Contact Skills drill
Ball Placement Under Load
Make a long, clean placement with a body on top of you.
- Time
- 15 minutes
- Players
- 2 to 10 players
- Intensity
- Medium
- Equipment
- Ball
- Positions
- All positions
Setup
One ball, on soft grass, with a partner of similar size.
How to run it
- Get on all fours holding the ball while your partner positions their weight on your upper back and shoulders - never on your neck or lower back, and applied progressively rather than dropped.
- Place the ball securely to the side and behind you at full arm's length while carrying their weight.
- Keep both hands on the ball until the moment of placement and keep your body between the ball and your partner.
- Once that is comfortable, have your partner actively try to prevent the placement.
- Do 3 sets of 8 placements each side per player, alternating roles.
Coaching cues
- Long placement - arm's length, away from the opposition
- Body between the ball and the opponent
- Both hands on the ball until you place it
Common mistakes
- Placing short under your own body, which is the turnover mechanism
- The partner dropping weight suddenly onto the neck or lower back rather than progressively onto the upper back
Related drills
- Fend and Hand-OffCreate separation with a legal fend rather than a strike.
- Preparation for Contact WrestleBuild the shoulder position, connection and rolling strength that contact demands.
- Get Up Off The FloorFight to your feet under a body, which is what every phase of contact demands.
- Contact Security One-on-OneTake the carrier down and immediately win the ball on your feet.
- Latch and DriveBind onto a carrier just before contact and drive as a unit without conceding obstruction.
- Falling and Ball PresentationLearn to hit the ground safely and present the ball long, entirely alone.