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LOGINPriority skills: Catching
There are five key factors for catching the ball, but this is the one that will make the most difference to your players. By Wales U20s coach RICHARD WHIFFIN.
It is really important for players of all ages to work on their ability to catch the ball off their chest, as it will give them more time to execute their next action.
Catching errors usually happen when players try to catch the ball into their chests, allowing the ball the opportunity to bounce off the body.
With defences becoming increasingly more organised, with greater line speed, the time an attacker has in possession of the ball is decreasing.
Therefore, for players and teams to execute opportunities to pass the ball under pressure, an early catch off their chest provides the attacker with more time to make a decision and execute.
Below are a couple of activities to put players’ catching skill under pressure. Use the key factors as the coaching points for individuals.
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KEY FACTORS FOR catching
- Reach early for the ball
- Outside hand up as target for passer
- Fingers leading at the ball
- Soft hands and soft elbows to cushion the impact on catching the ball off your chest
- Outside foot up to remain square while running
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- One player (A) works in the middle of a triangle.
- A receives small passes before passing the ball to the catchers next to them.
- Work player A in the middle for one minute, with the catchers varying their width and depth for the pass.
- The catchers must pass the ball back to the distributor as quickly as possible. They in turn put A under pressure by speeding the delivery up.
- Players score points for clean catches and lose points for any catches where the ball touches the chest.
- Player A works in the middle, receiving a powerful kick pass and so pressurising their catching skills.
- From the kick, one of the defenders will put player A under pressure to catch and then pass to one of the catchers.
- Player A must look to move forward for the catch and keep moving forward during the pass.
Richard Whiffin
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