How to catch a lacrosse ball on the side. Mastering Lacrosse Ball Catching Techniques: Advanced Skills and Drills

How can you improve your lacrosse ball catching skills. What are the fundamental techniques for catching a lacrosse ball. Which advanced catching methods can elevate your game. What drills can help you perfect your catching abilities.

Fundamentals of Lacrosse Ball Catching

Catching a lacrosse ball is a crucial skill that requires proper technique, body positioning, and hand-eye coordination. To master this essential aspect of the game, players must focus on two key elements: hand positioning and body positioning.

Hand Positioning for Optimal Ball Control

Proper hand placement on the lacrosse stick is vital for effective catching. Your dominant hand should grip the shaft near the top, while your non-dominant hand should be positioned closer to the end. This grip allows for better control and maneuverability of the stick.

When preparing to catch, keep your hands away from your body to provide ample room for adjustments. Maintain a relaxed yet firm grip, ready to adapt as needed when the ball approaches.

Body Positioning for Successful Catches

Your body stance plays a significant role in catching success. Face your front shoulder towards the passer to track the ball more effectively. As the ball travels towards you, adjust your feet and lean into the incoming pass. This positioning helps absorb the ball’s impact and improves control.

Keep your body relaxed but poised for movement, and be prepared to adjust your position quickly. Always keep your eyes on the ball and angle your stick’s head towards it. Aim to catch the ball in the top center of your pocket where the netting is widest for the best chance of success.

Essential Drills to Enhance Catching Skills

Improving your lacrosse ball catching abilities requires consistent practice. Here are two highly effective drills to incorporate into your training routine:

• Wall Ball Drill: Stand 5-10 feet from a wall, throw the ball against it, and catch it with your stick. Repeat this process to enhance hand-eye coordination and reaction time.
• Partner Catch Drill: Find a partner and stand 10-15 feet apart. Take turns throwing and catching the ball to improve accuracy and timing.

These drills simulate game-like situations and help develop the muscle memory needed for successful catches during matches.

Mental Preparation for Catching Success

The mental aspect of catching a lacrosse ball is often overlooked but equally important. Two key strategies can help you prepare mentally:

1. Visualization: Before games or practice sessions, visualize yourself successfully catching the ball. This mental imagery can boost confidence and improve focus.
2. Relaxation Techniques: Stay calm and relaxed when preparing to catch. Take deep breaths and focus on the task at hand. Tension and anxiety can hinder your catching ability.

Remember that catching proficiency comes with practice and patience. Embrace the learning process and maintain a positive mindset.

Advanced Catching Techniques for Skilled Players

Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to explore advanced catching techniques that can set you apart on the field. These methods require more skill and practice but can be game-changers when executed properly.

Perfecting the One-Handed Catch

The one-handed catch is a flashy move that demands excellent hand-eye coordination and a firm grip. To perform this technique:

• Hold your stick in your dominant hand and extend your arm to the side
• Track the incoming ball with your eyes
• Reach out to grab the ball with your stick
• Use your thumb to secure the ball against the stick’s sidewall
• Bring the ball towards your body in a controlled motion

Practice one-handed catches by throwing the ball against a wall and catching it with one hand. Start with your dominant hand and gradually introduce your non-dominant hand as you become more comfortable.

Mastering the Behind-the-Back Catch

Behind-the-back catches are impressive moves that can catch opponents off guard. To execute this advanced technique:

• Turn your body so your back faces the passer
• As the ball approaches, reach behind your back with your stick
• Catch the ball with the sidewall of your stick
• Use your wrist to cradle the ball and bring it under control

This technique requires practice and a good sense of timing. Start by practicing with slow, short passes before progressing to faster, longer ones.

Common Catching Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even experienced players can fall into bad habits when catching. Here are some common mistakes and tips to overcome them:

Watching the Stick Instead of the Ball

Many players make the error of focusing on their stick rather than the incoming ball. This can lead to missed catches and fumbles. Always keep your eyes on the ball until it’s securely in your pocket.

Rigid Arms and Hands

Stiff arms and hands can make it difficult to adjust to the ball’s trajectory. Keep your arms and hands relaxed but ready to move. This flexibility allows for quick adjustments and softer catches.

Improper Stick Angle

Holding your stick at the wrong angle can cause the ball to bounce out. Angle the head of your stick slightly towards the incoming ball to create a natural pocket for it to fall into.

Incorporating Catching Skills into Game Situations

Mastering catching techniques in practice is one thing, but applying them effectively during a game is another challenge. Here are strategies to seamlessly integrate your catching skills into match play:

Reading the Pass

Develop the ability to anticipate passes by reading your teammates’ body language and understanding common passing patterns. This foresight allows you to position yourself optimally for catches.

Moving to the Ball

Don’t wait for the ball to come to you. Move towards the pass to meet it, which gives you more control and reduces the chance of interception by opponents.

Quick Transitions

Practice transitioning quickly from catching to your next move, whether it’s cradling, passing, or shooting. This rapid response keeps the defense off-balance and maintains offensive momentum.

Catching in Different Weather Conditions

Weather can significantly impact catching ability. Adapting your technique to various conditions is crucial for consistent performance.

Catching in Rain

Wet conditions make the ball slippery. In rainy weather:

• Adjust your grip to be slightly tighter
• Focus on catching with the pocket rather than the sidewall
• Be prepared for the ball to have less bounce

Catching in Wind

Strong winds can alter the ball’s trajectory. When playing in windy conditions:

• Pay extra attention to the ball’s flight path
• Be prepared to move more to get into position
• Adjust your catching technique based on whether the wind is with or against the pass

Equipment Considerations for Improved Catching

While skill is paramount, the right equipment can enhance your catching ability. Consider these factors when selecting your lacrosse stick:

Pocket Depth and Shape

The depth and shape of your stick’s pocket can affect catching ease. A deeper pocket can be more forgiving for beginners, while a shallower pocket might offer more control for advanced players. Experiment with different pocket styles to find what works best for you.

Shaft Material and Length

The material and length of your shaft can impact your catching ability. Lighter materials like carbon fiber can improve maneuverability, while the right shaft length ensures optimal control. Choose a shaft that feels comfortable and allows for quick stick movements.

Stringing Patterns

Different stringing patterns can affect how the ball sits in your pocket. Some patterns are better for catching, while others might favor shooting or passing. Work with a stick stringer to find a pattern that complements your catching style.

Developing Catching Skills for Different Positions

Catching techniques can vary depending on your position on the field. Here’s how different positions might approach catching:

Attackmen

Attackmen often need to catch in tight spaces while under pressure from defenders. They should focus on quick, one-handed catches and be adept at catching passes from various angles.

Midfielders

Midfielders need to be versatile catchers, able to receive passes while stationary or on the run. They should practice catching while moving at different speeds and directions.

Defensemen

While catching isn’t their primary role, defensemen should be comfortable catching clearing passes and outlets. They should focus on secure two-handed catches to prevent turnovers.

Goalies

Goalies need to be proficient at catching with their stick and their body. They should practice catching high shots, bounce shots, and passes from teammates during clears.

By tailoring your catching practice to your specific position, you can become a more effective player and contribute more significantly to your team’s success.

The Role of Physical Fitness in Catching Proficiency

While technique is crucial, physical fitness plays a significant role in your ability to catch effectively. Here are key areas to focus on:

Hand-Eye Coordination

Excellent hand-eye coordination is essential for catching. Incorporate exercises that challenge this skill, such as juggling or using reaction balls, into your training regimen.

Core Strength

A strong core helps maintain balance and control during catches, especially when reaching or stretching for the ball. Include core-strengthening exercises in your workout routine.

Agility and Footwork

Quick feet and the ability to change direction rapidly can help you get into the best position to catch. Practice agility drills and footwork exercises to improve your mobility on the field.

Arm and Wrist Strength

Strong arms and wrists contribute to better stick control and softer catches. Include exercises that target these areas in your strength training program.

By improving your overall physical fitness, you’ll enhance your catching abilities and become a more well-rounded lacrosse player.

How to Catch a Lacrosse Ball (Hack Your Skills)

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Catching a ball is an essential skill in lacrosse, like cradling or passing. It may seem simple but it requires proper technique, body positioning, and hand-eye coordination. This article will give you some tips and techniques on how to catch a lacrosse ball like a pro.

Here we go.

Table of Contents

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Fundamentals of Catching a Lacrosse Ball

Hand Positioning

Proper hand positioning is crucial when catching a lacrosse ball. Your dominant hand should be placed near the top of the shaft, while your non-dominant hand should be placed near the end of the shaft. This grip will allow you to have better control over the stick and the ball.

When catching the ball, you want to ensure your hands are away from your body. This will give you more room to move and adjust your stick as needed. Keep your hands relaxed but firm, and be ready to adjust your grip as necessary to catch the ball.

Body Positioning

Body positioning is just as important as hand positioning when learning how to catch a lacrosse ball. To properly receive a pass, keeping your front shoulder pointed toward the person passing you the ball is important. This will allow you to track the ball better and be in a better position to catch it.

As the ball travels toward you, move your feet so you lean into it. This will help you absorb the impact of the ball and give you more control over it. Keep your body relaxed but ready to move, and be prepared to adjust your position as necessary to catch the ball.

Remember to keep your eyes on the ball at all times, and angle the head of your stick toward the ball. Aim to have the ball hit the top center of your pocket where the netting is wider. This will give you the best chance of catching the ball and maintaining control of it.

Improving Your Catching Skills

Practice Drills

Practicing catching drills is crucial to improving your catching skills in lacrosse. One of my favorite drills is the “wall ball” drill. This drill involves standing about 5-10 feet away from a wall and throwing the ball against it, catching it with your stick, and then repeating the process. This drill helps improve hand-eye coordination and reaction time, which are essential for catching a lacrosse ball during a game.

(You may also watch this video to learn more about how to catch a lacrosse ball on a wall)

Another great drill is the “partner catch” drill. This drill involves finding a partner and standing about 10-15 feet away from each other. One person throws the ball to the other, and they catch it with their stick. This drill helps improve accuracy and timing, which are also essential for catching a lacrosse ball.

Mental Preparation

Catching a lacrosse ball also requires mental preparation. One way to mentally prepare is to visualize yourself catching the ball successfully, which is a key component of learning how to catch a lacrosse ball. This can be done before a game or during practice. Visualizing yourself catching the ball can help build confidence and improve your focus.

Another way to mentally prepare is to stay relaxed and calm. Tensing up or getting anxious can make it harder to catch the ball. Take a deep breath and focus on the task at hand. Remember that catching a lacrosse ball is a skill that takes practice and patience.

Advanced Techniques

If you’ve mastered the basics of catching a lacrosse ball, it’s time to move on to more advanced techniques. These techniques require more skill and practice but can be game-changers on the field.

One-Handed Catches

A one-handed catch is a flashy move that impresses your teammates and opponents. You’ll need excellent hand-eye coordination and a firm grip on your stick to perform a one-handed catch.

When attempting a one-handed catch, keep your stick in your dominant hand and extend your arm out to the side. As the ball approaches, track it with your eyes and reach out to grab it with your stick. Use your thumb to secure the ball against the sidewall of your stick and bring it in towards your body.

Practice one-handed catches by throwing the ball against a wall and catching it with one hand. Start with your dominant hand and then switch to your non-dominant hand once you feel comfortable.

Behind-the-Back Catches

Behind-the-back catches are another impressive move that can catch your opponents off guard. To perform a behind-the-back catch, you’ll need good hand-eye coordination and comfortably cradle the ball behind your back. Learning how to catch a lacrosse ball using this technique can take time and practice, but it can pay off in a big way on the field.

Start by turning your body so that your back is facing the passer. As the ball approaches, reach behind your back with your stick and catch the ball with the sidewall. Use your wrist to cradle the ball and bring it back around to the front of your body.

Practice behind-the-back catches by throwing the ball against a wall and catching it behind your back. Start with slow, controlled movements and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable.

Troubleshooting Common Mistakes

Misjudging the Ball’s Trajectory

One common mistake when catching a lacrosse ball is misjudging the ball’s trajectory. This can happen when you don’t keep your eye on the ball or when you don’t position your body correctly to receive the pass.

To avoid this mistake, make sure to keep your eye on the ball from the moment it leaves the passer’s stick. Also, position your body correctly by turning your head and front shoulder to the direction of the person passing the ball and move your feet so you lean into it.

If you still get into trouble misjudging the ball’s trajectory, try adjusting your stance and footwork. Practice catching with a partner and have them vary the speed and direction of the passes to improve your reaction time and ability to judge the ball’s trajectory.

Dropping the Ball

Dropping the ball is another common mistake when learning how to catch a lacrosse ball, but it can be avoided with the right technique. This can happen when you don’t have a firm grip on the stick, don’t use your non-dominant hand to secure the ball, or don’t have soft hands to absorb the ball’s impact.

To avoid dropping the ball, make sure to have a firm grip on the stick with your dominant hand near the top of the shaft and your non-dominant hand near the end of the shaft. Use your non-dominant hand to secure the ball and absorb the impact with soft hands.

If you still have this mistake, try adjusting your grip and hand positioning. Practice catching with a partner and have them vary the speed and direction of the passes to improve your hand-eye coordination and ability to secure the ball.

Lacrosse Catching Tips

Here are some tips that can help:

• Proper body positioning is key. You want to have your front shoulder directed at the person passing the ball. This allows you to see the ball better and react quickly to catch it.
• Keep your hands and arms away from your body. This gives you more space to catch the ball and reduces the chance of it bouncing off your stick.
• Angle the head of your stick toward the ball. This helps you catch the ball in the sweet spot of your pocket.
• Watch the ball into your stick. Keep your eyes on the ball until it is securely in your stick.
• Practice catching with both hands. Being able to catch with your non-dominant hand can make you a more versatile player.

Remember, catching a lacrosse ball takes practice and patience. Keep working on your skills, and you will see improvement over time.

In conclusion, learning how to catch a lacrosse ball may seem daunting at first, but with the right technique, practice, and patience, anyone can master this essential skill. Remember to keep your eyes on the ball, position your body correctly, and use your hands and arms to secure the catch. With time and effort, you’ll be able to catch lacrosse balls with ease, leading to greater success on the field and a deeper appreciation for the sport. So go out there, grab your stick, and start catching!

Want more skills? Click below:

Lacrosse Cradling | Lacrosse Passing

Trigger Point Release Self Treatment with a Lacrosse Ball

The Lacrosse Ball is the self-myofascial release tool we all love to hate. This inexpensive and highly portable ball has become a staple for athletes, weekend warriors and desk-jockeys alike. Your lacrosse ball is an excellent massage tool that will help relieve pain and improve the function of your sore muscles. We’ll be honest though; it’s not going to feel good at all…. at first. Will you cry, wince, pout or groan? Probably. You will, however, feel so much better after you get into a routine of performing self-myofascial release. Even some big babies we’ve met (not us of course😉) have developed a fondness for this “hurt-so-good” practice.

Fascia, if you are curious, is a thin layer of connective tissuethat covers the muscles and organs of your body. It connects the muscle groupstogether and can cause pain and poor mobility when disordered.

The reason for stretching and loosening the fascia is torelieve, repair and prevent misalignments of the body caused by increasedpressure on joints and muscles. When the fascia is loose, the underlying tissueis able to move freely.

We’ll use the term “Trigger Point” throughout this article.  It is often described as a muscle knot orarea of increased sensation. When you hit one, you will know immediately. Ohyes, you sure will. Breath slowly and deeply while you work through yourtrigger points. In through the nose, out through the mouth. It’s the pressurethat you apply to these points that will help to relieve the tension. What ishappening is that the muscle is already in a fighting state.  Adding pressure, makes it fight harder, whichwill eventually lead to fatigue and therefore release!  The pain will gradually (and seeminglymagically) fade away.  This can takeanywhere from a few seconds to up to 2 minutes.

Like we mentioned earlier,the first time you try this, you are probably not going to love it, or evenlike it, at all.  But, stick with it.Similar to stretching, after making it a part of your routine you will start tosee results and even, maybe, find it enjoyable. Before you get started, pleaseremember to practice safe rolling. Do not apply pressure to the bones orjoints, muscles only. If you experience pain that is beyond reasonable, ease upon the pressure. Positive effects from rolling take time!  You will not achieve loosey-goosey musclesand fascia after one session.  Also,drink plenty of water; a hydrated body is a happy body.

The benefits of lacrosse ball massage:

• Reduced soreness and fatigue after exercise
• Increased muscle performance
• Increased range of motion in the joints
• Improve blood flow and nutrient distribution

Body Areas

Foot

Have you heard the Alexander Pope Quote: “Asthe twig is bent, so grows the tree.”?
This is a perfect analogy for the body. Much of your balance andposture start at the base in your feet! As you walk, run or jump, the complexseries of joints and ligaments in your foot is meant to act as your body’sshock absorber. If the foot is too stiff, it can lead to an increase in pain orstress for the joints up the chain. So, are you ready to loosen up tightmuscles and break up scar-tissue? Let’s get to it!

You can do this move sitting or standing. The difference is simplythe amount of pressure you are applying to the ball with your foot. If you aresitting, you can increase the pressure by leaning forward with your forearms onyour thighs. If you want to stand but are having trouble with balance, hold awall, steady table, or chair for added stability.

1. Place thelacrosse ball under the arch of your foot.
2. Pictureyour foot divided into four quadrants. Treat one quadrant at a time by rollingthe ball back and forth and side to side.
3. Even yourtoes will love a good roll over the ball.
4. Aim tospend 30 to 60 seconds per foot giving extra attention to areas of highertension.

This technique is also great for those seeking to relieve plantarfasciitis. The plantar fascia is a thick band of tissue along the sole of yourfoot. Pain occurrs when it becomes inflamed or irritated. Using the lacrosseball to perform self-myofascial release can help break up adhesions and reducepain.

We bet your feet are feeling great now that you have released sometension. Let’s keep going and work the legs.

Legs have a lot of muscles and they all work differently.Standing, running, weight training and even sitting at a desk all day can all affectblood flow and muscle tension in the legs. Making self-myofascial release apart of your routine will relieve tightness and improve flexibility.

Calves

Trigger points in the large muscles at the back of the calves canmanifest as pain in the calf, back of the knee and the instep of your foot.

1. Sit onthe floor with your leg stretched out, place the ball right above your Achillestendon. Keep your ankle in a relaxed position, neither flexed nor pointed.
2. Placeyour other foot flat on the floor to help you roll back and forth over theball.
3. Slowly roll your leg over the ball towards the back of your knee. Whenyou find a tight spot hold the position until the spot releases and the paindissipates, then continue your roll.
4. Point and flex your toe to really work the muscle knots.
5. Try changing your position to roll the sides of your calves as well.You can also use your hand to roll the ball over the muscles of the lower leg.

In the interest of balance, remember to give the shins sometreatment too.

1. Start ina tabletop position on your hands and knees.
2. Place theball under one shin and just like before, slowly roll your leg over the ballapplying as much pressure as you are comfortable with.
3. Pause when you feel a trigger point or tight muscle, to allow it torelease.

Hamstrings

There are two options for using the lacrosse ball on your hamstrings. You can sit on a raised surface or use the floor.

Sittingon a chair or table:

1. Sit in a hard chair withthe ball under your hamstring muscle.
2. Relax your leg letting itdangle.
3. Slowly roll your ball upand down the length of your hamstring and back and forth across it.
4. When you find your triggerpoints, hold that position until they release. You can also flex and extendyour leg until you feel the pressure release.
5. If you want to apply morepressure, lean forward and rest your arm and bodyweight on your lap.

Onthe floor:

1. Sit on the floor with yourlegs stretched out in front.
2. Place the ball under yourknee and slowly roll your ball up and down the length of your hamstring andback and forth across it.
3. When you find your triggerpoints, hold that position to allow them to release.
4. If you want to apply morepressure, put the weight of your other leg over top of the leg you aretreating.
5. For a BONUS release whileyou are here, put the ball at the back of your knee and squeeze the ballbetween your calf and hamstring.

Quadriceps

This one is lots of fun. You are going to want to clear some floor-space to move around.

1. Laying front side down,place the lacrosse ball under your quadricep.
2. Use your forearms andother leg to support your weight as you apply as much pressure as you arecomfortable with to the ball.
3. Roll gently up and down,back and forth pausing on the trigger points.
4. To really work the triggerpoints try flexing and extending by bending at the knee.

Glutes and Hips

Like the feet, the hips are an important area to maintain for overall body balance and alignment. You can either sit on the floor to treat these areas or stand up and roll against a wall to gain more control over the pressure. 

Againstthe wall:

1. Place the lacrosse ballbetween your hip/glute and the wall.
2. Lean into the ball as muchas is reasonable comfortable.
3. Slowly roll back andforth, up and down over the ball.
4. Stop at the trigger pointsand hold until release.
5. After doing this severaltimes, you may find that it gets pretty comfortable. When that happens, you cangraduate to the floor.

Onthe floor:

1. Sit on the floor with theball under one side of your hip/glute with the opposite leg stretched out infront of you.
2. Cross the ankle of theside being massaged over the outstretched quadricep.
3. Using your arms forbalance, slowly roll back and forth, up and down over the ball.
4. Stop at the trigger pointsand hold until release.

Forearm

Your forearms need attention more than you may realize! Grippingheavy weights does a number on those muscles. Guess what else causes tension inthe forearms; typing and texting! The strain can transfer to elbow, wrists andhand issues such as inflammation, numbness and weakened grip-strength canresult.

For the back of the forearm I like to use a wall.

1. Place thelacrosse ball at the wrist with your palm facing out.
2. Roll uptowards the elbow pausing to release on those tight spots.
3. To helprelease the tight spots, flex and extend your wrist.

To release the other side of your forearm:

1. Placeyour lacrosse ball on a table with your palm facing down.
2. Roll fromthe writs up to the elbow pausing to release on the tight spots.
3. To help release the tight spots, flex and extend your wrist.

Back

There is a great trick you can use during your back massage. To keep the ball from escaping and rolling away, put it into a pillowcase. Hold the top of the pillowcase over your shoulder with the ball hanging over your back. Now the ball will stay between you and the wall.

1. Since your back isrelatively large compared to the other parts we’ve massaged, you may find ithelpful to work one quadrant at a time.
2. With the ball securedbetween your back and the wall, roll up and down, back and forth in smallmovements.
3. When you find a triggerpoint, either hold it to release or keep that ball still while you raise yourarm straight out on front of you.
4. Lift and lower your arm afew times to help release the muscle over the ball.
5. Continue working eachquadrant of your back and shoulders.

Wehope that you give self-myofascial release a try. At Inertia Physio+ we want tohelp you keep your body in motion. If you find any particularly difficult areasthat you would like help with, we would love to see you to assess anyadditional therapies or exercises that will help to keep you comfortable andactive wherever your life takes you.

simple games for children – article – Corporation Russian textbook (Drofa-Ventana publishing house)

One of the easiest ways to help kids learn how to throw is to teach them how to play the appropriate games. They will have fun with their friends, practicing their technique and watching other kids throw. Games will also help them improve hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and teamwork skills.

Why teach children to play with a ball?

• Throwing games improve hand-eye coordination. Good hand-eye coordination allows the child to better control their limbs, which makes it easier to interact with objects in the world around them.
• Throwing games improve gross and fine motor skills. The development of fine motor skills helps children gain the dexterity needed to complete complex tasks.
• And gross motor skills are needed to perform everyday tasks: stand still, walk, run and jump. Throwing games introduce children to sports and physical education. Throwing games are organized physical training sessions in which children must follow certain rules of the game. This gives the children in the group an idea of ​​what physical education and organized sports are all about. They will learn to memorize the rules and follow them during the game.
• Throwing is a core part of many activities and sports. Children need to learn how to throw from above before they can play exciting games like basketball, dodgeball and even football.

A few tips for teaching the basics of the top throw

Have the child stand directly facing the target and hold the ball with their dominant hand. If he throws with his right hand, ask him to turn sideways towards the target with his left hand/foot in front and his right hand/foot behind. Ask him to put his feet shoulder-width apart.

Ask the student to raise his left hand so that it points to the target he wants to hit. At the same time, he should slightly transfer his weight to the supporting leg. Then the child raises his throwing arm so that the ball is near his ear. Finally, in one motion, he must shift his weight forward, lower his pointing arm, twist his torso, and raise his throwing arm forward to throw the ball.

Games

Sock and cardboard target

If this is your first time teaching a child to throw from above, consider using a rolled up sock and a cardboard target. The rolled sock is easy to handle, and it is unlikely to break anything and after a throw it will not roll far. Make a cardboard target for the child to try to hit. You can also use a cardboard box with a painted target on the bottom.

Beginner bouncers

A basic version of a dodgeball game that young children can play if they are just learning how to shoot. To play, you will need a fence or wall at least 3-4 meters wide and a soft ball.

One child stands right in front of the fence, with his back to him. The other stands at a distance of 4-5 meters from the fence. One of the players must throw the ball, trying to hit the child in front of the fence. Please note: the ball can only be directed at the feet!

The player in front of the fence must try to dodge the throw. If he succeeds, he gets one point. In case of failure, the other player gets a point and they switch positions. The player in front of the fence may also catch the ball to win a point. The first person to earn 15 points wins! Use only a very soft ball to play so that no one gets hurt. As a rule, it is easier for children to master throwing from below. Learning to throw will allow children to start playing games such as bowling.

Throwing from under the arm is easy:

• Have the child take the ball with their dominant hand.
• Turn the hand holding the ball back, then as it comes forward, release the ball. When throwing, the child can also step forward with his foot (foot opposite the throwing hand).
• Remind your child to keep their eyes on the target.

Relay

A great exercise in which participants learn to throw and catch the ball.

Divide the site into three or four segments and assign a score to each of them. For example, if you divided the court into 4 segments, you can make three segments further down the court for 3, 5, and 7 points, respectively.

Divide the players into two teams that will stand on the sides of the first segment in a line. Each team has a designated thrower who stands at the starting line of the court.

One player from each team enters the court and stands in one of the segments. If they catch the ball thrown to them, then their team receives the number of points corresponding to the segment.

Once the ball is caught, the thrower enters the court and stands in one of the segments. The player who caught the ball returns to the line of his team on the side of the court. The next player in the team line becomes the new thrower.

5 gears

An easy-to-learn game perfect for 10-15 year olds. The players of the two teams are randomly distributed around the court. The object of the game is simple – to complete 5 passes to the players of your team without dropping the ball and without giving the ball to the opponent. If a team manages to complete 5 passes, it puts the ball on the ground and scores a point.

Additional rules:

Players cannot pass the ball back and forth between two players, it must go to the other players on the team. If the opposing team intercepts the ball or knocks it down during a pass, they intercept the ball. If the ball goes out of bounds, possession of the ball passes to the opponent.

Bouncers. Detective

A fun variation of dodgeball that many kids enjoy more than the standard game. Suitable for children from 1st to 8th grades.

Divide the children into two teams and have them line up on either side of the basketball court. When a player is hit, he must leave the court. He must remember who knocked him out, because when I knock out this player in turn, the knocked out player can return to the game.

This version is more fun – the participants of the game need to remember who knocked out other players. If one managed to take out three people, he will become a very valuable target. For example, hitting him will allow three others to return to the court. This adds strategy to the dodgeball base game.

“My dad and uncle worked on the Gorodskoye field.” Excursion from Kapskoye to the iconic places for BATE

The roster assembled according to the announcement, a sewer manhole and a hose with cold water instead of a shower, an uneven field, training in a barely alive children’s camp, a desire to give up football forever and repair the stadium by the forces of a future competitor . .. On April 12, 1996, the team of the Borisov Automobile and Tractor Electrical Equipment Plant, restarted after a period of oblivion, held its first training session. There were no medals, Lionel Messi as an opponent and Borisov Arena. But there was Anatoly Kapsky. On the eve of the club’s anniversary, its main motivator gave Onliner.by a tour of historically significant places for the team and remembered what they were like in the last century.

September 2008. At the 23rd minute of the match in Minsk Pavel Nekhaychik’s cross found Igor Stasevich’s head. The only native of Borisov in BATE did not miss. The old scoreboard of the Dynamo stadium, which has not yet been tortured by plus or minus the eternal reconstruction of the stadium, showed the score 2:0. BATE defeated the Italian Juventus, a truly big European club with a list of titles as long as the China Wall. Football has not caused Belarusians such joy since about 1982, when Dynamo Minsk became the champion of the Union. The whole world has learned what BATE is and how this abbreviation stands for.

This story began in the village of Demidovka near Borisov. And if it didn’t start, then it certainly wouldn’t have taken place without it.

Behind the rural yards, in a quiet lowland not far from the bend of the Skha River, there was a field. It was here that Anatoly Kapsky spent his childhood and began his love for football. Now only memory and wild bumps remained from the neat rectangle.

— There was no such hummock here before. Perfectly flat meadow and grass-ant. We ran in from school and quickly tried to chop potatoes or beets (white ones, fodder, but sweet, like sugar) to feed the cattle. There were times when my parents kept two cows, I remember a lot of pigs, a stable bull or a heifer. And try not to feed them, then you will get it from mom and dad, which is scary. And after cutting, we ran to this stadium.

A cock crow is heard from the village, complemented by the quacking of serene ducks. A long-legged stork roams nearby and a bored cat is resting.

— We started playing football in March during spring break. But not here, but on a higher field: here the river overflowed. They ran through the snow and water right in rubber boots. These are not the current fashionable boots of all the colors of the rainbow for you, – Kapsky freshens in the invigorating air.

In the Soviet years there were strong gates made of well-hewn poles. There was a volleyball court on the side. However, after decades of sport in this area did not.

– See the pipe? This is an instrumentation plant. There is a district of Borisov “Goat Horn”. My dad had enough friends from there. So the elders were going to play football – Demidovka at the Goat Horn. This usually happened at the end of June or the beginning of July – so as not to hurt the sowing and harvesting. They played on a bucket of moonshine. It was placed by the team that lost. But they drank, of course, together. There were shops up there. The fish soup was cooked, lard was roasted on the fire. All that delicious country food. There were about 30-40 adults, and so were we children.

Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the Southern Pisces constellation and the football team of the same name from Borisov, assisted by a young businessman Anatoly Kapsky. It was in the mid nineties. The guy from Demidovka entered the Narkhoz, graduated from it and returned to about his native place. Military unit 63-760 (now it is the 140th repair plant) – there the future head of BATE worked as a financial specialist.

After that, Kapsky worked at the polymya diversified enterprise, and then moved on and developed the Stalker company. She traded in starters, metals and cars, and after some time became a minority shareholder of the BATE plant.

— Fomalhaut spent his last years bare-assed. The club was led by a completely not thin person who sat at the table and actively waved his arms. It was clear that he just likes to drive. And it doesn’t matter who – the workers who dig trenches, or the football players. Well, I think so.

At some point, the team got a Ukrainian coach. The composition began to fill up with his compatriots. From the city team “Fomalhaut” has turned into an incomprehensible Ukrainian embassy to the locals. Kapsky became uninterested in participating in the project. At 1995th, he sincerely believed that his football history ends.

— The idea to recreate BATE does not belong to me. The team played quite successfully in Soviet times. As a result, everything was thought up by Alexander Kulinkovich, who worked in the Minsk Regional Regional Committee, and businessman Viktor Pavlovets. We phoned and met at the Stalker office. This was in March 1996.

The offer was simple: on the one hand, a factory that can provide accommodation, food, transport, and on the other, a private manager. That is, I. Initially, everything was similar to the story of the Fomalhaut. Decisions needed to be made on the fly. But my dad, uncle and older cousin loved football and went to BATE in the seventies. The team was popular. When they heard that I had the opportunity to revive the club, then, of course, they began to persuade. I agreed. To be honest, I didn’t think it would be so serious back then.

Initially, it was planned that the team’s players would work in the workshops of the BATE plant. But Kapsky quickly abandoned this idea and began to play professional sports.

– I have a kind of phobia in this respect. Everything that is done must be clearly planned and scheduled. I invested my money in the club. I then had a simple state: you work, you earn, but you still can’t take what you earn into the coffin with you. The main thing is that loved ones are fed and order is established in the house. And I’ve never been a hoarder.

Kapsky is looking for a blue pump in the city stadium market, which has been living here since Soviet times.

— Still standing… The guys here often washed after the games. In fact, this is the first shower in the stadium. On the site of the current “Euroopt” there was a vegetable warehouse. Then the equestrian school for children. The stadium looked pathetic. Some retaining walls. Concrete podium. And the concrete is very thin – about 8 centimeters. He cracked. Grass grew everywhere. And above – broken wooden benches.

The stadium is located at the intersection. Diagonally from it you can see the hostel of the plant. This is the first residence of BATE players.

Across the road – on Vatutina street – a high-rise building. On its 10th floor there was once an apartment of Kapsky.

— The field was perfectly visible from my window. If the watchman fell asleep and some boys ran out onto the lawn to knock the ball, I took off and moved here at full speed, the functionary laughs. – And when the field was sown, flocks of birds began to fly there. The children saw this invasion from the balcony, ran to me and shouted: “Dad, the birds are pecking at the grass!” And then I called the sleeping watchman to go and chase the aliens away.

20 years ago, instead of a lawn, there were completely unconvincing hummocks and sand. The field had a noticeable slope. So I had to completely redo it. The work was managed by Kapsky’s father, who was a professional agronomist.

— For me today this field is a living organism. My dad worked here, my uncle, who no longer exists, myself, factory workers who loved football, and many of our active fans. Enthusiasts gathered about 50 people. About an hour before the end of work, a messenger was sent to the store. There was a clearing on the podium. And we put the brazier outside the gate. Then the players started warming up. There were good times. When the team began to play in the championship of Belarus, after the matches, the men ran to that store to celebrate our victories.

Kapsky looking at the administrative buildings above the west stand.

– They were not even close. Those premises were built for us by Triple. We agreed with Yuri Sanych Chizh. Then he had not yet taken up Dynamo Minsk.

We find ourselves in a room under the stands, in the center of which in 1996 there was a wide sewer manhole.

– At first we had a factory bus – pazik. Some of the guys got into it and went for a bath to the city House of Sports on Revolution Avenue. Who did not want to climb into this hatch. Right underground. There was a hose with cold water. The guys washed either here or under the column.

There were no dressing rooms at the stadium either. To understand how they looked originally, we go to the distant utility rooms.

– Here! That’s how it was. The walls are just brickwork, without even the stitching. The ceiling is plain concrete. Everything here is from that time. Look at the doors. These were all over the stadium.

On one of them there is a leaflet dedicated to the laying of the first stone in the foundation of the Borisov Arena. Now these premises are warehouses. From behind the utensils necessary for arranging the lawn, the tall figure of Viktor Goncharenko peeps out – the previous coach of BATE Borisov, with whom the club’s first breakthrough into the Champions League is associated.

Kapsky honestly admits that in the first years of the team’s existence, he never even dreamed of international success. He took place here. August 27, 2008. A home draw against Levski allowed BATE to reach the group stage of the Champions League for the first time.

– My happiest memory of this stadium. Then I just ran out onto the field, fell to my knees and turned to God. It’s not for nothing that the fans say that this stadium brought us a lot of happiness. In fact, he changed my whole life. Maybe once, when money was invested in the club without much return, the toad strangled me. But now I am the happiest person in the world. I have the happiness of these 20 years… Money cannot measure everything.

In continuation of his thought about happiness, which is not in money, Kapsky struggles to remember the amount of expenses for the stadium. But he doesn’t succeed.

— Then a two-room apartment in Borisov cost eight thousand dollars. And we invested not even a hundred in the stadium, but much more.

Komarova, 28. A gray and very boring building of the former kindergarten, which now has an unknown purpose. Historical place. The first canteen of BATE players was located here. They came or went here from the hostel. The office of the club was also located there. Contracts were drawn up here and taken to the stadium, to the Stalker office, for a visa for Kapskoy.

The office could be accessed through the porch of the building where the DOSAAF school was located. It was here that a skinny guy from Minsk named Sasha and surname Gleb signed his first professional contract. Subsequently, he became the six-time best player in Belarus, having played in London’s Arsenal and Barcelona.

“Spiral” is one of the most merciless exercises. It is required to make several consecutive jerks at full power at 100, 200, 300 and 400 meters. That is, twist the spiral. And then – at 400, 300, 200 and 100 meters. That is, unwind the spiral. A field with running tracks is ideal for this.

The first training session of BATE took place on April 12, 1996. She passed in Dudinka. “Spiral” coach Yuriy Puntus cut off unnecessary players. Yet the team partly gathered on the announcement. It was necessary to get rid of the “passengers”.

– This is a former children’s camp. Even then he was no longer in demand. And now it’s completely deserted. We all think to improve this area.

From the former camp there are houses, a fence, a historical field overgrown with grass and legends, as well as the telephone of an absent watchman.

Dudinka is located on the banks of the Berezina and is familiar to Cape from childhood.

– Dad worked as a foreman, and then as an agronomist at the Mayak Kommunizma collective farm. Here, along the river, there were flood lands that belonged to our farm. The flooded places dried out in the summer. The most delicious and nutritious grass grew on them. The adults made hayfields. I was quite small. Didn’t work yet. Traveled with parents for the whole day. We got on the 51st “lawn”. The men began to mow in the morning, and the women turned the hay. In the second half of the day, they took a kryga and went along the “old men” to fish. By the end of the work, the ear was ready … And then football appeared.

The current BATE base is located on the other side of the fence. For contrast, Kapsky shows the new fields and the “dutik” – a room in which football players can warm up before training and pump a little on the simulators. It appeared here after the training of the coaching staff in the Italian Roma.

The current head coach of BATE Alexander Yermakovich is just spinning the bike inside. During his playing career, he was called by nickname – Sam Brook – an old cowboy. Now, during the coaching session, they call him by his first name and patronymic – Alexander Vladimirovich. In 2015, Yermakovich was recognized as the best coach in Belarus. He ceased to be a footballer just in 2008, when BATE entered the Champions League for the first time.

“We got richer when we started playing in the Champions League,” Kapsky says as he enters the training field. — The club has always been very attentive and careful about the budget. The ideal organization should be in everything. Anarchy – the mother of order – is not about us. Order beats class – it’s about us.

As far as football is concerned, Kapsky’s corporate relationships are often mixed with almost related ones. Many footballers visit him at home. The head notes that only his positioning has changed over the years. Walking around the territory of the base, Kapsky greets all the workers he meets.

— I grew up in the village. So my grandfather and teacher told me that you need to say hello to everyone. I remember when I was very young, on what seemed to be autumn holidays, my mother took me to the market in the old town to buy winter boots. Good thing it’s a weekday. Although there were still enough people. So I walked and, according to the village habit, greeted everyone, – Kapsky laughs at himself. – It’s upbringing. Grandfather said: “How can you not say hello in the village? Even the animals in the forest greet each other.” Clever man. Lived for 99 years.

In 1996, BATE immediately won the second league championship, overtaking the closest competitor from Beloozersk by 9 points. Since then, the second league of the championship of Belarus has been replaced by the Champions League, Avtoprovod from Shchuchin and Smena-01 from Vaukavysk to Real Madrid and Barcelona. The match against Juventus ended in a 2-2 draw. But it was enough to make itself known. There were victories over Bayern and Roma. Stasevich, who scored against Juventus, returned to BATE through Volga, Gomel and Dynamo Minsk and in 2015 became the best player in Belarus. The city stadium lost ground to Borisov Arena.

Now it is not the factory that helps the club, but the club helps the factory. Football players pay for accommodation in Dudinka and help the company with turnover. Reacting to the already familiar question about poor factory workers and rich athletes, Kapsky is calm.