BEGINNER 

• Arrange players in one end, on the opposite side of the floor from the benches ("far-side").  

• *Variation #1:  "Breakout Pass."  Have players flip the ball to the goalie (or a coach if there's only one goalie) and run from beside the crease out and up to the mid boards  (if beginner), or button-hooking back towards GLE (if intermediate), receiving a pass from the goalie.  If intermediate calibre, players should work on running the button hook pattern properly, with goalies timing the pass accordingly. In both cases, the goalies should also strive to corral the ball and quickly get the ball up into the throwing position. 

• Players who catch the ball (or not) then run up and around the coach (protecting the ball) who is standing near centre-floor (Variation #1A - 7 min) and/or complete a give-and-go with a coach standing near the mid-boards in the far-end (Variation #1B - 7 min), running in on a breakaway at the other end of the floor. 

• *Variation #2 (7 min):  "Consecutive Catches Game."  Same as the variations above except have coaches keep track of how many times in a row players catch the ball without a drop. If a ball is dropped, coaches should start their count over from zero, with the team trying to achieve the highest number possible each time through the drill. 

• *Variation #3 (7 min):  "Window Washer."  Same as the variation above except a coach or volunteer player stands in the middle of the passing lane ("window washing") at various distances including on top of the goal crease, in both ends of the floor.  This intermediate variation forces the goalie and the receiver of the pass to adapt.

*Most common error = throwing the ball too hard when teammate is relatively close (“soften up”).