OBJECTIVE:
To secure ball. To establish/maintain forward movement at breakdown. To transfer possession from ball-carrier.
KEY FACTORS:
- Approach ball-carrier from depth, parallel to touchline.
- Identify role.
- Call for pass if best option; or
- Assume low driving position, ie lower knees and hips; spine in line; chin off chest; eyes up; sight target.
- Drive onto ball-carrier, with your shoulder first point of contact.
- Shoulder contact made above ball in lower chest area of ball-carrier.
- Drive forward with legs; wrap arms around ball-carrier.
- Maintain leg drive.
- Reposition arm for ball transfer.
- Secure and transfer ball.
- Communicate ownership.
COMMON ERRORS:
- Head down; eyes closed.
- Contact shallow from side causing sideways, not forward, movement.
- First support player reaching for ball instead of driving on with shoulder.
- First support player ripping ball and becoming isolated.
- Ball-carrier holding ball too high creating inefficient drive platform.
- First support player driving in too high.
- First support player not maintaining leg drive after contact.