The In-Out Box Drill:
Required: 4 cones, 15 yd x 15yd field space, 5+ players, 1 disc
4 cones set up in a square. Lines of players at each cone. Player 1 cuts to the center of the box then back out, receives pass. Player 2, from the next cone over cuts to the center of the box then back out, receives pass from player 1. The drill continues with cuts and the disc progressing clockwise around the box. Players clear to the next line after throwing. After the players get the hang of the progression, have the team count completed passes. Any drop or throwaway results in the count returning to zero.
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What's the point of this drill?
It's pretty simple. Time and execute a scripted cut, catch the disc, throw a good pass to the next person doing the same. It's basic, doesn't involve much explosiveness, huge throws, or anything fancy. In fact, it's so nondescript and easy that after a while it almost dares you to tune it out and just go through the motions.
Then you add in the count.
Counting the number of completed passes fundamentally changes this drill. It transforms it from a basic "touch the disc while moving" drill into one that challenges an entire roster in unison. The seemingly mundane drill that dares you to tune it out becomes a trap for the distracted. Players will suddenly bid for discs just out of reach, not because the drill itself has changed, but because it's no longer about them, it's about the team.
With the count, this drill is a team focus drill. It's no longer about the cut, the catch, or the throw you have to make. It's about whether you can make them when the pressure is on, in the moment, and while the team is relying on you to do so. Can't handle the pressure? Well, good thing we're practicing it.
With the count, this drill is also about executing when energy is low. Not many teams get amped up for IO box (not that they shouldn't). When there's a lull in energy at a game or a practice, is this an excuse to lose focus and let the disc drop or let throws suffer? Of course not. IO box makes the entire roster focus on a collective goal.
I used to think IO box was too basic to yield results worth the time spent on it at practice. Now that I have some perspective on the value of the count, it would be foolish to dismiss drills like this. Good teams bring the focus in all situations. Low energy, high energy, external pressure, etc. Why would we leave focus up to chance when we can improve at it in practice?
Go until the target count is hit. When you hit it, the team is stronger for it.
Required: 4 cones, 15 yd x 15yd field space, 5+ players, 1 disc
4 cones set up in a square. Lines of players at each cone. Player 1 cuts to the center of the box then back out, receives pass. Player 2, from the next cone over cuts to the center of the box then back out, receives pass from player 1. The drill continues with cuts and the disc progressing clockwise around the box. Players clear to the next line after throwing. After the players get the hang of the progression, have the team count completed passes. Any drop or throwaway results in the count returning to zero.
------
What's the point of this drill?
It's pretty simple. Time and execute a scripted cut, catch the disc, throw a good pass to the next person doing the same. It's basic, doesn't involve much explosiveness, huge throws, or anything fancy. In fact, it's so nondescript and easy that after a while it almost dares you to tune it out and just go through the motions.
Then you add in the count.
Counting the number of completed passes fundamentally changes this drill. It transforms it from a basic "touch the disc while moving" drill into one that challenges an entire roster in unison. The seemingly mundane drill that dares you to tune it out becomes a trap for the distracted. Players will suddenly bid for discs just out of reach, not because the drill itself has changed, but because it's no longer about them, it's about the team.
With the count, this drill is a team focus drill. It's no longer about the cut, the catch, or the throw you have to make. It's about whether you can make them when the pressure is on, in the moment, and while the team is relying on you to do so. Can't handle the pressure? Well, good thing we're practicing it.
With the count, this drill is also about executing when energy is low. Not many teams get amped up for IO box (not that they shouldn't). When there's a lull in energy at a game or a practice, is this an excuse to lose focus and let the disc drop or let throws suffer? Of course not. IO box makes the entire roster focus on a collective goal.
I used to think IO box was too basic to yield results worth the time spent on it at practice. Now that I have some perspective on the value of the count, it would be foolish to dismiss drills like this. Good teams bring the focus in all situations. Low energy, high energy, external pressure, etc. Why would we leave focus up to chance when we can improve at it in practice?
Go until the target count is hit. When you hit it, the team is stronger for it.
When you subscribe to total ultimate IO box to X becomes fun and easy. We did it as a warmup after a bye at sandblast last year.
ReplyDeleteHow do you feel about doing this drill to failure if you exceed your goal? If, for example, the goal is 20 passes in a row, do we keep going to 21? What about 41? What about 61? (If we're easily at 61 when the goal was 20, I realize our goal might have been too low. But still, when do you stop?) Do you just wait for someone to drop it? Or do you hit 20 and move on without seeing what your team can do?
ReplyDeleteMost of the mental value is in setting a goal and hitting it. I think it's fine to go to failure if you have sufficient practice time. It could also be useful for setting the next goal for next time.
DeleteObviously once a team becomes very good at this, it's not a good use of time to go until failure. I.e. if your team can get to 100 no problem, then waiting until 200 probably isn't worth the time investment.
Another alternative is to set stretch goals. Maybe 20 is level 1, 40 is level 2, 60 is level 3, etc. and have some reward for hitting those.