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Catching a bouncing ball

When you play good rugby catching a bouncing ball is a useful skill you may need from time to time during games so master this and you will benefit in the long run.

Skills grow from rugby catching basics

When you catch a bouncing ball it is very important...
...to be sure you keep hold of it...
Begin with handling skills,,,
...so you have good skills to build on...
...so you have a good foundation.

Visit or have visited the handling pages and...
...know the rugby catching basics
...you may go further and faster.

Coach yourself to improve catching

You may need a wall...
...to practice catching a bouncing ball.
Use your spare time to practice alone.
Even spare minutes between doing other things...
...make a difference when you use them...
...to improve basic skills.

Look closely at most skills and you will see...
...they are just a series...
...of simpler skills performed one after the other.

Break up the whole skill into the simpler skills
...and create ways to do...
...large numbers of repetitions...
...of the more difficult simpler skills components...
...and frequently put them back together...
....performing more and more of the complete skill

You may believe you have seen this message...
...about good skills elsewhere on this site.
You may well be right.
Look out for it..
...because it is worth repeating.
It is useful for much more than just rugby.

You catch a ball - naturally

Catching a bouncing ball - you`re a natural.

Use your experience of other similar things.
Remember, eyes wide open...
...concentrating on the object - in this case the ball.

Keep your mind on what you want to achieve...
...catching a bouncing ball.

Catching a bouncing ball...be ready

This is a natural step from the basic skills for handling the ball.

When kicked by a skillful kicker...
...the ball travels end over end...
...rolling much of the time...
...along the ground towards you.
...then suddenly rears up higher.

When you study this type of kick...
...the movement of the ball...
...appears more rhythmical...
...and you can almost feel the high bounces coming.

The ball will be traveling towards you.
Either straight towards you or at some sort of angle.
Always be prepared for the high, rearing bounce...
and aim to intercept the ball...
...and catch it at that part of the cycle of movement.
Preferably when the ball has reared...
...and is starting to descend again.

If the ball must be taken urgently...
...take it early on the rise.

Avoid taking the ball..
... in the fast rolling phase...
...when the ball stays low to the gound...
...and difficult to take cleanly.

Circumstances will vary.
You just have to do your best.
The higher you take the ball...
...the more the catch will be like...
...a "catching the high ball" catch.
Where you reach up for the ball...
...and bring it back down, smothering it against your chest.

The lower you take the ball...
...the more the catch will be like...
...a "catching a pass" catch - and probably a poor pass!
Where you trap the ball in strong,flexible fingers...
...which mould to the ball...
...and form a cage from which it cannot escape.

Usually the ball is travelling fast...
...and liable to rear up at any moment...
...so it is not an option...
...to use your foot to stop the ball.
The ball could bounce off your feet...
...go anywhere, and cause...
...a serious problem for the defence.

Before catching a bouncing ball...
...study the ball as it travels towards you.
If you detect uneven rotation ( not exactly end over end)...
...it is becoming more unpredictable.
Be prepared, get on your toes...
...the ball may bounce sidesways.

Prepare yourself.
Learn this kick so you are more familiar...
...with what the ball can do
You will have the experience...
...to deal with most situations...
...and you will act instinctively...
...when others think about how to do it.

Return from Catching a bouncing ball to Rugby catching

Evtechs Sports Training
Sydney, Australia