Huddle Leader Drill

Leadership

11 minutesbeginnerteammental

Legend

player
coach / parent
movement path

How it works

Give every young player the experience of leading a team huddle and calling a team chant.

What you need

basketball

Your focus

Leadership skills are developed through experience, not just observation. Giving every player the responsibility of leading a huddle , even at age 6–9 , builds confidence and the habit of stepping up. Young leaders who feel empowered early develop the assertiveness needed in competitive team sports.

Before each drill segment, a different player is named 'huddle leader.'

The huddle leader calls the team together, delivers a simple team phrase ('We play hard!'), and leads the team chant.

All teammates must respond with energy, quiet responses mean the leader gets to try again.

Rotate leadership every 5 minutes so every player leads at least once per session.

Helpful cues

Leaders speak loud and believe what they say
Your teammates follow your energy, give them something to follow
Leadership is showing up for your team even when you don't feel like it

Adjust the challenge

Make it easier

Strip it back

Give the leader a specific phrase to say, remove improvisation.

UpLVL it

Add the next challenge

Leader must also assign each player a job for the next drill.

No account needed

Build a practice plan

Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.

This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.

After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.