Competing Drill 1

Groups: 7 to 9 players
Sliotars: 3 per group
Cones: 3
Skills: Striking, Ball, Winning, Catching, Batting, Passing, Calling, Anticipating
Level of Effort: 3/5
Level of Complexity: 4/5

Set-up:

Use two cones to form a line about 50 metres long and place the last cone in the middle. For example, place the first cone on the 45m line, the next cone at halfway and the third cone on the far 45m line.

Place two players in the middle at cone B to compete for the ball. With groups of seven place 3 players at cone A and the remaining 2 at the other end at cone C. One player at each end will be the ball striker and the other players will be running.

Description:

Player 1 at cone A strikes ball in the air so that the players in the middle at cone B, players 2 and 3, can compete for the ball in the air with both players trying to catch the ball. Player 4 runs to this contest and either picks up the breaking ball or takes a handpass from if one of the players catches the ball and solos the ball to cone B. When he gets there he passes the ball to player 5 at cone C.

As soon as the ball is moved on from the contest in the middle players 2 and 3 turn to face player 5 at cone C who strikes a ball which they compete for in the same manner as above. This time player 6 makes the run to take a pass or pick up the break and solos on to cone A and passes the ball to player 1. Player 1 strikes the next ball to the competing pair and player 7 runs to pick up the break. The cycle is repeated for between 90-150 seconds when the players change roles.

Cone B may be unnecessary and may simply get in the way. Players striking the ball must favour an attempted catch by the competing players – striking must be consistent. Players coming on to the break must time their run so as not to arrive too early or too late. They can leave the starting point before the ball is hit if they wish. It is timing arriving onto the break that is the key. If the ball is caught the running player must call the pass and come on to the ball at pace. If the ball is caught in the middle the other player can hassle the pass but the two in the middle do not compete for the ball on the ground.

Variations:

A) Player 2 (forward) attempts to catch the ball from the front while player 3 (back) tries to bat the ball away from behind. The runner is working with the forward to get the ball moving in the same direction. The back is trying to bat the ball away from the runner. If the ball hits the ground all players can compete for the ball with the forward and the runner working together.

B) A second alternative sees the back try to catch the ball and the forward try to keep the ball moving in the air. Now the player coming on to the break does so from behind the ball, that is from the opposite side the ball is hit from. The runner picks up the break or takes a pass going past the defender from behind (support play). If the ball breaks the defender and the runner work together to move the ball out.

Variations A and B can be set up so that the contest ends in a shot at goal or clearance. Set the cones up on the 20m, 45m and halfway lines. The ball always comes to the contest from out the field but the runner comes from alternative ends, that is alternate between variations A and B after every ball. Half the time the back gets support to clear the ball (when the runner is coming out) and half the time the forward gets support to shoot (when the runner is coming in).

C) Also you can use two additional cones and have the runners running between cones D and E to simulate the ball breaking in the middle for half forwards or half backs to run on to. This is so that they come onto it from the side rather than the front or behind. The runners can decide to go in front or behind the contest.

Players 1 and 5 continue to strike the ball from cones A and B as before. Again the contest can be set up to finish with a shot or clearance by placing the aerial contest on the 45m line.

Also you could have one player come from both sides at once, one to help the forward and one to help the back. These creates a 2 v 2 situation. Forwards and backs should have coloured bibs on.

D) Finally you could have the two runners come from the same side. Again one back and one forward wearing different colours. Below the backs are even numbered players and the forwards are odd numbered players. It is best in this instance if all the balls come from well out the field.

With the two players coming to the contest from the same side they have to decide to attack the ball at the contest, to move to take the break or a pass, or to simply track the player they are running with. Again the objective is to get in a shot for a score (forwards) or to effect a clearance (backs).

To rotate the players the two players who ran in to the previous aerial contest are the players who compete for the next ball. Thus each pair gets to play two balls before getting a rest. To keep the drill moving the next ball should be played in as soon as the last ball has left and the next pair need to be ready to be in position.

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Warm Up Drill 2

Groups: 2
Sliotars: at least 1 for every 2 players
Cones: 4
Skills: Striking, Shooting
Level of Effort: 2/5
Level of Complexity: 1.5/5

Set-up:

Break players into two groups either side of the goals. This needs a net behind the goals. At each side half the players line up on the end line and half line up at a cone 25m out. The players on the end each have a ball.

Description:

Players run out with a ball from A and C and handpass to B and D who collect and strike over the bar (running in a straight line). Players at B strike off their left and at D strike off the right. Players handpass from the outside and strike from the inside.

After hitting the ball players go and line up again at A and C gathering a ball from behind the goals.

Continue for about 2 minutes and switch sides so that players will have to strike and pass on their other sides.

Variations:

A) Use a goalkeeper and players from one side can shoot for goal.

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Warm Up Drill 1

Groups: 3, 4 or 5 players
Sliotars: 1 per group
Cones: 6
Skills: Controlling, Striking, Lifting, Soloing, Handpassing, Catching, Batting, Dribbling, Kicking
Level of Effort: 2.5/5
Level of Complexity: 1.5/5

Set-up:

Use four of the cones to form a rectangle that is about 15 metres wide and long enough to accommodate the required number of groups. Place the last two cones about 5 metres further out to give the option of a 20 metre distance.

Players break up into groups of three (or five) and have the groups split with two (or three) people at cone A and one (or two) players at cone B 15 metres away. The first player at A has a ball.

Description:

Player 1 starts with the ball in his hand and runs towards Player 2 at B. Half way acriss he rolls the ball along the ground in front of player 2 and then follows the ball to cone B and takes his position there.

Player 2 controls the ball, runs towards Player 3 at cone A, rolls the ball along the ground in front of player 3 and this follows the ball to cone A can takes his position there. Player 3 controls the ball and continues the cycle.

The ball should be rolled gently as players are just starting off and are just looking to get the eye in and the heart rate up slightly. Continue for about one minute and then work through some of the following variations changing again after about a minute or so.

Variations:

A) Throw the ball head high with a firm, flat throw for the next player to catch to warm up the catching hand.

B) Strike the ball gently along the ground for the next player to control, varying striking off the right and off the left sides.

C) Throw the ball in the air dropping down on the next player for a high jumping catch.

D) Solo and hand-pass to the opposite player. Pass with the right hand on the way out and use the left hand on the way in. Pass from the hand and from the hurley.

E) Leave the ball in the middle between the players to allow a pick-up of a stationary ball. After picking the ball the player carries the ball for a few steps and drops the ball to the ground for the next player to come on to.

F) Players take a hand-pass, throw the ball a couple of yards in front of them, pick it up as it rolls away from them and then handpass to the next player. (players can also just block the ball out in front as they receive the handpass from the oncoming player). The key is that the ball is rolling away from the player as he goes to pick it up.

G) Strike into the hand using both left and right. The receiving player must catch the ball rather than play it on the hurley if possible.

H) Player coming from A throws the ball high in the air for player from B to bat down to feet of player remaining at A who controls it and throws it up for the next player at B.

I) Player coming from A throws the ball in the air for player from B to bat down to himself. He then picks the ball and gives a handpass to remaining player at A.

J) Player coming from A throws the ball in the air out in front of the player at B to allow him to come forward to jump in the air and catch and then hand-pass to remaining player at A.

L) Dribble along the ground touching the ball at least six times before passing along the ground to the next player. Bounce the ball two or three feet on the hurley (one hands or two) before bouncing the ball to the next player.

M) Player coming from A drops the ball in front of the player at B who plays/dribbles the ball along the ground 2 or 3 times, he then picks it up and drops it in front of the next player.

O) No hands. Solo to a couple of yards of player at far side then strike or flick the ball off the hurley to the player who controls it with or without catching and solos to the opposite side.

P) One handed. Players run at the players opposite with the ball in hand and throw the ball up to give a one handed pass with the hurley to the next player. The ball can also be pushed forward two handed from in front of the body.

Q) Solo across and give a kick pass to the next player to catch. Kicks can be from the hand or off the hurley.

R) After eight to ten minutes move the players back to the outside cones to have 20 metres between the groups. Have the players strike the ball along the ground and to the hand as before but this time much harder and faster. Continue for 90 seconds to 2 minutes on each.

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