Core Skills - Passing Zig-Zag

DESCRIPTION

Groups of 5. Coach or players use cones (or throwdowns) to mark out a box with a cone in the middle.

Each player stands on a cone. Pass in a n a "W" or zig-zag shape, i.e. player 1 passes to player 2, and so on, all the way around back to 1.

Discourage losing the ball: Each group has [3] balls. Every time a group loses all their balls, they must do a forfeit, i.e. run once around the pitch / 5 push-ups before collecting them.

Variation: 

• Group of 6: 6th player stands at cone 6. Pass from 1>6 and back to 1.
• Group of 4 or 3: form a square or triangle respectively.

Progression:

• Mixed abilities: Confident groups can pass multiple balls at same time.
• Challenge: 1 group must pass their 4 balls once around the W in the time it takes 1-2 other players to run(or dribble) around the W. Otherwise, the group must run a lap.

COACHING POINTS

This activity involves short passing and receiving in a fast, continuous and mechanical cycle, with the aim of improving accuracy, ball speed, body position, footwork.

Notes:

• Nobody should be waiting 20 seconds for a pass, there should be enough balls in play to keep everyone working constantly. 
• Encourage players to start slow, using only 1 or 2 balls.
• Accuracy is more important than speed - there should be some kind of penalty to discourage wayward passing/mis-receives.

Q: Passes should be to the forehand. Why? (Passes to the reverse stick are more likely to result in mis-receives.)