Basketball SkillS Checklist
The below checklist is ONLY a general guide. Skill development is relevant to the individual as players are introduced to basketball at varying ages. It could be earlier or later than their peers. In addition, each players skills develop at different rates, which could be gradually or quickly. Therefore, there is no hard rule as to what age a player should have this skill or that skill. It’s totally dependant upon what age they were introduced to basketball, how often they are training and how they develop.
District Basketball Clubs demand that you have certain skills by a certain age. If you start your basketball journey at a later age, then you will find it difficult to earn a position with any of the District Basketball Clubs. One of the many local Social Basketball Clubs would be a better option. If by chance you do make a District Basketball Club, then you could fine yourself on a lower division team with a coach that has limited to no basketball experience.
However, if you would like to improve your basketball skill sets & knowledge before trying out for a District Basketball Club or even joining a Social Basketball Club, then we suggest that you register for a basketball academy, group clinic, school holiday camp and/or 1on1 coaching with an experienced basketball instructor.
| BODY MOVEMENT FUNDAMENTALS | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Running | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Change of Pace | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Change of Direction | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Stopping (Jump-stops & Stride-stops) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Jumping | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Pivoting (Forward & Reverse) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| BALL HANDLING DRILLS | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball Slaps | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Hot Potato | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Toss, Clap & Catch | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Figure 8's | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Wrap-arounds (head, waist, legs) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Tripe Threat Position | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Sweeps | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Sweeps & Protect (low & high) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| BASKETBALL IQ | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Court Terminology | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Player Positions / Roles | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| DRIBBLING (STRONG & WEAK HANDS) | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Control Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Speed Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Crossover Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Spin Move | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Behind the Back / Crossover | B | I | A | A | ||
| Behind the Back / Wrap-around | B | I | A | A | ||
| Between the Legs | B | I | A | A | ||
| Hesitation Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Stutter-Step Hesitation | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Inside-Out Dribble (Fake crossover) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Stop-n-Go Dribble | B | I | A | A | ||
| Retreat Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Power Dribble Out | B | I | A | A |
| PASSING / RECEIVING | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catching | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Chest Pass | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Bounce Pass | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Overhead Pass | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Baseball Pass | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Pass Fakes | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Hook Pass | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Fake High - Pass Low | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Fake Low - Pass High | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Outlet Pass | B | B | I | A | A |
| LAY-UPS (Right & Left-hand) | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Footwork | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Hand Position & Technique | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Overhand | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Underhand | B | I | A | A | ||
| Over the Top | B | I | A | A | ||
| Around the Back | B | I | A | A | ||
| Euro-Step | B | I | A | A | ||
| Spin Move (Strong-side right-hand finish) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Spin Move (Weak-side left-hand finish) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Spin Move (Weak-side inside-hand finish) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Reverse (Right & left-hand) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Reverse (Inside-hand finish) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Hook Lay-ups (Outside hand) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Inside Hand Lay-ups | B | I | A | A | ||
| Euro-Step (Towards middle) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Spin Move (Towards middle, pickup high) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Behind the Back-Crossover (Towards middle) | B | I | A | A | ||
| Power Lay-ups | B | I | A | A | ||
| Floaters | B | I | A | A | ||
| Runners | B | I | A | A | ||
| Step-throughs | B | I | A | A |
| SHOOTING | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proper Mechanics (Form shooting) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Catch & Shoot (Stationary) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Catch & Shoot (On the move) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Shooting Off the Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Jump-stop Jump-shots | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Stride-stop Jump-shots | B | B | I | A | A | |
| Foul Shots Routine | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| FOOTWORK | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweep / Rip & GO | B | B | I | A | A | A |
| Jab-step | B | B | I | A | A | A |
| Shot Fakes | B | B | I | A | A | A |
| V-Cuts | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Curl Cuts | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Flash Cuts | B | I | A | |||
| Flare Cuts | B | I | A | |||
| Backdoor Cuts | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Iverson Cuts | B | I | A | |||
| Mikan Drill | B | I | A |
| REBOUNDING | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stance | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Boxing Out Technique | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Jumping Up | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Catching Ball above Head | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Ball Protection | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| DEFENCE | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stance | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Maintaining position | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Sliding (Feet don't touch or cross) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Sliding (Drop-step & Change of Direction) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Slide-Run-Slide | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Proper Use of Arms & Hands | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Man-to-Man (Guarding the Ballhandler) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Turning the Dribbler | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Jumping to the Ball | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Close-Outs | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Taking the Charge | B | I | A | A | ||
| Defending Cutters | B | I | A | A | ||
| Defending Screens | B | I | A | A | ||
| Defending Post Players | B | I | A | A | ||
| Help-side & Recover | B | I | A | A |
| JUMP-BALL | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positioning (Offensive & Defensive) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Technique (Jump up & tap ball to teammate) | I | A | A | A | A |
| OUT-of-BOUNDS | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Sideline | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| RULES | U8 | U10 | U12 | U14 | U16 | U18 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scoring | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Traveling | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Double Dribble | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Carrying the Ball | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Out of Bounds | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Backcourt Violation | B | I | A | A | A | |
| Jump-ball (Start of each half) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Jump-ball (Held ball) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Free-throws (Player positions & rules) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Fouls (Hands) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Fouls (Blocking) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Fouls (Charging) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Fouls (On Shooter) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Player Fouls (5) | B | I | A | A | A | A |
| Team Fouls (8) | B | I | A | A | A | |
| 3 Seconds in Key | B | I | A | A | A | |
| 5 Seconds Guarded | B | I | A | A | ||
| 10 Seconds in Backcourt | B | I | A | A | ||
| In-bound Passes & Defence of | B | I | A | A | A |
B = Beginner meaning where the skill(s) is first ‘Introduced’
I = Intermediate meaning where the skill(s) should be ‘Improved’
A= Advanced meaning where the skill(s) should be ‘Mastered’