Close out under control
“Short steps, high hand”
Contests without getting blown by
The Wolves Way
Five rungs. Eight buckets. One test for every skill on the list.
Every skill on this ladder earns its place the same way: it helps us create space, create an advantage, or play the advantage before the defense recovers. Space. Advantage. Pace. If a skill doesn’t serve one of those three, it isn’t on here.
Coaches set where a player sits on this ladder. It climbs in order, Foundation through College-Level, and the fourth rung carries the Marion 30: nobody plays varsity without all thirty.
The basics hold up against a defender. Now add speed and reads.
Defense
Close out under control
“Short steps, high hand”
Contests without getting blown by
Jump to the ball on every pass
“Ball moves, you move”
Help position changes on every pass
Talk ball, help, shot every trip
“Three words every trip”
Voice heard every possession