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Flag football · Basic · b1

Catching at three heights

At home 8 min 2 players Yard or lane, park

Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.

Start a session

What you are learning

Catching a ball with the fingers at three heights (above the head, at the chest and below the waist), watching it all the way in, then tucking it close to the body so it cannot be dropped. Every pass play ends with a catch.

Set up

A ball, two cones 5 yards apart.

Weather: dry ground

The base setup for flag football

Show it first for the one teaching

  1. Above the head or at the chest: hands up early, thumbs together, fingers spread in a diamond shape.
  2. Below the waist: little fingers together, palms up, like a basket.
  3. Eyes on the ball until it is in the fingers, then tuck it into the body under one arm.

Your part while they practise

Throw gently at the child's chest, then low, then high.

Step by step

  1. Hands up early.
  2. Eyes on the ball until it is in the fingers.
  3. 10 catches at each height: above the head, at the chest, below the waist.
  4. Tuck the ball close to the body after each catch.

How much: 30 catches, 3 rounds 8 min a session 4 days a week

Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.

The game: Three heights

You call the height as you throw; the child catches and tucks.

Who plays: the child against you; swap so you catch.

How to play, turn by turn
Turns
  1. Stand at the two cones, 5 yards apart
  2. Call "high", "chest" or "low" as you throw there
  3. The child catches and tucks the ball
  4. 15 throws, then swap
Fair play
A grown-up catches with one hand behind the back after the first 5.
Points
1 point for each catch held and tucked; 1 bonus point for a high catch.
Fouls
No point for that catch
  • The ball bounces off the palms or the chest
  • The head turns away
  • The ball is not tucked after the catch
Winning
More points after 15 throws each.
Stars
  1. 6 points for 1 star
  2. 12 points for 2 stars
  3. 16 points for 3 stars

Easier or harder

Easier

A softer ball, closer.

Harder

Further apart, throw from the side.

What you will see, and what to say

  • the ball bounces off the palms Catch with your fingersFingers spread, soft hands.
  • the child turns the head away Eyes on the ballWatch it into the hands.

Self-check

8of 10

8 of 10 catches held and tucked.

Stop and get a coach when

A finger is hurt by the ball.

Fitness for this

Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.

This card trains catching shapes, ball security.

awiseathlete.com/sports/flag-football/flag-football-b1