BODY CATCH
Key Points
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Head up,
keep eyes on the ball.
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As the
ball approaches, move to receive it between the arms and the chest.
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Extend
the arms out in front of the chest with the elbows close together and the
palms of the hands facing up.
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Spread
the fingers of both hands to cushion the ball.
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Relax the
chest on impact to cushion the ball into a secure position with both hands.
Practice the Technique
Drill
1 - Basic Throw and Catch
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Divide
the group into pairs, one football per pair.
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The
players stand approximately 3 meters apart.
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The
player with the ball throws the ball underarm to their partner to body
catch, who repeats.
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Move the
players further apart as their technique improves.
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Count the
number of successful catches in 30 seconds
Drill
2 – Intermediate – Move and Catch
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Divide
the players into groups of 8, one football per group.
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Mark out
a distance of approximately 8 to 10 meters using cones.
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Place a
marker half way between the outer cones.
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4 Players
line up at either cone.
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The
player in possession throws the ball underarm for the opposite player to run
forward and catch at the halfway marker.
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The
player in possession then runs on and hands the ball to the next player to
repeat the drill.
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Each
player follows on to line up at the back of the opposite line.
Developing the
Technique
Fun
Game 1 - Piggy in the Middle
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Mark out
a grid 5m by 5m using cones.
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Position
one player along each length of the grid.
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Position
the fifth player in the middle of the grid.
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The
outside players must move along the lengths of the grid throwing the ball to
each other to retain possession.
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The ball
must be caught using the Body Catch technique.
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The
middle player attempts to intercept the ball.
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If the
ball is dropped or intercepted, the outside player responsible moves to take
up position as the ‘piggy in the middle’
Fun
Game 2 - Over the River
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Mark out
a grid or ‘court’ using cones.
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Divide
the players into two teams of 4, separated by a line of cones or a net.
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The
objective of the game is to throw the ball into the opposition team’s
‘court’ making it difficult for them to catch.
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The
opposition team must use the Body Catch technique.
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Teams can
score 1 point if the opposition fail to catch the ball using the body catch.
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Award 1
point if an opponent drops the ball after catching it.
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Award 1
point to the opposition is if the ball is thrown outside the court.