Warm-up Drill 3

Groups of 12+
Sliotars: 2
Cones: 6
Skills: Striking, Control, Handpass, Catching
Level of Effort: 2.5/5
Level of Complexity: 2.5/5

Set-up:

Two (or three) players line up at six cones, A to E, as shown below. Players 1 and 4 start with a ball at cones A and D. The drill is repeated around two interconnected triangles.

The ball will travel clockwise in one triangle and anti-clockwise once it crosses to the other. This will force the players to perform the skills included off both sides.

Description:

Player 1 strikes the ball at head height for player 2 to catch at cone B and runs to cone B. 2 catches the ball and handpasses to 3 and moves to C. 3 takes the ball and strikes a low ball along the ground to the first player at cone D and moves to the end of the line at D.

At the same time player 4 has begun the same cycle on the other side by striking the ball for player 6 to catch and cone E. He handpasses it to 6 at cone F who strikes the ball along the ground across to the first person at cone A and the cycle begins again.

Skills:

At Ⓐ control a low ball and strike to the hand off the right.
At Ⓑ catch the ball and hand pass to the left.
At Ⓒ catch a handpass and strike along the ground off the right.
At Ⓓ control a low ball and strike to the hand off the left.
At Ⓔ catch the ball and hand pass to the right.
At Ⓕcatch a handpass and strike along the ground off the left.

Variations:

A) If players get very proficient at this introduce a third ball into the cycle.

B) Move cone B back a further 10 or 15 metres to encourage a longer strike and have the players catch the ball running onto it and also give the handpass to the next player on the run.

C) Introduce token opposition for the handpass to force the player to pass around/over the defender.

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Cool Down Drill 1

Groups of 4
Sliotars: 2
Cones: 4
Skills: Striking, Catching
Level of Effort: 1.5/5
Level of Complexity: 1.5/5

Set up:


Lay out the cones in a T-formation as shown below with 12m to 15m between each cone. Players 2 and 3 start with a ball.

Description:

Player 2 strikes the ball to player 1 who catches it and strikes it on to the player without a ball, player 4. Player 3 now strikes his ball to player 1 who strikes it on to 2. 4 now hits it to 1 and so on. The player in the middle takes each ball alternately and strikes to the player without a ball.

Repeat for 60 seconds when player 2 takes over from player 1. Repeat twice for each player.

Variations:

A) Handpassing rather than strike the ball.

B) The player in the middle controls the ball and hits it back without catching.

C) Set up cones in a square grid.

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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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