Drill Specs
Drill Theme:
Ground Balls
Field Position:
All
Drill Style:
Drill
Time Needed:
5-10 min
Field Location:
Anywhere
Skill Level:
Basic, Can be progressed
Objective
The objective of this drill is for players to learn to get their center of gravity (their hips) low to protect a ground ball from a defender. They will also be practicing scooping and immediately passing to a teammate.
Drill Description
The player protecting the ball must keep his hips low and knees flexed to maintain leverage against the defender. This is a great drill to get players used to responding to defensive pressure, and a good drill to use as a pre-game warm up. It also gets them active and in the correct state of mind for game play.
Drill Execution
- Player 1 puts the ball down.
- Player 2 stands behind him.
- Coach blows the 1st whistle. Player 2 moves around trying to get by Player 1 and get to the ball, but he should not actually scoop it. Player 1 must keep his hips low and knees bent to box Player 2 out and keep him away from the ball.
- After 5-10 seconds Coach blows the 2nd whistle. Player 2 relaxes. Player 1 scoops the ball, brings the stick up to his face, turns in the correct arc, and runs far enough away so he can throw it to Player 2.
- The players switch positions and the drill is repeated.
Drill Diagram:
Skills Practiced:
- Keeping the hips low and knees bent to avoid being pushed off of a ball.
- Scooping, protecting the ball, turning in the correct arc.
- Running through the ball so that they can pass to their teammate.
- Learning to look for a teammate and pass the ball immediately after a ground ball
Variations/Progression/Increased difficulty (As your players improve their skills incorporate the following…)
- Have Player 2 do the drill without his stick. He must focus on quick footwork to get around Player 1