Transition Drill #1A: Basic Out & Up (“Get To The Middle”)
BEGINNER
- Demo (1 min): "Pushing" The Ball, "Suicide" Passes
- Start with two lines in the corners, left’s and rights or mixed, in one end of the floor (facing up-floor), with a pylon 5 metres from the side-boards near the mid-boards, on both sides.
- Intermediate and advanced players should alternate between giving/receiving the pass on their proper floor side versus wrong floor side, each time through the drill (switch which corner players start from halfway). If a player receives a pass on their wrong-side they should practice "drifting" before they shoot in the far-end.
*Variation #1 (10 min): "Far-Side Pass." The line of players on the bench-side starts with balls, and the first player in line cuts to the middle after someone from the far-side line (no balls) cuts to the middle ahead of the play (Variation #1A). The ball carrier delivers a lead pass to the first player in line, who runs the length of the floor on breakaway. The other option is for the passer to first pick up a loose ball before delivering the pass to make it slightly more difficult (Variation #1B).
After passing, players go to the back of the line and once everyone in the other line has gone, the passers now receive a pass from the coach (or goalie), running a button hook (not shown in diagram) in the middle and then going for a breakaway in the far-end. For beginners, coaches may choose to make all of the passes (focusing on catching on the run), with additional coaches ready to make a second pass attempt in the far-end if the first pass is dropped (Variation #1C).
The line of passers and the line of receivers switch roles each time through the drill, with the passers always starting on the bench side (which ingrains the habit of running "away from the bench" during a breakout).
Also make sure that players have the opportunity to pass and catch, on both sides of the floor (i.e. proper-side & wrong-side), in both ends.
*Variation #2 (10 min): "Same-Side Pass." The line of players should be on the far-side only (to ingrain the habit of running away from the bench). The first player in line (no ball) cuts from the corner around the pylon with the next player in the same line cutting to the middle with a ball (Variation #2A) and delivering a lead pass to the first player, who stays in the "outside lane," eventually running the length of the floor on breakaway. The passer then becomes the receiver the next rep through the drill. Another option is for the passer to first pick up a loose ball before delivering the pass to make it slightly more difficult (Variation #2B). The passer then becomes the receiver the next rep through the drill.
For beginners, coaches may choose to make all of the passes (focusing on catching on the run), with additional coaches ready to make a second pass attempt in the far-end if the first pass is dropped (Variation #2C).
*Variation #3 (5 min): "Light Pressure." Same as above except a coach (or volunteer) replaces the pylon on the floor and applies "light" pressure, which helps players to work on opening up the passing lanes and/or using different release points when passing the ball.
*Most common error = ball carrier not getting to the middle before they make their pass
Would you like to share your thoughts?
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Would you like to share your thoughts?
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
0 Comments