Warm-Up Drill #3: Board Shuttles
- Have players line up in groups of 3 to 5 players, facing the side-boards (or a wall); standing 10-15 metres away (perhaps marked by a pylon for beginners so players don't creep to close to the boards).
- *Variation #1 (10 min): "Strong Hand." In Variation #1A the first player in line starts with a ball, runs a few steps forward and rolls the ball against the boards, such that the ball bounces back to the next player in line (ideally toward their "strong hand"). In Variation #1B, the first player in line "passes" the ball against the glass, aiming for "eye level," so the ball bounces back to the next player in line (once again toward their "strong hand"). Another option is to back players up even further (20m away), and have them practice "set-shots" (Variation #1C).
- The next player in line has to corral the loose ball and repeat the same action as the player in front of them, and so on and so forth.
- Encourage beginners to get in front of the ball with their body, instead of reaching with their arms. Assistant coaches should be ready with extra balls.
Variation #2 (5 min): "Cross-Body." Same as the above variations except have players corral the loose ball across their body.
Variation #3 (5 min): "In The Air." Same as the above variations except have players start 2-3 metres away from the glass/wall and pass the ball high enough that the player behind them is able to catch it in the air (Variation #3A). Advanced players can attempt to keep the ball in the air using quick sticks, for more of a challenge (Variation #3B).
Variation #4 (5 min): "Consecutive Catches Game." Same as the above variations except have players keep track of how many times in a row each group goes through the drill without a dropped ball. If a ball is dropped, that group must start their count over from zero.
*Most common error = players not keeping their body in front of the ball in case they miss it (instead reaching for it with their arms)
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