Blind Defense Drill
This drill highlights a major defensive issue: Reaction Time.
This Drill Highlights:
Defensive Communication
Reaction Time
Proper Defensive Skills
Description:
Start with 7 defenders inside the 8M in front of the cage. They lay face down in a circle facing one another with their eyes closed. 7 attackers are moving through a skeleton offense until the coach blows the whistle. Defenders get up quickly on the whistle and communicate to find ball and pick up players.
Progression of drill:
Offense continues to move in a motion offense without going to goal.
Offense is allowed to go to goal when coach yells ‘Go’.
Offense goes to goal as soon as the whistle is blown for defenders to get up.
The goalie is in the goal the entire time and communicating to defense where the ball.
Equipment:
14 players, 1 goalie, 8M, Balls, Whistle
Highlighted Skills:
Defensive communication and reacting quickly, Listening to Goalie, Finding the ball, Preparing for slides.
Key Coaching Points:
The defense must react quickly and have their sticks up always, they must approach their attackers low (don’t poke at their stick/ball). The person taking the ball must identify that she has ball by communicating it. Off ball defenders have to quickly mark up and be ready to slide. The defenders need to learn to listen and when to communicate and work together.
