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:

  1. Keeping the hips low and knees bent to avoid being pushed off of a ball.
  2. Scooping, protecting the ball, turning in the correct arc.
  3. Running through the ball so that they can pass to their teammate.
  4. 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

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