Stickwork Drill #6A: Catch & Shoot
- Demo (1 min): Catch & Shoot
- Begin with a line of left-handed and a line of right-handed players on their proper floor sides, a few steps back from the shooter positions. Note: All variations of this drill can be executed as a set-shot, a shot-on-the-run or in all cases except Variation #4, a quick stick.
*Variation #1 (15 min): "Coach Pass." The coaches have all of the balls and are standing at one of the shooter (or crease) positions, in opposite ends of the floor; or the same end (depending on numbers). One coach passes to the line of "righty" shooters and the other coach passes to the line of "lefty" shooters (Variation #1A - 7 min). Passes can be either swing passes, skip passes, or adjacent passes (depending on the capability of the players). If beginners are having trouble the coach can also kneel 1-2 metres across from the player, with a pile of balls, underhand flipping them to the players in line (using their hands).
The first player in each line should be ready with their stick in the "triple threat position." The coach then passes to the first player in that line who attempts to catch and shoot the ball as efficiently/quickly as possible. For beginners, coaches should give players a second attempt at a catch if they miss the first pass. Continue the drill until all players have had several opportunities to "catch & shoot."
If working with an individual player the coach can continually feed the player with a high volume of passes, as they work on their individual technique (Variation #1B - 7 min).
Coaches should get players to help them "reload" every time the ball supply gets low.
*Variation #2 (15 min): "Shooter To Shooter." For less experienced players start with the balls on one side only, and then the other. The first player in the line with no balls and all other subsequent players in that line should be ready to receive a pass, from shooter-to-shooter. This player attempts to quickly and efficiently "catch & shoot" the ball (Variation #2A - 7 min).
For intermediate/advanced players, both lines have balls except for the first player in one line, with the ball carrier first being a threat, then passing to the opposite shooter for a shot (Variation #2B - 7 min).
Coaches should be ready with balls, perhaps giving players a second attempt at a catch if they miss the first pass from the player in the opposite line.
Variation #3 (7 min): "Mid-Boards To Shooter." Same as the above variation except players on both sides start at the mid-boards (one line with balls), run to the shooter positions and pass/catch the ball (soft hands), building up from 50% to 100% speed.
Variation #4 (7 min): "Dodge & Shoot." Same as the previous variations, except after catching the ball coaches force players to drag for shot, face-dodge or roll underneath, otherwise "turn the corner" and walk up the middle.
Variation #5 (7 min): "Mix Release Points." Same as the above variations except coaches instruct players to take a certain type of shot: overhand, side-arm, underhand or bounce shots.
Variation #6 (10 min): "Screen Shot." Same movements as the above variations except there is a a "dummy" defender acting as a screen. The defender should be 1-2 steps underneath the "shooter position" (mark with a pylon if necessary). The dummy defender could be a volunteer (or appointed by the coach), otherwise after shooting the shooter then becomes the "dummy." Dummy defenders should also be encouraged to practice corralling rebounds off of the goalie (shooting it it's there) before returning to their respective line.
Variation #7 (10 min): "Game to 7." To add competition, play a game of lefty’s versus righty’s up to 7 goals, losing team does push-ups, sit-ups, body weight squats, sprints, etc.
Variation #8 (10 min): "No Drops/No Misses Game." For every ball that is dropped and/or misses the net during the drill players will have to sprint from one side-board (or end-board) to the other. For every goal that is scored, one sprint is removed from the total, with goalies having to run if the players keep their sprint total at or below zero.
Variation #9 (10 min): "React to the Rebound." Same as the above variations except starting with all of the balls in one shooter line (switch sides half way through the drill). The shooter shoots the ball and both shooters need to "react to the rebound."
The general rule on offense is that the off-ball shooter is responsible for reacting back against reverse transition, which is true in this drill but there are also two other caveats. The first is that if the rebound goes to the off-ball shooters' side, the off-ball shooter pursues the loose ball and the on-ball shooter "reacts back." The second is that if the rebound goes to the on-ball shooters side, they attack the rebound and the off-ball shooter "reacts back." If the goalie corrals the rebound, both shooters react back.
If the rebound is corralled by either player on the first attempt, play continues, otherwise the coach blows the whistle and the players clear out of the drill after the loose ball is obtained.
*Most common error = twirling their stick or cradling before shooting
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