dribble with two pushes and one bounce, and shoot from close in or at a lowered hoop.
• Students with visual impairments: use a ball with a bell and a sound cue (clapping) under the hoop.
• Students unsure with the ball: use a smaller ball and start the layup from a standstill.

Learning goals

• Move from a general to a basketball-specific warm-up.
• Prepare wrists, ankles and knees for play.
• Practice the running layup.

Equipment for a class of 25

• basketballs: 30
• cones: 6

Teacher tip

Spread the lines across all available baskets to avoid long waits. If a hoop is too high for your group, use a youth-height basket.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Middle School