THE DRIBBLE

Key Points:

• Adopt the Ready Position
• Bend the back and place the heel of the hurley on the ground
• The non-dominant hand, placed down the handle of the hurley, is used to guide the bas of the hurley through the sliotar.
• On every second stroke use the alternate side of the bas.

Technical Drills 

Drill 1 – Basic – Dribble out to Cone and Back

• This is a basic drill to practice the dribble technique.
• Mark out a distance approximately 10m using cones
• Divide the players into groups, one sliotar per group.
• Each group lines up behind a cone.
• Each player in turn dribbles the sliotar out and around the far cone and back for the next player to repeat.
• Using a larger sliotar like the First Touch ball to begin with will make the technique easier to perform.
• As the players become more proficient, use a smaller sliotar like the Quick Touch ball to increase the challenge.

Drill 2 – Basic -  Dribble around Centre Cone

• This is a basic drill to practice the dribble technique.
• Mark out a distance approximately 10m using cones.
• Place a further cone half way between the outer cones.
• Divide the players into groups, one sliotar per group.
• Each player must dribble the sliotar out and around the far cone and back and also dribble completely around the centre cone both on the way out and on the way back
• To increase the challenge the drill may be run as a relay race.

Drill 3 Intermediate – Dribble and Change Direction

• This is an intermediate drill to practice the dribble technique which requires the players to dribble and change direction on a signal.
• Mark out a grid using cones. 
• The players, each with a sliotar, spread out within the grid.
• To begin each player dribbles in one direction and attempts to avoid the other players.
• On the whistle or a signal from the coach each player must quickly change direction and continue dribbling
• To increase the challenge add more players to the grid or reduce the size of the grid.

 Drill 4 Intermediate – Dribbling Tussle

•  This intermediate drill to practice the dribble technique introduces an opponent.
• Mark out a grid using cones. 
• Divide the players into pairs, one sliotar per pair.
• Use bibs to distinguish the players.
• To begin one player attempts to maintain possession by dribbling and using his body to shield the ball from his partner.
• The second player tackles the player in possession by attempting to push or flick the ball away
• After a set time or by dispossessing his partner successfully the second player takes possession and the first player becomes the tackler.

Drill 5 Intermediate – Dribble and Change Direction 2

• This is an intermediate drill to practice the dribble technique which requires the players to dribble and change direction on a signal.
• Mark out a distance approximately 10m wide using cones. 
• The players line up along on side, one ball per player
• To begin each player must dribble forward towards the cones on the opposite side.
• On a signal from the coach each player must change direction quickly and continue to dribble back in the direction they came from.
• The coach should vary the point at which he signals the change in direction to challenge the players to remain alert at all times. 

Developing the Skill 

Grid Game – Possession Dribble

• This is a possession game to develop the dribble technique
• Mark out a suitable grid
• Each player has a ball
• The Players must dribble around the grid, attempting to keep their own ball under control and at the same time attempting to knock another player’s ball out of the grid.
• Hurleys cannot be raised above knee level.
• To knock an opponent’s ball from the grid, push or flick the ball from their possession.
• If a player’s ball is knocked out of the grid they must leave the grid.
• The last player left in the grid is the winner.
• Giving each player a ball but dividing the group into two teams will make the game easier by reducing the number of opponents.

Grid Game 2 – Dribble and Score

• This is an invasion game to develop the dribble technique
• Mark out a suitable grid
• Divide the players into two teams
• Each team attempts to retain possession of the ball by dribbling and passing.
• A score is recorded when the ball is dribbled over any part of the opponents end-line.
• When a team loses possession, all players become defenders and fall back to defend their own end-line.
• Hurleys cannot be raised above knee level.
• To pass the ball or knock the ball away from an opponent push or flick the ball using the dribble technique.

Fun Game – Gather and Dribble

• This is fun game to aid development of the dribble technique
• Mark out a circle using cones
• A number of balls are scattered in different directions outside the circle.
• Beginning inside the circle, the players run to return all the balls into the circle using the dribble technique.
• To increase the challenge the players may be divided into teams who take turns returning all the balls to the circle.
• The coach times each team
• The team that takes the least time is the winner.