GROUND BLOCK
Key Points
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Adopt the
Ready Position
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Bend the
knees and lower the non-dominant hand so that the heel of the hurley rests
on the ground.
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This is
the blocking position on the strong side.
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To block
the ball between the legs move from the Ready Position to the Lifting
Position but remain upright and bending the knees lower the bas of the
hurley to the ground
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Make sure
that the heels are together with the toes pointing outwards when blocking
the ball between the legs.
Technical
Drill
Drill
1 – Basic – Blocking in Pairs
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This is a
basic drill to practice the ground block technique.
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Mark out
a distance approximately 5m long using cones
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Divide
the players into pairs
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The first
player from each pair rolls the ball gently to the strong side or between
the legs of their partner who attempts to block it.
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Continue
to alternate the roles, repeating the drill for a set time.
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Using a
larger sliotar like the First Touch ball to begin with will make the
technique easier to perform.
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As the
players become more proficient use a smaller sliotar like the Quick Touch
ball to increase the challenge of the drill.
Drill
2 – Basic - Goal to Goal
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This is a
basic drill to practice the ground block technique.
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Mark out
goals approximately 5m apart using cones.
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Divide
the players into pairs
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Each
player in turn attempts to score a goal by throwing the ball along the
ground and past his partner.
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Continue
to alternate the roles, repeating the drill for a set time.
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Use of a
larger sliotar to begin with will make the technique easier to perform.
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As the
players become more proficient use a smaller sliotar to increase the
challenge of the drill.
Drill
3 Intermediate – Run to Block
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This is
an intermediate drill which requires each player to perform the ground block
while moving.
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Players
pair off and face each other approximately 10m apart.
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A cone is
placed half-way between the players.
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Acting as
a feeder Player A rolls the sliotar at pace towards Player B.
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Player B
in turn runs out to block the sliotar at the centre cone.
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Returning
to their original position Player B then acts as feeder for Player A who
repeats the exercise.
Drill
4 Intermediate – Strike and Block
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This
intermediate drill to practice the ground block technique incorporates
dribbling, striking and blocking.
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Mark out
a distance of approximately 10m using cones.
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The
players line up behind the first cone, one sliotar per group.
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The first
player dribbles out and around the cone and strikes the sliotar on the
ground to the next player before returning to the end of the line.
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Each
player in turn moves forward to block the sliotar and repeat the drill.
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To
introduce a further challenge divide the players into teams and run the
drill as a relay race.
Drill
5 Intermediate – Directional Block
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This is
an intermediate drill to practice the ground block when the sliotar is
coming from different directions.
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Mark out
a grid 5m by 5m using cones.
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Positioned one player at each corner of the grid with a fifth player in the
middle.
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The
corner players in turn rolls their sliotar to the middle player who blocks
and sweeps it back.
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Each
player takes a turn in the middle.
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To
increase the challenge of the drill assign a number to each corner player
who throws the ball when their number is called by the coach.
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This will
require the middle player to adjust their position in response before
blocking the ball.
Developing the Skill
Fun Game 1 – Piggy in the Middle
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This is a
fun game to develop the ground block technique
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Mark out
a triangle using cones.
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Determine
the distance between the cones according to the ability of the players.
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One
player stands at each cone and the fourth is the ‘piggy in the middle’.
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The
players at each cone attempt to strike the ball to one another while the
‘piggy in the middle’ attempts to block it.
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The
player who hits the ball which is blocked changes place and becomes the new
‘pig in the middle’.