The short version: Start one dribbler at the entrance and space defenders down the corridor. The WABC Level 1 coaching manual calls for a wider corridor than in the version without a ball. Defenders slide across the lane and stop once the dribbler gets past them.
Key takeaways
- Adjust the gaps between stations so the ball handler has room to read each defender in turn.
- The WABC Level 1 coaching manual describes retreat as part of the Gauntlet. If your route closes, keep the dribble alive as you back up and look for another opening.
- Send the ball back outside the cone rows and reset the stations before starting the next rep.
Mark the corridor and place the defenders
In the WABC Level 1 coaching manual’s Gauntlet, the ball handler tries to dribble through a corridor while defenders move across it to close space. WABC calls for a wider corridor for the dribbling version than for the version without a ball. WABC Coaching Level Manuals Level 1 English
Lay out two rows of cones and pick one end as the entry. In the example below, #1 starts at that end with the only ball, and defenders #2, #3 and #4 take successive stations down the lane. Adjust the corridor width, number of defenders, and distance between stations for your group. Leave room to go to either side of a defender and space to look up before reaching the next one.
Play each station and read the opening
If you’re defending, slide side to side across the corridor at your station. In the WABC Level 1 coaching manual, the defender stops as soon as the dribbler gets past. The ball handler keeps going toward the next defender or the exit.
As the dribbler, look at the space on both sides of the defender as you approach. The WABC Level 1 coaching manual notes that you may need to retreat to get past a defender. If the defender slides into your path, take a short dribble back inside the cones and check which side opens. Retreat dribble practice guide
Swipe sideways to explore the full diagram.
Clear the exit and reset
Use the far pair of cones as the finish line. Once the dribbler clears it, have them carry the ball back along the outside of a cone row. The defenders return to their starting stations while the ball goes to the next dribbler. Send that player once the lane is clear and the defenders are set.
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