Bounce, Lob or Chest: Pick the Pass vs a Defender

Groups of three with two passers and a defender in the middle who changes arm position. The passer must read the defender and choose a bounce, lob or chest pass.

How to play

1. Groups of three in an 8 x 4 m rectangle; quick review of the three passes (3 min).
2. Defender on cue: arms up (bounce pass), crouched (lob), shifted to one side (straight pass) (4 min).
3. Defender picks any position freely and counts interceptions (5 min).
4. Passers may slide along their line to open an angle (5 min).
5. Rotate the defender every 2 minutes and share which pass fooled them most (3 min).

Rules

• The defender stays in the 2 m middle zone.
• No touching the passer.
• One-handed passes, handball style.
• Each passer has 3 seconds to decide.

Variations

Adaptations

• Visually impaired students: the defender says "high" or "low" and a sound ball is used.
• Injured dominant hand: pass with the other hand; the defender may use only one hand.
• Nervous students: start as a passive defender who doesn't try to intercept.

Learning goals

• Choose the pass type based on the defender.
• Execute bounce, lob and chest passes.
• Move to open passing lanes.

Equipment for a class of 25

• handballs: 10
• pinnies: 10
• cones: 20

Teacher tip

Lob passes tend to go too high and slow; ask for one just over the hands. Mix ability levels in each trio so everyone defends and passes.

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