GROUND STRIKE ON THE RUN

Key Points

• Adopt the ready position.
• Stride into the ball.
• Swivel the shoulders and hips to place the forward foot in line with the ball.
• The shoulders should be in line with the target.
• Head down, strike through the ball with a quick, wristy action.
• Transfer body weight with momentum and bring the trailing foot behind the lead foot for balance.
• Swivel the shoulders and hips back to the original position to continue run.

Technical Drills

Drill 1 – Basic – Imaginary Striking

• This is a basic drill to practice the Ground Strike on the Run technique.
• Position the players along a line, a safe distance apart.
• Players jog across the field, striking an imaginary ball on every 3^rd step.
• Ensure each player strikes to the same side as a safety measure.
• Strike to the opposite side on the return.

Drill 2 – Basic –Ground Striking

• This is a basic drill to practice the Ground Strike on the Run technique.
• Mark out a distance approximately 20m using cones.
• Place 3 balls along the distance, one every 5 metres.
• Divide the players into groups of 3.
• One group of 3 line up behind the first cone.
• Each player in turn runs forward to strike each ball on the run.
• The other group of 3 take up position to retrieve the balls, returning them to the original position for the next player.
• Each player strikes to the opposite side towards the retrievers.
• After each player in a group has had a turn at striking, alternate the groups.
• Begin with a larger ball like the First Touch hurling ball and reduce the size of the ball as the players become more proficient at the technique
• Alternatively, use ball and pin apparatus instead of a retriever group. 

Drill 3 Basic - Out and In

• This is a basic drill to practice the Ground Strike on the Run technique.
• Mark out a distance of approximately 30m using cones.
• Divide the players into groups of 3, lined up behind the cones at one side, with one ball per group.
• Each player in turn strikes the ball on the run, follows it and continues to strike around the far cone and back to the start.
• When a player returns, the next player sets off.
• The first group to have all players complete the drill wins.

Drill 4 Intermediate  - 3 Player Strike

• This is an intermediate drill to practice the Ground Strike on the Run technique.
• Mark out a distance of approximately 40m using cones.
• In groups of 3, the players spread out along one line with approximately 15m between each player.
• The first player begins by striking the sliotar ahead of the central player.
• The central player, without stopping the ball, must strike it on ahead of the third player, who strikes it back ahead of the central player again.
• The 3 players continue to move forward in this fashion until they reach the 40m line
• The players then reform and wait until the rest of the players have completed the drill before changing the central player and repeating the drill in the opposite direction.

Drill 5 Intermediate – 3 Player Relay Strike

• This intermediate drill to practice the Ground Strike on the Run technique requires the central player to pull on a moving ball.
• Mark out a distance of approximately 40m using cones.
• In teams of 3, the players spread out evenly over the distance.
• The first player begins by striking the sliotar towards the central player.
• The central player, without stopping the ball, must strike it on towards the third player.
• The third player strikes it back to the central player again and so the drill continues.
• Encourage the central player to play the ball on whatever side it approaches.
• The first team to move the ball up and down the line a set number of times wins.
• To reduce the difficulty of the drill, allow the end players to stop the ball before striking it to the central player.
• To increase the difficulty of the drill, increase the distance and divide the players into teams of 4 with 2 central players.

Developing the Skill

Grid Game 1 – Over the Line

• This is a target game designed to improve the ability of the players to strike the ball on the ground while on the run.
• The game can be played one against one or in teams of 2, 3 or 4.
• Mark out a grid using cones, two end lines of which act as goal lines.
• The size of the grid depends on the number and ability of the players.
• A score is made by striking the ball over the end line in the opponent’s side of the grid.
• Teams strike on every second shot.
• Each player must be moving while striking the sliotar.

 Fun Game 1 – 4 Goal Game

• This is a modified game focussing on the Ground Strike on the Run. It also incorporates blocking and dribbling and will aid the development of decision-making and team play.
• Mark out a playing area 30m x 30m.
• Position a goal at each of the four corners.
• Divide the players into two equal teams of 4 to 6 players.
• Each team defends two goals but no goalkeepers are used.
• Vary the size of the playing area and the width of the goals depending on the ability of the players.