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Posted by GaelicPerformance on 5th Mar 2014

Get Your Handling Right

The importance of ball handling in Gaelic football cannot be over sated. In fact, no matter what level you are playing at, ball handling is the single most important skill that a player can have. Very often, our ball handling skills come from the various drills that coaches run, and we will often hear terms like " No Drops" and "Soft Hands" , trying to ensure good practice handling.But very often these drills do not lend themselves to players learning to have a "feel" for the ball.

Players that have good ball handling skills, seem to be so much more comfortable in every other aspect of their game, simply because they do not have to think about this aspect of their game. But ball handling is not just about catching, it is about feel, your body being at one with the ball, you being in complete control of the ball.

Below are some drills that players should practice by themselves, or use as part of their warm-up:

(videos to follow)

  1. Tipping:Tip the ball back and forth from one hand to the next, starting with your hands straight up over your head. Then gradually move the ball down, while continuing to tip it back and forth. Go down to your chest, then your waist, knees, and ankles, and then back up again. Keep your elbows straight and only let the the ball touch fingertips, not the palms.
  2. Circles: Put your feet together and make circles around both legs. Then circle around the back. And then circle around the head. Then combine them and move the ball in circles around your head, then down your body, down around your knees, and then around your ankles (“candy cane”). Then come back up again. Try to only touch with the fingertips, not the palms.
  3. Around Each Leg and Figure Eights: Put one leg forward and move the ball in a circular motion around the leg. Then do the other leg. Finally, spread your legs out wide with the ball in front of you. Move the ball around through your legs in a figure-of-eight motion. Keep your eyes forward and don’t let the ball hit the floor. After 30 seconds, reverse the direction.
  4. Drops: Put the ball between your feet and grab it with both hands. Start with the left hand behind your left leg and your right hand in front of your right leg. Drop the ball and let it bounce once. Quickly, move your left hand in front of your left leg and your right hand behind your right leg, and catch the ball as it bounces up. Drop it again and switch your hands back to the original position (left behind, right in front) and catch it. Repeat this motion continuously. Finally, try catching the ball before it actually hits the floor.

Remember, if your feel for the ball is good, other aspect of your game will be good too.