Make open shots inside the paint
“Back rim and down”
Open paint shots go up balanced in scrimmage
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.
New to the game or new to the program. Every great player builds here first.
Shooting
Make open shots inside the paint
“Back rim and down”
Open paint shots go up balanced in scrimmage
Use one free throw routine every time
“Same routine, every trip”
Identical routine on every free throw
Finishing
Finish open layups on the move, either side
“Glass high, top of the box”
Converts open layups in scrimmage
Jump stop and finish under control
“Two feet, then up”
No travels on jump-stop finishes
Attacking
Dribble with eyes on the rim
“See the rim, not the ball”
Spots open teammates while dribbling
Protect the ball from a defender
“Body between hand and ball”
Rarely stripped in live play
Stop, pivot, and keep the ball
“Chin it and pivot”
Holds the ball through pressure without traveling
Passing and Reads
Catch with two hands, eyes up
“Show a target hand”
Clean catches in scrimmage
Hit a teammate's target hand
“Pass to the hand”
Passes arrive catchable
Off-Ball
Spread out and fill open spots
“Space is always the answer”
Never two players in one spot
Move after every pass
“Pass and go”
Never stands after passing
Defense
Stay in a stance and see ball and man
“See both”
Stance holds through the whole possession
Keep the ball in front without reaching
“Chest in front, hands quiet”
Few reach fouls in scrimmage
Rebounding and Transition
Chase every missed shot
“Every shot is a miss”
Goes toward the rim on every shot
Sprint back on every change of possession
“Beat your girl back”
Runs back on every turnover and make
Competing
Sprint to every drill and huddle
“First one there”
Never walks between drills
Play the next play after a mistake
“Next play”
Gets back on defense after a turnover
Ask a coach when confused
“Ask, then do”
Asks questions at the right time