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Drills

Below are a series of drills with instructions that you can incorporate into your team's practices. Special thanks to Norwegian player, Andreas Semb, and his teammates for putting them together!

Driving Straight

BEGINNER

Getting Started

Begin this exercise without the ball and add the ball later. You need an open space and a ball for when you progress to that stage.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Start by driving from point A to point B in a straight line. If possible, use a line on the floor as a guideline.

  2. Practice Without the Ball: Drive the straight path several times to get a feel for maintaining a straight line.

  3. Add the Ball: Once comfortable, repeat the steps with the ball. You will notice it is challenging to drive straight with the ball at high speeds, as it tends to fall off the blade.

  4. Drive Like a Banana: To maintain a straight path, you may need to drive in a slight curve, similar to the shape of a banana. The goal is to drive so straight that the slight curve is not noticeable from the outside.

  5. Increase Difficulty:

    1. Drive at top speed.

    2. Avoid changing the ball’s position on the blade while driving.

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Objective

This exercise helps you drive straight at high speeds while maintaining control of the ball. This skill is crucial in matches, whether attacking the goal or breaking away with the ball. Consistent practice will enable you to drive as fast with the ball as without it, preventing opponents from catching up due to the equal top speeds of the chairs. Incorporate this drill into your routine to enhance your overall performance on the court.

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Ball Handling

BEGINNER

Getting Started

First, take some time to familiarize yourself with the wheelchair. Practice driving around in an open space, experimenting with different speeds, turns, and stop/start maneuvers.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Only a small open space and a ball is needed.

  2. Movement: Drive around randomly, varying your speed.

  3. Ball Placement: Practice moving the ball to different sides of your blade:

    • From back left to front left

    • From front left to front right

    • From front right to back right

  4. Repetition: Repeat the sequence in reverse order.

  5. Increase Difficulty: As you become more comfortable, increase your speed and change the ball's position in a random sequence, rather than following a set order.

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Objective

This drill is designed to improve your ball handling skills, which are crucial for various match situations. It's an excellent warm-up exercise to incorporate into your routine.

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Sharp Turns with Ball

BEGINNER

Getting Started

This exercise builds on the previous drill and requires only a ball and an open space.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: As shown in the video, start by driving in one direction, such as from one side of the court to the other.

  2. Practice Turns: Before reaching the other side, practice making sharp turns with the ball. You can either:

    1. Drive back to your starting point.

    2. Make another sharp turn to continue your course.

  3. Without the Ball: Initially, practice the turns without the ball to get comfortable with the sharp maneuvers in the chair.

  4. Increase Difficulty:

    1. Drive faster.

    2. Make sharper turns.

    3. Drive randomly rather than in straight lines.

    4. Change the ball's position on the blade before or after a turn.

    5. Double up on sharp turns to confuse opponents.

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Objective

This drill is designed to improve ball handling at high speeds, enable quick turns to evade opponents, and help maintain possession when forward progress is blocked. It is especially useful in transitioning between attack strategies or during fast breaks. Incorporate this into your warm-up routine for best results.

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Screening: Attacking & Defending

BEGINNER

Getting Started

For this exercise, you need a cone, some open space, and two players.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Place a cone in the open space.

  2. Roles:

    1. Attacking Player: Tries to reach and touch the cone.

    2. Defending Player: Screens the cone to prevent the attacker from touching it.

  3. Defending the Cone:

    1. Keep your chair in motion and stay between the cone and the opponent.

    2. Maintain a close proximity to the opponent for a stronger block but be mindful of the difficulty in screening a nearby opponent.

    3. Anticipate the opponent’s moves to stay one step ahead.

    4. Start with some space between you and the attacker to allow for adjustments and errors.

  4. Attacking the Cone:

    1. Use trickery and misdirection to outmaneuver the defender.

    2. Vary your speed and change directions unexpectedly.

    3. Look in one direction while driving in another to confuse the defender.

    4. Use your speed to your advantage, maintaining distance and utilizing deceptive moves.

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Objective

This exercise is fundamental for learning effective screening techniques, which are crucial in the sport. Screening helps in maintaining defensive positions and creating offensive opportunities. Incorporate this drill regularly to improve both attacking and defensive screening skills, preparing players for real match situations.

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Zig-Zag Cones

INTERMEDIATE

Getting Started

For this exercise, you need some space, cones, and a ball.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Place at least 5 cones in a straight line, spaced approximately 6-9 feet (2-3 meters) apart.

  2. Practice Without the Ball: Drive from the first to the last cone, weaving through the cones by passing each one on alternating sides (e.g., pass the first cone on the right, the next on the left).

  3. Extended Setup: For a more comprehensive drill:

    1. Place cones 3 feet from the existing line, creating two straight lines inside the court.

    2. Arrange 5-7 cones in each line, forming a loop or circuit around the court.

    3. Drive behind the goal to transition from one line to the next, enabling continuous movement through the circuit.

  4. Add the Ball: Once comfortable with the chair handling, repeat the exercise with the ball.

  5. Increase Difficulty:

    1. Drive faster.

    2. Navigate closer to the cones without hitting them.

    3. Incorporate both players with and without balls in the drill.

    4. Ensure all participants eventually complete the exercise with the ball.

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Objective

This exercise enhances chair handling, ball handling, spatial awareness, and communication. It is versatile and can be adapted for individual or group practice. For a solo challenge, time yourself completing the circuit and strive to improve your time. In group settings, practice passing carefully and maintaining cone positions.

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Zig-Zag Double

INTERMEDIATE

Getting Started

For this exercise, you need some space, cones, and a ball.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Create two parallel lines of cones, with each line containing 5-7 cones spaced 6-9 feet (2-3 meters) apart. The lines should be placed approximately 3 feet apart from each other, forming a complete circuit around the court.

  2. Practice Without the Ball: Start by weaving through the cones in one line, passing each cone on alternating sides (e.g., pass the first cone on the right, the next on the left). Upon reaching the last cone, transition to the next line by driving behind the goal and continue the zig-zag pattern in the opposite direction.

  3. Add the Ball: Once participants are comfortable with chair handling, repeat the exercise with the ball. Scale the drill according to skill levels, allowing some players to start without the ball while others begin with it.

  4. Increase Difficulty:

    1. Encourage faster movement through the cones.

    2. Drive closer to the cones without hitting them.

    3. Allow faster players to pass slower players, provided they can do so without interfering with others.

    4. Introduce players driving in opposite directions to challenge spatial awareness and encourage looking up while driving.

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Objective

This drill enhances chair handling, ball control, spatial awareness, and communication. It is ideal for group practice and can be scaled according to the participants' skill levels. For an added challenge, some players can drive in the opposite direction, promoting the need to stay alert and aware of their surroundings while moving through the course.​

Zig-Zag Parallel

INTERMEDIATE

Getting Started

For this exercise, you need some space, cones, a ball, and at least two players.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Place two parallel lines of cones, with each line containing 5-7 cones spaced 6-9 feet (2-3 meters) apart. The lines should be wide enough for two players to drive side-by-side between each cone section.

  2. Practice Without the Ball: Two players should drive through the course in tandem, with each player weaving around their respective line of cones. They should give each other enough room to maneuver while staying close enough to practice coordination.

  3. Add the Ball: Once the players are comfortable with positioning and chair handling, introduce a ball. The players should pass the ball between each other while moving through the course, ensuring smooth, gentle forward passes. The goal is to maintain momentum without stopping or breaking the flow of the drill.

  4. Increase Difficulty:

    1. For more advanced players, have them drive on opposite sides of the cones and pass the ball between them while moving faster.

    2. Encourage faster speeds while maintaining accurate passing and spatial awareness.

    3. Pair up several groups of two players to complete the drill simultaneously, focusing on communication and coordination to avoid collisions.

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Objective

This drill focuses on ball handling, passing while driving, orientation, and spatial awareness. It encourages teamwork as each pair of players must move in harmony through the course, passing the ball forward smoothly. It's adaptable for group practice and can be scaled in difficulty by adjusting speed or introducing passing between opposite sides of the cones for faster players. This drill also helps players learn to give each other space while maintaining control and momentum.

Andreas's Drill

ADVANCED

Getting Started

For this exercise, you'll need some space, cones, and a ball.

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Arrange a line of cones, with the first row set up for full laps around each cone. The cones should be spaced approximately 6-9 feet (2-3 meters) apart. In the middle of the course, place a single cone as a pivot point for transitioning back into the row.

  2. Practice Without the Ball: Start by driving around the first row of cones, completing a full lap around each one. Alternate sides as you pass each cone, ensuring that you change sides after every other cone. When you reach the halfway point, drive out to the middle cone, circle it, and then return to the row to continue.

  3. Add the Ball: Once comfortable with chair handling, introduce the ball. Complete the first half of the course by driving fast with the ball and staying as close to the cones as possible. For players still mastering ball handling, starting without the ball is beneficial.

  4. Increase Difficulty:

    1. In the second half of the course, practice driving in a zig-zag pattern, but only with the ball on the front part of your blade. Focus on making sharp turns around the cones and angling your chair for the next cone.

    2. Drive faster to increase the challenge, as maintaining control of the ball on the front part of the blade becomes more difficult at higher speeds.

    3. Introduce multiple players into the drill simultaneously, emphasizing spatial awareness and avoiding collisions.

 

Objective

This drill enhances ball handling, chair handling, and space awareness, with a specific focus on sharp turns and dribbling in tight spaces. The drill is designed to be completed in succession with multiple players, promoting continuous movement and interaction. The emphasis on keeping the ball on the front part of the blade helps players practice passing and maneuvering around others during a match, providing them with more options in game situations. The drill scales well for group practices and can be adapted for players at different skill levels.

Attack and Pass

ADVANCED

Getting Started

For this exercise, you'll need some space, cones, a ball, and at least three players.​

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: The drill is divided into three parts: zig-zag dribbling, passing or shooting, and goalkeeping. Arrange cones in a zig-zag pattern on one side of the court. Designate a middle area for passing or shooting and set up a goal on the opposite end.

  2. Part 1: Zig-Zag Dribbling: The first player starts by driving through the zig-zag course as quickly and closely to the cones as possible, maintaining control of the ball.

  3. Part 2: Passing or Shooting: Upon reaching the middle of the court, the first player crosses the court and passes the ball to the second player. The pass should be masked behind the first player's body to add an element of surprise. The first player should be ready to receive a return pass if needed. The second player then decides whether to shoot at the goal or pass the ball back. To keep everyone alert, it's essential to vary the choices between shooting and passing.

  4. Part 3: Goalkeeping: The third player acts as the goalkeeper, staying within the goal area to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line.

  5. Rotation: After each round, the players rotate positions. The player who completed the zig-zag course becomes the passer/shooter, the passer/shooter becomes the goalkeeper, and the goalkeeper moves to the zig-zag starting position.

  6. Increase Difficulty:

    1. Increase the speed of the zig-zag dribbling to challenge ball control.

    2. Encourage more complex and deceptive passing techniques to challenge the passer and receiver.

    3. Rotate positions more frequently to simulate the fast-paced nature of a real match.

 

Objective

This drill focuses on multiple aspects of volt hockey, including ball handling, passing, shooting, and goalkeeping. It provides players with the opportunity to practice in every position on the court, honing various skills in a dynamic and game-like scenario. The drill's structure mimics real match situations, allowing players to develop their ability to read the game, make quick decisions, and adapt to different roles. With its emphasis on versatility, the drill can be scaled for more players and adjusted to suit different skill levels, making it an excellent all-around practice activity.

Stress Drill

ADVANCED

Getting Started

For this exercise, you'll need cones, a ball, a helper/assistant/coach, and at least three players.​

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Drill Instructions

  1. Setup: Refer to the video for precise cone placement. The drill involves receiving, passing, and scoring, with players lined up at one end of the court, ready to receive a ball. A helper/assistant/coach stands near the boards/walls, supplying balls to the players as needed.

  2. Part 1: Receiving and Passing: Start by receiving the ball from the helper at the turn of the boards. Pass the ball quickly between the cones to the next player in line. Once you've passed the ball, move swiftly to the end of the row to prepare for your turn to receive the next ball.

  3. Part 2: Passing Across the Goal: As the receiving player, move next to the goal and position yourself for a pass across the goal area. The pass should be precise—aimed not too low near the post and not too high close to the penalty line—so that the player on the opposite side can easily tap the ball into the goal.

  4. Part 3: Scoring: The player on the other side of the goal area should be focused on scoring as many goals as possible. After receiving the pass, try to drive the ball between the post and the cone at the corner of the goal. Once a goal is scored (or attempted), quickly return to the cone on your side of the court to reset for the next scoring chance.

  5. Rotation: After passing the ball, the player should get back in line behind the goal to be ready to receive a new ball from the helper. Ensure all players rotate smoothly to maintain the drill's pace.

  6. Increase Difficulty:

    1. Speed up the pace of the drill to 2x or 3x the speed shown in the video, increasing the challenge for players.

    2. Emphasize communication between players to ensure no ball is wasted and every pass is handled correctly.

    3. Encourage players to drive into the ball and score in motion, rather than waiting for the ball.

 

Objective

This drill is designed to simulate the fast-paced, high-pressure situations encountered in a volt hockey match. Players practice ball handling, passing, and scoring with a focus on maintaining speed and precision under stress. The drill also enhances communication skills, as players must work together to keep the drill in sync and avoid "clogging" at the cones. If executed correctly, this drill will be both challenging and enjoyable, pushing players to improve their ability to perform under pressure. After 10-15 minutes of intense practice, collect the balls and reset the drill, using this time to rotate positions and maintain the high energy level throughout the session.

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