The season
Proposal · not yet agreed by the TCP0Observe & prepareP1Transition & fullcourtP2Halfcourt & spacingP3Game & tacticsP4Individual & forward
Layer 0Aware
Land soft, two handsRun, catch, scoreMake space, finish cleanlyLook for the spacePlay, and play a lotLayer 1 ★Control
Good stop → fake → first stepZero-time decision in transitionThe floor is lavaLook before the ball arrivesFind your range, play under pressureTap a tile to zoom in.
About this plan
Five periods (P0–P4) and four layers: levels, not ages. Layer 1 is the anchor. Written by the Skill Development Coordinator; not yet agreed by the Technical Committee.
Layer 0 · Aware: Aware of your body, the space and the game. Mostly without the ball. (Usually X8–X10, and late starters of any age)
Layer 1 · Control: The same things with the ball, and with someone against you. (Usually U12)
Layer 2 · Shape your own: Shape your own movement, with and without the ball, with a goal. (Usually X14 · VU14)
Layer 3 · Shape others: Shape other people's movement, with a plan. (Usually MU16)
Key dates11
| Training starts | Mon 17 Aug |
| Checkpoint 1 | 12 Oct – 16 Oct |
| Autumn break | 17 Oct – 25 Oct |
| Checkpoint 2 | 14 Dec – 18 Dec |
| Christmas break | 19 Dec – 3 Jan |
| Spring break (South) | 13 Feb – 21 Feb |
| Good Friday / Easter Monday | 26 Mar – 29 Mar |
| May break | 24 Apr – 2 May |
| Liberation Day / Ascension | 5 May – 6 May |
| Whit Monday | Mon 17 May |
| Checkpoint 3 | 24 May – 28 May |
Not yet: club agreements per age group
These follow competition (NBB, club), not layers.
MU16
- No ball screens as a primary tool before the second year of U16
- Don't stop isolated technical work
- Never stop in the midrange without a plan
- Don't extend range while the motion is forced
- No set plays instead of principles
U12
- Never stop or stand still in the midrange (a good shot is fine)
- Never shoot beyond your range
- No fullcourt press before the second year of U12
- No ball screens; off-ball screens only for national U12
- No zone defense
- No jump shot — set-shot rhythm first
- Don't count reps — count correct reps
- No fancy moves. Fakes and fundamentals
- No screens before timing and spacing are there
X14 · VU14
- No ball screens before the second year of U14
- Never stop or stand still in the midrange (a good shot is fine)
- Don't extend shot distance beyond your range
- Don't assume a skill from last year is still there
- Don't skip mobility because time ran out - hips first
- No maximal sprint volumes
X8 · X10
- No fullcourt press and no zone — learn man-to-man
- No screens, on-ball or off-ball
- No warm-up that is only lay-up lines
- No drill with twelve children in one line
- No rankings or standings
- No specialisation — two sports until 14
- No 5-on-5 as a teaching tool; full games are a reward
- No drill without a ball, scoring or competition element