SOLO
RUN
Key Points
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Adopt the
ready position.
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Point the
hurley forward with the bas flat and the toe facing away from the body.
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Toss the
ball onto the bas of the hurley, placing the non-dominant hand on the handle
to aid balance.
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Move
forward balancing the ball or hopping the ball on the hurley.
-
It may
benefit the player to control the hurley using a shortened grip when they
start learning the solo run.
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Holding
the hurley down at a slight angle may improve the players ability to solo
run at pace.
-
As
players become proficient, they may work towards soloing with one hand on
the hurley.
Technical
Drills
Drill 1 –
Basic – Solo Run
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This is a
basic drill to practice the Solo Run technique.
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Give one
ball to each player.
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Players
balance or hop the ball on the hurley for a set time before catching and
repeating the drill.
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Ensure
each player alternates between balancing and hoping the ball on the hurley.
Drill 2 –
Basic - Solo Out and Back
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This is a
basic drill to practice the Solo Run technique.
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Divide
the players into groups of 5, one ball per group.
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Mark out
a distance of 10m using cones.
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The
players line up behind the first cone.
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Each
player in turn solos out and around the far cone.
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On the
return, they hand pass to the next player in line who repeats the drill.
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Continue
the drill for a set time.
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Initially
players should catch the ball as they round the far cone.
-
As they
become more proficient, challenge them to round the cone without catching
the ball.
Drill 3 –
Basic
-
This is a
basic drill to practice the solo technique.
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Divide
the players into groups of 6, one ball per group.
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Mark out
a triangle placing the cones approximately 10m apart.
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2 players
line up at each corner.
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Each
player in turn solos out to the next cone hand passing the ball to the next
player from 2 to 3m away.
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Continue
until each player is back in their original position.
-
Repeat
the drill going in the opposite direction.
Drill
4 – Intermediate - Zig Zag Solo
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This
intermediate drill to practice the Solo Run technique requires players to
maintain control of the ball while soloing around a series of cones.
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Divide
the players into groups of 5, one ball per group.
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Place 5
cones in a zig-zag formation as shown, approximately 5m between each cone.
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The
players line up behind the first cone.
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Each
player in turn solos out and around each cone.
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Once they
round the far cone, they solo directly back and hand pass to the next player
in line who repeats the drill.
-
Continue
the drill for a set time.
-
Initially
players should catch the ball as the round the far cone.
-
As they
become more proficient challenge them to round the cone without catching the
ball.
Drill 5 –
Intermediate – Through the Middle
-
This
intermediate drill to practice the solo technique requires the players to
maintain control of the ball while soloing through a common area.
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Mark out
a grid approximately 15m square using cones.
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3 players
line up at each corner of the grid.
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The
players must solo across the grid to the far corner and hand pass to the
next player from 2 to 3 m away.
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The
players may catch the ball as they pass through the centre of the grid.
-
To make
the drill more difficult, add two more balls so 4 players will be passing
through the centre of the grid each time.
Developing the
Skill
Grid Game
– Grid Swap
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This is a
grid game designed to increase the speed at which players perform the solo
run.
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Divide
the players into two teams of 5 players each.
-
Mark out
two grids approximately 5m by 5m with a distance of 5m between each grid for
each team.
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Place the
same number of balls in each of the near grids.
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On the
whistle, the first player in each team must race forward, rise each
ball in turn and transfer them to the far grid using the Solo Run technique.
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When the
last ball has been transferred, they tag the next player who must transfer
all the balls back to the original grid.
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Each
player in turn transfers the balls in the opposite direction.
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The team
who completes the drill in the quickest time wins.
Grid Game
1
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This is a
grid game to develop the Solo Run technique
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Mark out
a grid 10m square using cones.
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Place 5
markers as shown halfway between cones 2 and 3 of the grid.
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The
players line up before the first cone.
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Place the
balls at cone 2.
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Each
player in turn must race forward, rise a ball, solo in and out around each
of the 5 markers, leave the ball down at cone 3 and run to line up behind
cone 4.
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When all
the players have completed the drill, repeat in the opposite direction.
Fun Game 1
-
This is a
modified game to develop the player’s ability to solo run in a game
situation.
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Mark out
a playing area 40m long and 20 m wide.
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Divide
the players in two teams of 5 players.
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The aim
of the game is to score by soloing with the ball over the opponent’s endline
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Players
may only solo and hand pass the ball.
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The ball
may be flicked off the hurley by an opponent but no contact is allowed with
the player or the hurley.
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If a ball
is intercepted, or falls to the ground, the other team gain possession
Fun Game 2 – Step in Time
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Mark out
a grid 15m long by 10m wide.
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Place a
number of hoops or cones as obstacles within the grid.
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Divide
the players into 2 equal teams one at either end of the grid.
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Give each
player a ball.
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On the
whistle, all the players jog through the grid attempting to avoid the
opposing team players and the obstacles.
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If a
player touches an obstacle, or a player from the opposing team, they must
leave the grid.
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Repeat
the drill until all the players have left the grid, or for a set time.
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To
increase the difficulty of the drill, allow players to tackle each other.