Use this race to improve passing, the idea that players have to stop after a tag and pass and the role of the support player chasing after the ball carrier to receive a pass after a tag.
Put pairs of players with a ball in front of a line of at least three cones, spaced about 3m apart.
Have the ball carrier run to the first cone, turn and pass to the next player. They run to the next cone and repeat.
Once the pair have completed the cones, they run back to the start.
TECHNIQUE
Hands up to receive the ball, not hands out. So fingers to the sky.
Turn and pass the ball. Follow through the fingers to the catcher.
PROGRESSIONS
Stagger the cones so the runners have to move sideways as well as forwards.
Have groups of three run forward. Mix up the pairs.
To start with, the support player will tend not to follow the passer. However if it is a race, then they soon get the idea that to win, they need to keep up. It’s only a short pass, so try telling the players to pass with their fingers to give them the sensation of a softer pass.
Use this exercise in conjunction with a game of tag. Play 4 v 4 tag, then run “Tag and pass race” for three minutes before returning to the tag game.
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