Basketball Dads US

Practice Gear & Training Aids

You do not need a gym full of equipment to run great practices. A few cheap, simple tools make a huge difference in drill quality.

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The essentials

Cones (flat disc cones)

Used for dribbling drills, agility work, and marking distances. A set of 50 costs $8–15 and will last years. Flat disc cones are best for basketball — they are low enough that players will not trip on them.

Chalk spray or tape

For marking lines on a driveway, grass, or outdoor court. Temporary chalk spray washes off with rain. Painter’s tape works on gym floors (check with your gym first). Useful for marking shooting spots, agility drill stations, and practice boundaries.

Stopwatch

Your phone works. But a dedicated stopwatch ($8–15) is easier for a kid to operate themselves and does not get distracted by notifications. Essential for timing agility tests and tracking improvement.

Nice-to-have training aids

Fitness tracker

A basic fitness tracker or smartwatch that tracks heart rate and steps helps older players understand their conditioning level. Not necessary for peewee — very useful for high school players who are doing serious cardio training.

Good options: Entry-level Fitbit, Garmin, or Apple Watch SE. Budget: $50–150.

Dribble goggles

Goggles with a blinder on the bottom that prevents the player from seeing the ball while dribbling. Forces eyes-up dribbling. A gimmick? No — coaches at every level use these. Budget: $10–20.

Basketball return net / rebounder

A net that catches your shot and returns the ball to you. Allows solo shooting practice without chasing the ball after every shot. Dramatically increases the number of shots per practice session.

Budget: $40–80 | Mid-range: $80–150

Agility ladder

A flat rope ladder laid on the ground for footwork drills. Great for developing quick feet. Budget: $10–20.

Useful apps

Start small. A set of cones and a stopwatch gets you through 90% of the drills on this site. Add training aids as your kid progresses and you see what they actually use.