Pass the ball down the line quickly while attacking the ball at pace. Instead of the players stretching for the ball, the catcher spreads the fingers of his farthest hand like a spider. The players will catch better, move faster and pass on quicker.
Pass the ball down the line quickly while attacking the ball at pace. Instead of the players stretching for the ball, the catcher spreads the fingers of his farthest hand like a spider. The players will catch better, move faster and pass on quicker.
Warm up time: 5-7
Session time: 8-10
Development time: 10-15
Game time: 15-20
Warm down time: 5-8
What to think about
When we sprint, our hands stay inside our shoulder span. If we put our hands out towards the ball, the nearest hand to the pass is outside our body and the farthest hand is in line with the other shoulder. No one can run normally for the ball that way so when players are running they either slow down to reach for the ball or don’t bother to have their hands up at all.
With a spider hand shape for the far hand, it allows normal running. The passer targets just in front of the “spider”. As the ball moves to the catcher, he will naturally put his near hand across to secure the ball.
set-up
- Catcher: Put up your farthest hand from the passer, in the shape of spider. Run as normal before you take the pass.
- Passer: Target the space in front of the “spider hand” so the receiver has to run on to the ball.
What you get your players to do
Put four players at cones 3m apart, with a feeder to the side about 3m away. Get the players to run back about 5m and the feeder passes to the first player when he is ready.
This group has to complete three passes before the end player reaches the cone he starts from (see picture 1). Rotate the players and do it again. Encourage players to increase their pace.
Four attackers running backwards before lining up to take a pass from the feeder. They aim to pass to the far player before he reaches the cone he started at.
Development
Put defenders in the first two gaps. When the ball is released they pressurise the first two catchers (see picture 2).
Get the second defender to either cut in or drift out, making the middle two players decide whether to run or pass.
Make the spacing wider.
Introduce some miss passes and loops.
Introduce two defenders who pressurise the first two attackers. Add in misses and loops and then get the second defender to sometimes drift over.
Game situation
In a 20m x 10m box, put two defenders around 2m and 5m from a feeder. Get one group of three attackers on one side of the feeder and three on the other side. The first group attacks with the defenders moving out to close down and to touch the ball carrier in possession.
The defenders then move across and defend against the next group of three. Complete two attacks each before swapping sides. Finally, rotate the attackers and defenders. Use touch tackling.
First a 3v2 on one side and then defenders go across for a 3v2 on the other side. Use touch tackling.
What to call out
- “Keep the ball above hip height”
- “Pass for the catcher, not to him”
- “Run straight”
- “Spider hands!”