Jumping and catching high balls is an inseparable part and parcel of a rugby game. Thus, if you want to be a complete rugby player, you must master these skills. As when you go to spruce up your playing skills, this is one of the first and foremost drills that will have to conduct under the supervision of your trainer.
What is this drill all about?
This is not only about developing your ability to jump and catch a high ball under pressure, but it is all about imparting more confidence and mastering the art of gripping the ball in one swift attempt, beating the defenders who are lurking on you in close quarters, waiting to tackle you in the harshest of ways. Here is where the size and the weight of the ball, along with its grip come into play. A quality ball like the Ross Faulkner Ball that we offer will give you the confidence of being able to catch the ball firmly in one attempt. The swifter you can grip the ball while being in the air midway through the jump, the lesser is the probability of being tackled in the air by the opposition defenders. That extra bit of second that you thus gain will help you to carry on with the attack. You can evade the defenders and give a forward push, or you can pass the ball on to your comrade to continue the attack.
The jump and the catch….
The jump for catching a high ball is not just a vertical jump. It is not a static jump either. You have to master the skill of jumping while being in the move, in your effort to find a vacant place amongst the crowd of the moving defenders. You need to master the skill of dominating the situation, which is possible only and only when you have total control of the ball.
The drill…
- The trainer will station a pair of players with ruck pads just in front of you, at the height of 5 meters, at an arm’s distance apart from each other.
- As a catcher, you will be directed to run up into the gap between the pads.
- The ball will be tossed upright from behind the pads, over the pad holders, from a blind spot. Thus, you will not be able to sight the ball till it’s well in the air just above the pad holders. You have to leap in a split second, just at the right nick of the moment either before the ball reaches the pads, or just when the ball gets directly over the pads. You can also jump just when the ball passes the pads. You see, it’s just a matter of a fraction of a second that draws that difference and you will have to grab the ball flash within that time frame. While on one hand, it speaks to the swiftness of reflex that you need to have, it also tells how perfect your hold on the ball has to be to complete the entire action effectively.
This is where a training ball will make the difference. Certainly, a Ross Faulkner Rugby Training Ball that we offer at That Training Ball will be your best choice. With the perfect size, weight, dimension, and grip, it will help you master the skills much faster than what you achieve by training will other balls
