This practice focuses on technical dribbling skills to eliminate a defender. You will make the ball lift 2-3 inches off the ground so that it will go over a defender's stick. These are all difficult moves so start off slow and go faster as you gain confidence with the techniques.
For these drills you will need 2 sticks, 1 ball, 4 cones or 4 markers (anything will do - we used plastic IKEA plates) and about 2 square yards of space (indoors or outdoors).
Set up two cones ~4 yards apart from each other, in the middle set up the defender's stick (ideally balanced ~2 inches off the ground)
Drills:
- Yard Pulls: great warm up drill. How many pulls can you do in 30 seconds? Are you getting more pulls vs last time? Repeat 5 times.
- Forehand lift: Dribble the ball on your forehand, push the ball out in front of your body vs being close to your feet, give a small scoop under the bottom/back of the ball. This will lift the ball over the defender's stick. Go back and forth 10 times
- Forehand pop: Dribble the ball on your forehand, let the ball fall back equal to your feet vs being out in front, give a small slap on the top/back of the ball. This will make the ball jump over the defender's stick. Go back and forth 10 times
- Backhand lift: Pull the ball to your backhand side, let the ball slightly roll up the stick and lift it over the defenders stick. Go back and forth 10 times
- Air Dribble: Even though you would never this in a game, its fun fun and it helps develop ball/stick control. Here are three different air dribble tricks: the around the world, the catch and the over-the-back kick. Try these and add your own. Practice for 5 minutes