Shooting Accuracy with the Rochester Rattlers
There’s nothing wrong with tossing the ball around with your lax buddies. But Bill Warder, assistant coach of the MLL Rochester Rattlers, suggests picking up the pace, especially if you want to improve crucial on-field skills, like shot accuracy.
“Many young kids get the idea that [playing] a fun game with their friends in the back yard helps develop skills, but the most effective players at the Division I or pro level are always going full speed, no matter what they’re practicing,” Warder explains.
To increase your shot accuracy and improve catching technique, Warder suggests performing a colored target drill, which helped the Rattlers reach the 2007 championship game.
Colored Target Shooting/Receiving Drill
• Tie four different colored targets [t-shirts, paper plates] onto four different spots in net
• Have coach/friend pass you the ball and call out a color
• On run, receive pass and shoot to designated color target
Reps: 20 balls every day
Benefits: The drill emphasizes recognition on catching the ball, receiving it and quickly shooting to a specific target or location in the net. It helps focus your eyes on one spot as opposed to looking and shooting at a wide open net.
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Shooting Accuracy with the Rochester Rattlers
There’s nothing wrong with tossing the ball around with your lax buddies. But Bill Warder, assistant coach of the MLL Rochester Rattlers, suggests picking up the pace, especially if you want to improve crucial on-field skills, like shot accuracy.
“Many young kids get the idea that [playing] a fun game with their friends in the back yard helps develop skills, but the most effective players at the Division I or pro level are always going full speed, no matter what they’re practicing,” Warder explains.
To increase your shot accuracy and improve catching technique, Warder suggests performing a colored target drill, which helped the Rattlers reach the 2007 championship game.
Colored Target Shooting/Receiving Drill
• Tie four different colored targets [t-shirts, paper plates] onto four different spots in net
• Have coach/friend pass you the ball and call out a color
• On run, receive pass and shoot to designated color target
Reps: 20 balls every day
Benefits: The drill emphasizes recognition on catching the ball, receiving it and quickly shooting to a specific target or location in the net. It helps focus your eyes on one spot as opposed to looking and shooting at a wide open net.