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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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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