Red Light Green Light
Drill at a glance
- Ages
- 5+
- Players
- 6 to 15
- Minutes
- 5-8
- Equipment
- 1 ball per player
- Skills
- Dribble control, listening
Why it works: Starting and stopping on command builds control and teaches young players to keep the ball with them.
Setup – Line up players on one of the baselines. Each player should have a basketball. The coach stands on the opposite baseline. Players start off by dribbling their basketball and keep their dribble going throughout the whole game.
Activity – When the coach yells “green light”, the players dribble their basketball towards the baseline where the coach is standing. When the coach yells “red light” the players must stop advancing but keep their dribble going. The first player to reach the coaches baseline wins.
Variations – When the coach yells “red light” and player does not stop advancing quick enough, player must start all over from the baseline.
Coach can make it more interesting by turning his/her back when they yell “green light” and turn back when they yell “red light”.
Coach can specify what hand to use dribbling.
On “green light” players must do a crossover before advancing.