Preseason Conditioning for High School Basketball Players

Yesterday I ran a conditioning clinic for high school basketball players and much to the athletes surprise we didn’t pick up a basketball. It was a tough 60, dense minutes with every second accounted for. Towards the end I thought they weren’t going to make it, so I asked them, “we can stretch now, or we can do 1 more conditioning drill. It’s going to be 4 minutes of continuous work and you’re running suicides.” One kid was silent, meaning he didn’t want to do it, but the rest wanted the challenge. Majority rules.

It reminded me of my superstar clients. They tell me what they want, ask what to do and do it. Doesn’t matter how high the wall or how huge the obstacle. They run through it, hurdle it or jump it. They’ll lift heavy weights, run sprints, train “X” number of hours per week, or keep a nutrition log. Eyes on the prize all the way.

Back to basketball. Here’s the outline we followed. If you’re a client of mine, you’ll see similarities to what you do and maybe start to see a pattern.

High School Preseason Conditioning Clinic for Basketball Players

Warm Up-22min

  • Jog Perimeter of Gym-4min
  • Joint Mobes/Mobility Exercises-7min
  • Movement Preparation/Light Agility Movements-11min

Core: 3min

  • Planks

Plyometrics (elasticity)-9min

  • Landing-3min
  • Jumping-3min
  • Quick Feet-3min

Agility cone Drills-6min

  • Lateral movements-3min
  • Cutting-3min

Conditioning (same formula for fat loss, can even be same exercises)-10min

  • 4 station interval circuit-6min
  • Finisher-suicides-4min

Regeneration/Stretching-10min

  • Good ‘ol fashioned total body static stretching

*rest periods were built into each section and I occasionally added extra rest

Desire and determination. My superstar clients have it, these kids have it, I have it, do you have it?