American Football advanced passing drills part 1

Two-Handed & One-Handed Catches

The best method to catch the ball is with two hands. One hand catch is too much risky. In case a receiver misses the one hand catch, he misses it. In case he uses both hands, he will be able to receive the ball’s impact and hold it. But routine catches with each hands one-handed and the catching with two hands as a practice would be just awesome. In warm-ups and practices, one hand catch shouldn’t be taught. It doesn’t matter much unless they can make the catch either way but two-handed catch is good considering risks.




Drills
Partner Passing Drill
Aim: Working on fundamental catching and tucking methods
Requirements: 1 ball for each receivers
Setting ups for drill: By being in pairs and facing their mates in about the distance of 5 yards would be good.



Execution of drill: In the line facing his mate, receiver must throw football to him. The speed and power of ball will increase in the drill. As the ball is thrown in between the chest of the receiver, he catches the ball with his hand. He then practices the same drills in other ways as follows:

• High _ head over ball (12 o’clock)
• High _ out to left (1 o’clock)
• To left_ (3 o’clock)
• Low _ out to left (4 o’clock)
• Low _(6 o’clock)
• Low _out to right (8 o’clock)
• To right (9 o’clock)
• High _ & out to right (11 o’clock)


In this case, 1 line stays turning each of their back to 1st group. Every receiver has to throw ball over his mate’s shoulder. In this time of drill, coaches are to be very active teaching and correcting the techniques that are taught.

Kind of Technique: By looking from the diamond window of his hand, receiver can catch the ball. He should look the ball coming into his hands on top of his face.

Common Errors:
• Despite of catching balls with hands, receivers might catch it with their body.
• Despite of catching balls with fingers, they might catch it with their hands.
• Despite of keeping eyes on the ball the might keep their eyes off the ball.

Calls to be made:
• “Eyes on the ball!”
• “Catch with fingers!”
• “10 prongs!”
• “Big hands!”
• “Soft hands!”
• “Tuck ball away!”
• “Give me a laces/no laces call!”
• “You’re not looking it all the way in!”
Variations:
• Drills progresses- 5, 10 & 15 yards.
• By keeping the hands of receivers behind, they will make a good habit to go for the ball by releasing their hands.