Catching drill
Back and Forth Catch-Pass
Hold catch-pass quality as fatigue builds, which is when handling errors actually happen.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Players
- 9 to 12 players
- Intensity
- High
- Equipment
- Ball, cones
- Space
- 10m x 10m grid
- Positions
- All positions
Setup
A 10m x 10m grid with nine players, one ball.
How to run it
- Player A passes to B, who passes to C, who passes to D.
- Player B then turns quickly to link the pass from D on to E on the way back, then links F to G, and keeps working back and forth across the grid until they have completed 10 shuttles.
- Rotate so every player takes a turn as the working player B.
- Pass in front of the receiver, run straight, and communicate on every pass.
- The whole point is that B's passing quality must not fall apart over 10 shuttles - that is the thing being measured.
Coaching cues
- Pass in front, communicate every time
- Quality must not drop over 10 shuttles
- Turn both shoulders across the set
Common mistakes
- Player B's pass quality collapsing as they tire, which is the exact fault being trained out
- Always turning the same shoulder so only one passing side gets worked
Related drills
- Support and PassDraw a defender and time the pass, in the smallest possible live decision drill.
- Self Throw and CatchBuild basic catching confidence and hand-eye coordination with nothing but a ball.
- Wall Reaction CatchSharpen reaction catching off an unpredictable rebound, alone.
- Wall Pass ReboundBuild passing accuracy and reaction catching completely alone, off any flat wall.
- Solo Halfback Wall PassGroove the scrum-half clearing pass off the ground in one sweep, with no partner needed.
- Pass ProgressionBuild a smooth, rhythmic two-handed pass from static through to running pace.