SOLO RUN

Key Points

• Adopt the ready position.
• Point the hurley forward with the bas flat and the toe facing away from the body.
• Toss the ball onto the bas of the hurley, placing the non-dominant hand on the handle to aid balance.
• 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.
• 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

• This is a basic drill to practice the Solo Run technique.
• Give one ball to each player.
• Players balance or hop the ball on the hurley for a set time before catching and repeating the drill.
• Ensure each player alternates between balancing and hoping the ball on the hurley.

Drill 2 – Basic - Solo Out and Back

• This is a basic drill to practice the Solo Run technique.
• Divide the players into groups of 5, one ball per group.
• Mark out a distance of 10m using cones.
• The players line up behind the first cone.
• Each player in turn solos out and around the far cone.
• On the return, they 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 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.
• Divide the players into groups of 6, one ball per group.
• Mark out a triangle placing the cones approximately 10m apart.
• 2 players line up at each corner.
• Each player in turn solos out to the next cone hand passing the ball to the next player from 2 to 3m away.
• Continue until each player is back in their original position.
• Repeat the drill going in the opposite direction.

 Drill 4 – Intermediate - Zig Zag Solo

• This intermediate drill to practice the Solo Run technique requires players to maintain control of the ball while soloing around a series of cones.
• Divide the players into groups of 5, one ball per group.
• Place 5 cones in a zig-zag formation as shown, approximately 5m between each cone.
• The players line up behind the first cone.
• Each player in turn solos out and around each cone.
• 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.
• Mark out a grid approximately 15m square using cones.
• 3 players line up at each corner of the grid.
• The players must solo across the grid to the far corner and hand pass to the next player from 2 to 3 m away.
• 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

• This is a grid game designed to increase the speed at which players perform the solo run.
• 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.
• Place the same number of balls in each of the near grids.
• 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.
• When the last ball has been transferred, they tag the next player who must transfer all the balls back to the original grid.
• Each player in turn transfers the balls in the opposite direction.
• The team who completes the drill in the quickest time wins.

 Grid Game 1

• This is a grid game to develop the Solo Run technique
• Mark out a grid 10m square using cones.
• Place 5 markers as shown halfway between cones 2 and 3 of the grid.
• The players line up before the first cone.
• Place the balls at cone 2.
• 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.
• 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.
• Mark out a playing area 40m long and 20 m wide.
• Divide the players in two teams of 5 players.
• The aim of the game is to score by soloing with the ball over the opponent’s endline
• Players may only solo and hand pass the ball.
• The ball may be flicked off the hurley by an opponent but no contact is allowed with the player or the hurley.
• If a ball is intercepted, or falls to the ground, the other team gain possession

Fun Game 2 – Step in Time

• Mark out a grid 15m long by 10m wide.
• Place a number of hoops or cones as obstacles within the grid.
• Divide the players into 2 equal teams one at either end of the grid.
• Give each player a ball.
• On the whistle, all the players jog through the grid attempting to avoid the opposing team players and the obstacles.
• If a player touches an obstacle, or a player from the opposing team, they must leave the grid.
• Repeat the drill until all the players have left the grid, or for a set time.
• To increase the difficulty of the drill, allow players to tackle each other.