Template Issues

How to Create a Drill Selection List in Word Templates

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to create a Word template for basketball coaches that includes categorized drop-down lists to select specific practice drills, which then automatically populate into the practice plan.

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a structured basketball practice plan template with categorized drill options such as defensive posture, dribbling, shooting, and conditioning.
Observed behavior: A customized template is required so coaches can easily select pre-written drills by category from drop-down menus to efficiently build their daily plans.

Before you start

Ensure the Developer tab is enabled in your Word ribbon, as you will need it to insert Content Controls and manage Document Building Blocks.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Building Blocks and Content Controls for Drill Selection

Save individual drills as building blocks (AutoText) and use Building Blocks Gallery Content Controls to create categorized drop-down lists in your template.

By saving each drill as a building block and organizing them into custom categories, you can use Gallery Content Controls to create dynamic drop-down lists. This allows coaches to easily insert pre-formatted drill text directly into their practice plans under the correct sections.

Save Drills as Building Blocks

Type out the full text for a specific drill. Highlight the text, navigate to the Insert tab, click on 'Quick Parts,' and select 'Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.' Name the drill, choose 'Quick Parts' or 'AutoText' for the Gallery, and create a specific Category (e.g., 'Dribbling'). Importantly, in the 'Save in' dropdown, select your specific template file rather than the default Building Blocks file.

Insert a Building Blocks Gallery Content Control

Go to the Developer tab. Place your cursor where you want the drill selection list to appear in the document, and click the 'Building Block Gallery Content Control' icon in the Controls group.

Configure the Content Control Properties

Select the inserted Content Control and click 'Properties' in the Developer tab. Under the Document Building Block settings, select the Gallery and the specific Category (e.g., 'Dribbling') that matches the drills you just saved. Click OK.

Save and Distribute as a Word Template

Go to File > Save As, and choose 'Word Template (*.dotx)'. Distribute this file to the coaches. They must use this template to create new documents so that the building block controls remain available and function correctly without overwriting the original file.

Template distribution: Always have coaches create a new document from the template (by double-clicking the .dotx file) rather than opening and editing the template file directly. This ensures the original structure and content controls remain intact.

Free Document Processor

Create Interactive Practice Plans Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides robust form and content control features, allowing you to easily build interactive templates for sports practice plans, educational lessons, or business meetings. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Word formats, ensuring your templates work seamlessly for all coaches.

1. Enable the Developer Tab: Open WPS Writer, click on 'Menu' > 'Options', go to 'Customize Ribbon', and check 'Developer' to show the tab in your ribbon.
2. Insert Drop-Down Form Fields: Navigate to the Developer tab and click on the 'Drop-Down Form Field' icon to insert a selection list into your practice plan document.
3. Add Drill Categories: Double-click the inserted drop-down field to open its properties, and manually add the names of the specific drills (e.g., Defensive posture, Free throws) to the list.
4. Save as a Template: Go to 'Menu' > 'Save As' and select the WPS Template (.wpt) or Word Template (.dotx) format so coaches can generate new practice plans from it repeatedly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .dotx) formats.Intuitive Developer tab for easy insertion of drop-down lists and form fields.Free and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office.Rich library of free templates to jumpstart your document creation.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my saved Building Blocks not appearing in the drop-down list?

This usually happens if the Building Block Gallery Content Control properties are not set to the exact same Gallery and Category where you saved your Quick Parts. Verify that the category names match perfectly in both the Content Control properties and the Building Block manager.

Can I share my drill template with other coaches?

Yes, but you must ensure that the building blocks are saved within the specific template file (.dotx) rather than your local Building Blocks.dotx or Normal.dotm file. Always check the 'Save in' drop-down when creating the Quick Part to ensure it is stored inside the template you plan to share.

How do I edit a drill I already saved as a building block?

Insert the building block into your document, make the necessary text or formatting changes, highlight it again, and save it to the Quick Parts gallery using the exact same name, gallery, and category. Word will ask if you want to redefine the existing building block entry; click Yes.

Document & File Issues