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Coaching Resources · Templates

Coaching Templates

Ready-to-use coaching templates you can print or save as PDF: a Player Edge Questionnaire for starting the season by learning what each player brings, and three fill-in session plans (under-12, under-14 and under-16), built on the master-plan framework from the Session Design guide. To fill one in on screen with a ready-made plan's warm-up, main blocks and finisher, use the Session Builder. Planning the whole season? Try the Season Plan.

Each template prints on its own page. To print just one, choose that page number in your browser's print dialog.

🏀 Player Edge Questionnaire

“What do you bring that helps us win — every single game?”

Name: Team: Date:

Part 1 · Reset your thinking

When you're not scoring, how do you usually feel during a game? (circle one)

  • I stay engaged
  • I try to shoot more
  • I get frustrated
  • I drift out of the game

What do you think coaches usually notice most? (circle one)

  • Scoring
  • Defence
  • Effort
  • Team play

Part 2 · Your natural strengths

What do you think you do better than most players on your team?

Which of these feel most like you? (pick 3)

  • I bring energy and talk a lot
  • I play hard every possession
  • I defend and make it hard for others
  • I rebound and chase the ball
  • I make smart passes / decisions
  • I set screens and help teammates
  • I hustle for loose balls
  • I stay calm and make good choices
  • I lift teammates up

Part 3 · Effort & control

Which of these can you always control, even on a bad day? (pick 3)

  • Effort
  • Communication
  • Defence
  • Hustle
  • Rebounding
  • Screens
  • Decision-making
  • Attitude

When you're having a bad game, what can you still do to help the team win?

Part 4 · Teammate impact

What is something your teammates would say you are great at?

What is one thing you do that makes your teammates better?

Part 5 · Define your edge

If you could be the best on the team at one thing, what would it be?

Finish this sentence:

“No matter how I'm playing, I will always to help my team win.”

Part 6 · What do we want to be known for?

At the end of the season, when other teams play us, what do you want them to say about our team?

A few examples: “They play really hard.” · “They share the ball.” · “They never give up.” · “They play great defence.”

Under-12 Session Plan

Fun first · maximise touches · fundamentals · no system

Date: Session #: Focus: Courts / gear:
TimeBlockWhat & formatYour teaching cue
0–5ArrivalFree shooting — get early touches, have fun
5–10Warm-upMovement + stop–pivot–catch ritual
10–22Ball handlingBoth hands, eyes up — stationary then moving
22–35SkillFinishing or form shooting (start close to the rim)
35–50Small-sided2v2 / 3v3 half court — apply the skill
50–60Decision2v1 transition — the pass-or-go read
60–70Game4v4 / 5v5 — let them play, coach less
70–75CloseOne specific call-out per player + home task
Master plan: ☐ Offence ☐ Defence ☐ Special situations ☑ Fundamentals
Time in opposed / decision-making play: %  (aim 60–90%)
Skill block: do it against a live defender (passive first, then active). It is what lifts the opposed time to 60–90%.
This age: man-to-man only · size-5 ball / shoot close · aim 150+ touches each.
One-minute rule: explain ~1 min · watch ~3 · one cue · repeat.
After the session — three lines:

What went wrong:

What I'll fix:

One thing I was proud of:

Under-14 Session Plan

Skills hold · introduce concepts · still mostly small-sided

Date: Session #: Focus: Courts / gear:
TimeBlockWhat & formatYour teaching cue
0–5ArrivalFree shooting
5–12Warm-upDynamic prep + stop–pivot–catch
12–27SkillShooting (catch & shoot at game speed) or finishing
27–34ConceptBall-screen logic or pass–cut–replace, taught as a read (brief, then play)
34–54Small-sided3v3 with the concept live
54–66Decision3v2 / 4v3 transition — kick-out & corner reads
66–82Game5v5 — apply the concept
82–90CloseReflection + home task
Master plan: ☑ Offence ☐ Defence ☐ Special situations ☑ Fundamentals
Time in opposed / decision-making play: %  (aim 60–90%)
Skill block: do it against a live defender (passive first, then active). It is what lifts the opposed time to 60–90%.
This age: introduce one concept at a time · discover the read in 2v2/3v3 before 5v5.
Weak-side dunker: the player in the dunker spot moves on every drive. A drive to the middle pulls the helper up, so wheel under (baseline side of the rim); a drive along the baseline pulls the helper down, so wheel over (in front of the rim). If their own defender stays attached and they're behind the play, seal that defender instead. Put every player through the spot, and find the read in 2v2 before 5v5. (Adapted from the Transforming Basketball clinics credited on the Sources page.)
Finishing footwork: add the stride stop (a two-count stop, shoulders turned toward the corner) for drives that end in the paint. It keeps a pivot for an inside-hand or outside-hand finish or a pass back. The jump stop stays the under-12 default.
One-minute rule: explain ~1 min · watch ~3 · one cue · repeat.
After the session — three lines:

What went wrong:

What I'll fix:

One thing I was proud of:

Under-16 Session Plan

Holistic · physical + mental · more complex concepts

Date: Session #: Focus: Courts / gear:
TimeBlockWhat & formatYour teaching cue
0–8ActivationPhysical prep — movement, landing, change of direction
8–15Warm-upShooting + mental reset cue (keyword)
15–30SkillPosition-relevant skill block
30–40Concept / coverageTeach one action or defensive coverage as a read, then play it live
40–62Small-sided3v3 / 4v4 shell with the concept live
62–74Game5v5 live — connect it to the game
74–80SituationalOne special situation — last minute, ATO or free-throw pressure
80–90CloseReflection + individual targets
Master plan: ☑ Offence ☑ Defence ☑ Special situations ☑ Fundamentals
Time in opposed / decision-making play: %  (aim 60–90%)
Skill block: do it against a live defender (passive first, then active). It is what lifts the opposed time to 60–90%.
This age: add physical prep & the mental side · raise the challenge point.
Rotation option, the peel switch: when a drive beats its defender, the nearest helper (the MIG) calls "Switch!" and takes the driver for good; the beaten defender peels straight to the helper's player and everyone else moves one spot. It replaces help the helper (from under-14) rather than adding to it, so pick one rotation for the season. (Adapted from Alex Sarama, Transforming Basketball, credited on the Sources page.)
One-minute rule: explain ~1 min · watch ~3 · one cue · repeat.
After the session — three lines:

What went wrong:

What I'll fix:

One thing I was proud of:

Related guides

Want a finished plan rather than a blank one? The Session Plans are complete U10 to U16 sessions with a court diagram for every block. The session plans put the Session Design guide into practice and pair well with game-based practice. The Player Edge Questionnaire works alongside culture building and coaching under-12s. Or browse all coaching resources.

The Player Edge Questionnaire is an original junior.basketball resource — free to use and share. The session plans are unofficial fan-created resources, not affiliated with or endorsed by Basketball Victoria; the framework is synthesised from the Talking Split Podcast. Full credit to Rob Calder, Mike Zeppel, Justin Shuler, Ash Arnott, Zoe Carr, Darren Best, Nathan Cooper-Brown, and all guests.