Clap and catch
Why it works
A clap costs about a fifth of a second, which is exactly the margin a kid with lazy hands is already losing. Forcing the delay means the only way to catch anything is to get the hands up faster than they ever would on their own, and the clap tells you instantly who did.
Run it
6 MINThree rounds of about ninety seconds, shrinking the circle each round. Six minutes.
Say this
“Clap, then snatch.”
Two separate actions, fast, in that order.
“Throw where he can get it.”
The thrower is responsible for the rep being possible.
“Eyes on the hands, not on the thrower's face.”
You are watching for the release.
Good looks like
- The clap is clearly audible and clearly finished before the catch.
- Hands go from clapped to caught without a pause in between.
- The ball crosses the circle rather than going round the edge.
- Everybody has had it twice inside the first minute.
The mistakes
Clapping at the ball itself, which is a two hand slap and exactly the habit we are removing.
Say: “Clap, then snatch.”
Kids winning by throwing it impossibly, which ends the drill in two minutes.
Say: “Throw where he can get it.”
Looking around the circle for who is next instead of tracking the ball.
Say: “Eyes on the hands, not on the thrower's face.”
Bigger circle, underhand throws, and the clap can happen as the ball leaves rather than just before the catch.
Two balls in the circle at once. Or clap twice.