Curves and jumps

WHY USE IT

This is a simple session to set up and can be adjusted easily to suit the stages of your players’ development. This is a great breakout exercise in between games.

SET UP

Eight balls.

HOW TO PLAY

Activity: Mark out a starting gate and two turning points, as in the first illustration. Each player runs through the curve, first at jogging pace; ask them to speed up each time. Once they have done one sort of curve, they should move to the next. You can have several different curved courses, depending on numbers.

Development 1: Set up the balls, as in the second illustration. The players run simultaneously to the first ball gate, with one having to slow down to let the other through. This demonstrates footwork, deceleration and awareness. Once through the gate, they turn sharply to get around the outside ball.

Development 2: Stand a player about 3m in front of two balls, as per the third illustration. Put yourself about
3m behind the balls. The player runs forward, jumps, lands on two feet and then steps off in the direction you are pointing to.

COACHING POINTS

• Run hard at the ’gaps’ and then cut hard to the next ’gap’.
• Feel in control of where you are moving. Start slow and build up.
• Accelerate away from a jump.

ACTIVITY

1. The players race in and out of the balls
2. If they curve their run, they should run faster
3. Balls are more effective than cones to move around, so use them in preference to cones

DEVELOPMENT 1

1. Both runners start off at the same time
2. Since they will be arriving at the gate at the same time, one will have to slow down to let the other through

DEVELOPMENT 2

1. The ball carrier runs and jumps over the balls 
2. As they land, point in the direction you want them to run