BODY CATCH

Key Points

• Head up, keep eyes on the ball.
• As the ball approaches, move to receive it between the arms and the chest.
• Extend the arms out in front of the chest with the elbows close together and the palms of the hands facing up.
• Spread the fingers of both hands to cushion the ball.
• 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

•  Divide the group into pairs, one football per pair.
• The players stand approximately 3 meters apart.
• The player with the ball throws the ball underarm to their partner to body catch, who repeats.
• Move the players further apart as their technique improves.
• Count the number of successful catches in 30 seconds

Drill 2 – Intermediate – Move and Catch

• Divide the players into groups of 8, one football per group.
• Mark out a distance of approximately 8 to 10 meters using cones.
• Place a marker half way between the outer cones.
• 4 Players line up at either cone.
• The player in possession throws the ball underarm for the opposite player to run forward and catch at the halfway marker.
• The player in possession then runs on and hands the ball to the next player to repeat the drill.
• Each player follows on to line up at the back of the opposite line.

Developing the Technique

Fun Game 1 - Piggy in the Middle

• Mark out a grid 5m by 5m using cones.
• Position one player along each length of the grid.
• Position the fifth player in the middle of the grid.
• The outside players must move along the lengths of the grid throwing the ball to each other to retain possession.
• The ball must be caught using the Body Catch technique.
• The middle player attempts to intercept the ball.
• 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

• Mark out a grid or ‘court’ using cones.
• Divide the players into two teams of 4, separated by a line of cones or a net.
• The objective of the game is to throw the ball into the opposition team’s ‘court’ making it difficult for them to catch.
• The opposition team must use the Body Catch technique.
• Teams can score 1 point if the opposition fail to catch the ball using the body catch.
• Award 1 point if an opponent drops the ball after catching it.
• Award 1 point to the opposition is if the ball is thrown outside the court.