The fast hands grid

CHALLENGE

Instil a natural flow of passing in your players with this activity that starts slow and increases in tempo and rhythm.

SET UP

A 15m x 10m box, two balls

HOW TO DO IT

• A coach at the midpoint passes the first ball to the first player in the line who is running forward (see picture 1). This ball must be transferred along the line and passed to the other player standing at the mid point on the far side.
• Once player one has passed the first ball they must be ready to receive the second ball from the first player. This ball then “chases” the first ball along the line of running players (see picture 2).
• When this ball gets to the end player they pass it to the next team waiting to run back (not to the player at the far side point). They return passing the ball and as soon as the first ball has left the first player, the player feeds them ball two (see picture 3).

technique

• Hold the run to create depth.
• The first player must put pace into the exercise.
• Passes in front of the receiver.
• Passes sympathetic and not spun.
• Hands out to receive the pass.

Editor’s note: Initially this exercise is chaotic but persevere - players do get the hang of it and handling/passing improves hugely.