- Open stance. Watch the ball leave the foot.
- Move late and fast, and shout "Keeper's!"
- Take off from one leg and drive the other knee up.
- Catch it at the top of your jump, arms straight.
- Bring it down into your chest.
Setup. Pairs, a ball between two. One holds the ball up above head height, arms straight.
How it runs. Stage one: two steps, take off from one leg, drive the other knee up, and take the ball out of your partner's hands at the top. Five off each leg. Stage two: your partner throws it up for you to catch. Stage three: a third keeper stands beside you as an attacker, and your raised knee is the one on their side.
Coaching points
- Take off from one leg, like a lay-up. You jump higher from one foot with a step into it than from two feet standing still.
- The raised knee is the one nearest the nearest opponent. It protects you and makes room.
- Raised knee points forward, not sideways into the other player.
- Jump up, with only a little travel forward. Arms go up as the knee goes up.
Make it harder. A three-step run in. Then the partner throws the ball to either side, so the keeper has to choose the take-off leg late.
With 4 keepers. Two pairs.