Ball Skills
No.1 - Figure 8
The Set Up: 1 player working with 1 ball.
The Practice: The player takes a wide stance and bends the knees. The ball is then taken around one leg, through the middle and round the 2nd leg making a figure of 8.
Progression 1: On a command, worker is to slow down or speed up the movement.
Progression 2: On a command the player is to change direction.
Teaching Points
- Transfer the weight with the ball making the movement more natural and less strained
Common Errors:-
- The stance is too small
- There is no weight transference
No.2 - Body Circles
The Set Up: 1 player working with 1 ball.
The Practice: Starting with the ball at the feet, the ball is passed around the body from feet to head and then back down again. The need for control and fluidity is needed throughout the practice.
Teaching Points
- Keep the ball moving at all times and circle the body at the same time to limit the ball and body touching
Common Errors:-
- The body is stiff so you have to work the ball harder to be successful
No.3 - The Arc
The Set Up: 1 player working with 1 ball.
The Practice: The player starts moving the ball between soft hands slowly increasing the distance between the hands. The aim is to get the arms completely outstretched so passing in a large arc over the head. The ball must stay fully controlled.
Teaching Points
- Soft hands and soft fingers
- You should not be able to hear the contact between hand and ball
- When passing over the arc, let the arms give a little to allow a soft landing
- Watch the ball at all times
Common Errors:-
- The hands are too hard and not giving causing the ball to bounce out
No.4 - Handflicks against the Wall
The Set Up: 1 player working with 1 ball. Player to stand with the ball in her left hand and the left side of her body sideways to the wall leaving 0.5m gap.
The Practice: The aim is to push the ball against the wall so it rebounds back quickly. Keeping control of the ball requires soft hands. Make sure you practice using both left and right hands.
Teaching Points
- Soft hands and relaxed wrists
- Push hard using the fingers to ensure there is enough power through the ball
- Start further away from the wall and get closer as skills develop
- Make sure the body turns allowing the working arm to be able to more freely
- Keep eye on ball at all times
Common Errors:-
- Hands are too flat so ball bounces out
- Body position is too flat to the wall making it harder for success
No.5 - Reactions Bounce and Chest
The Set Up: 2 players working with 2 balls. Standing 2 -3m apart holding the ball at chest height.
The Practice: Player A bounce passes the ball to Player B whilst Player B passes a straight chest pass to player A. This is a continuous practice with players changing their pass on a command.
Teaching Points
- Hands in a W behind the ball, elbows in, step into the pass and push through the ball
- Chest Pass - push through the pass and follow through straight
- Bounce Pass - push through the ball and direct it 2/3 of way between Player B and A
- Start practice slowly and build up speed
- Keep eyes on your partner to ensure an accurate delivery and catch of pass
- Only pass when both players are in control of the ball
Common Errors:-
- Elbows are out (chicken wings) taking power off the ball
- Bounce Pass : power is going over the ball rather than through it causing the ball to bounce too high and take too long to complete
No.6 - Back to Back Passing
The Set Up: 2 players working with 1 ball. Players standing back to back.
The Practice: By turning to the side, players to pass the ball to each other. This helps build strength in oblique muscles therefore helping core stability. Players to work for 30secs to avoid getting dizzy.
Progression: Players to move further away from each other so having to twist even further.
Teaching Points
- Keep feet hip distance apart and knees relaxed so taking the pressure off your lower back
- Start slowly before building up speed
No.7 - Back to Back Figure 8
The Set Up: 2 players working with 1 ball. Players standing back to back.
The Practice: Both players turn to the right to pass the ball through the centre point. Players will therefore have to twist and stretch further. This helps build strength in oblique muscles therefore helping core stability. Players to work for 30secs to avoid getting dizzy.
Progression: Players to move further away from each other so having to twist even further.
Teaching Points
- Keep feet hip distance apart and knees relaxed so taking the pressure off your lower back
- Start slowly before building up speed
No.8 - Reactions using a Bounce Pass
The Set Up: 2 players working with 1 ball. Player A has her back to player B, the feeder, standing about 2m apart.
The Practice: The feeder starts with the ball, steps into the pass and bounces the ball through Player A’s legs. To let Player A know that the ball is coming, the feeder shouts ‘Go’. Player A then reacts to the ball and catches it as it comes though her legs. This is a fun practice as well as helping players with their accuracy and power of the bounce pass.
Progression: Player B passes the ball without shouting ‘Go’.
Teaching Points
- Hands behind the ball making the shape of a W with elbows in
- Step into the pass and push through the ball directing the ball to a spot directly in-between player A’s legs
- Set the practice up with Player A facing a wall or netting so the ball, if not caught, does not interfere with others
Common Errors:-
- Not stepping into the pass
- Not shouting ‘Go’
- The aim of the ball does not hit between Player A’s legs and therefore hitting her bottom
No.9 - Spiders
The Set Up: 2 players working with 1 ball. Player A is the feeder and Player B is the worker. Players to start 0.9m apart and aim to stay this distance throughout the practice.
The Practice: The feeder is to pass the ball to anywhere within reach of Player B so that Player B does not have to move her feet. On receiving the feed, Player B is to pull the ball into 2 hands, bring to the chest and pass back to the feeder. This practice needs a lot of aggression and quick snatches to show you have full control of the ball.
Teaching Points
For the feeder:-
- Feed the ball far enough so the worker can catch the ball cleanly, if the ball is too close to the body, it’s harder to control
For the worker:-
- Feet hip distance apart, knees relaxed, arms ready to react
- Weight is slightly over the toes so you can raise up if need be
- Control the ball with soft hands and pull in to 2 hands as quickly as possible
- Pass the ball back using a chest pass
Common Errors:-
- The feed is too close to the body so hard to control
- The feed is too far away from the worker so the worker has to move to collect the ball
- The worker is too relaxed when bringing the ball into the body which is not best practice
- The worker just chucks the ball back to the feeder rather than using a chest pass. This does not help best practice
