Red Light, Green Light

How to run it

The classic game with a ball: players dribble across the court on the coach's calls. It trains ball control, stopping under control (the jump stop) and starting and changing pace with the ball.

Set-up

Players stand in a row on one baseline with a ball each, about 2.5 m apart. Two cones past half court mark the finish line. The coach stands at the finish line and calls the colours.

Instructions

1. 1Everyone stands on the baseline holding the ball. The coach explains: green = dribble, yellow = dribble slowly, red = stop and hold the ball.
2. 2GREEN! Everyone dribbles forward, eyes on the coach.
3. 3RED! Jump stop with both feet landing together and catch the ball in two hands at the chest.
4. 4GREEN! Go again – push the first dribble forward, not straight down.
5. 5YELLOW! A slow, low dribble under control. Keep the ball close.
6. 6RED! No. 4 can't stop in time and slides past.
7. 7No. 4 has to dribble back a few metres. Everyone else stands still holding the ball.
8. 8GREEN – full speed now! The ball still has to be under control.
9. 9RED! Stopping under control at high speed is the hardest part – good footwork.
10. 10GREEN to the finish line. The first one across with the ball under control wins the round.

Coaching points

• Teach the jump stop: land on both feet at the same time, knees bent, ball protected at the chest.
• Watch the coach, not the ball. Players who look up see and hear the calls first.
• Dribble with the fingertips and push the ball down – it shouldn't bounce higher than the hip.
• Keep it a game: a player who doesn't stop in time goes back a few steps, nobody is out.

Variations

Equipment

• 2 × Markers
• 2 × Cone