Step 1/3Green — dribble anywhere, fast
Orange = offense · blue = defense · solid line = cut · dashed = pass · zig-zag = dribble · T = screen · dotted arc = shot
Ball Handling drill
Traffic Light Dribbling
Everyone dribbles around the court and changes speed when the coach calls green, amber or red.
- Time
- 6 min
- Players
- 1+
- Ages
- 6–10
- Level
- Beginner
Equipment: 1 ball each
How to run the drill
- 1Every player has a ball and dribbles anywhere inside the court.
- 2Green: dribble fast. Amber: dribble slowly. Red: stop, keep the ball low and protect it.
- 3Add calls as they improve: “Switch!” changes hands, “Spin!” turns them around, “Low!” means a low dribble.
- 4Anyone who loses control does five ball wraps and joins back in.
Coaching points
- Look at the coach, not the ball
- Fingertips, not palms
- On red, stay low with the ball by your hip
More ball handling drills
Ball Handling · Intermediate
1-on-1 Zig-Zag
Ball handler zig-zags the length of the floor against a defender who shuffles and turns them.
8 min2+ playersAges 9+
Animated
Ball Handling · Beginner
1v1 Rooted Defender
A defender can retreat from the three-point line but cannot step above it. The attacker reads the gap and chooses a shot or drive.
7 min2+ playersAges 8+
Animated
Ball Handling · All levels
1v1 Speed Dribble Race
The dribbler starts a few steps ahead and races the length of the court for a layup while the defender sprints to cut them off.
8 min2+ playersAges 9+
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