Looking for U8 basketball drills? Every drill below is built for ages 5–8, covering first-touch, first-season fundamentals for the youngest players on the roster. Keep instructions short, demonstrate everything, and expect to repeat the setup a few times — that's normal at this age, not a sign the drill is wrong for the group.
The Mikan Drill trains players to finish layups with either hand directly under the basket, without needing to dribble first. It builds soft touch,…
This progression builds accurate, crisp passing habits early, giving players the chest pass, bounce pass, and one-handed push pass they'll use…
A high-energy game that gets young players dribbling with their head up and protecting the ball under gentle pressure — a perfect warm-up or fun…
Ready to build a full practice? See ready-made Basketball practice plans for this age group, with timing worked out for you.
See Basketball practice plansThe drills on this page are selected specifically for ages 5–8 basketball players, covering first-touch, first-season fundamentals for the youngest players on the roster. Each one lists the age range, group size, and equipment needed so you can drop it straight into a practice plan.
Most U8 practices run 45–60 minutes total, with individual drills kept to 5–8 minutes to match shorter attention spans.