Rookie Dunkers Warmup Guide
Daily Practice Anchor • 10 Minutes Total
ROOKIE DUNKERS DAILY WARM-UP
Kindergarten
Same Everyday!
Rule #1: When the whistle blows • Freeze like a snowman! 5 Steps • 2 Minutes Each
Min 0-2 Step 1
Court Zooms & Freeze Stance Run & Balance
Trot to half-court like baby dinosaurs! On the whistle, drop low into Triple Threat Stance with knees bent and hands ready.
Chant: "Knees bent low! Ready to GO!"
Min 2-4 Step 2
Ball Magic Around the World Ball Control
Circle the ball around the belly ("Belt"), around the head ("Space Helmet"), and roll it through wide legs ("Tunnel Roll") without dropping it.
Chant: "Around my waist, around my crown, never let it hit the ground!"
Min 4-6 Step 3
Pat the Puppy & Rocket Dribbles Dribbling
Use finger pads to gently "pat the puppy" (low baby bounces, 10 on right, 10 on left). Then 5 big rocket bounces up to waist height!
Cues: "Fingertip pads, not flat palms! Push the floor, don't slap!"
Min 6-8 Step 4
Bunny Hops & Crab Defense Slides Agility & Defense
Hold ball like a beach ball with two hands. Two-foot hops over court lines, then wide sideways crab shuffle shouting "DEFENSE!" on each stomp.
Chant: "Slide, slide, don't cross your feet! Defense, defense, keep the beat!"
Min 8-10 Step 5
Cookie Jar Reach & Giant Dunk Blastoff Shooting & Cheer
Practice shooting wrist flick: "Put your hand in high cookie jar!" Finish with 3 mega blastoff jumps, gather in circle for team cheer.
Team Roar: "Hands in the middle • 1, 2, 3, HOOPS!"
Why the exact same routine everyday?
Kindergartners thrive on ritual. By practice #3, kids lead the countdown!
Target Time 10:00 SHARP
Coach Clipboard • Sideline Guide
WARM-UP COACH SCRIPT & CUES
Ready to Coach
1. The Whistle Freeze
One blow = stop feet immediately. Hands hold ball in "Basketball Hug" against chest.
2. Ball in the Basket
When coach explains a step, balls sit tucked between sneakers so hands are free to listen.
3. High-Energy Praise
Spot effort over perfection: "Look at Maya's low monster knees! Look at Leo's soft puppy taps!"
MINUTES 0:00 - 2:00 • Court Zooms & Freeze Stance Locomotor
Say to team: "Rookies, line up on the baseline! When I say ZOOM, jog to the half-court line like stealthy tigers. When the whistle blows—FREEZE like an ice statue!"
Key Checkpoint: Teach the "Athletic Stance" (wide feet, butt down, hands ready). Do 3 reps back and forth.
MINUTES 2:00 - 4:00 • Ball Magic (Around the World) Proprioception
Say to team: "Grab your basketball! Can you pass it around your tummy like a magic belt? 1-2-3-4-5! Now put on your space helmet—circle around your head! Now legs wide—tunnel roll!"
Key Checkpoint: Kindergarteners love the storytelling. If a ball gets loose, they shout "Fumble!" and hug it tight.
MINUTES 4:00 - 6:00 • Pat the Puppy (Fingertip Dribble) Hand-Eye
Say to team: "Basketballs don't like getting slapped! We gently pat them like a sleeping puppy. Bend your knees, tap-tap-tap with your fingertips! Right hand 10 times, switch to left hand 10 times!"
Key Checkpoint: Eliminate the flat-handed "slap." Remind them to make piano fingers or tiger claws.
MINUTES 6:00 - 8:00 • Bunny Hops & Crab Defense Footwork
Say to team: "Hold your ball with two hands against your belly! Hop over the black line with both feet: Boing! Boing! Now drop into your crab stance: slide right, slide left! What do we yell? DEFENSE!"
Key Checkpoint: Make sure feet never cross over during lateral defensive slide. Keep chest facing forward.
MINUTES 8:00 - 10:00 • Cookie Jar & Dunk Blastoff Shooting & Culture
Say to team: "Time for cookies! Eyes up, bend knees, push up to the sky, and snap your wrist into the top cookie jar! Now 3 giant imaginary slam dunks! Ready: 3-2-1 BLASTOFF!"
Key Checkpoint: Bring everyone in fast. Hand pile in center: "ROOKIES ON THREE: 1, 2, 3, ROOKIES!" Now practice begins.
Recommended Gear & Quick Adjustments
Use Size 3 or Size 4 (junior) basketballs or soft foam balls. If a child cannot dribble consecutively yet, let them do "Bounce & Catch" with two hands during Minute 4-6. The key is rhythm, movement, and zero frustration.
