Synopsis: This game variation allows players to work on their short-comings by repeating skills after making an error.
Age/Skill Level: This game is suitable for beginner and intermediate players.
Requirements: two teams, full court, several balls
Execution: Think of this as a game which allows players a redo on their mistakes. Play proceeds as a standard scrimmage up to the point where a player makes an error. At that point the coach initiates a ball which requires that player to repeat the skill. If they do so successfully the play carries on. If not, they get another chance. This continues until the successful execution happens.
Variations:
- The play can continue for a certain amount of time or a certain number of points.
- If you use points you can have them count only on the initial play when the error was made, or on each play inclusive of the errors.
- You can rotate or wave players through.
Additional Comments:
- If you have the space, the players, and an available coach, you could sub a player out when they make a mistake and have them go off to another court (or area) where they are required to do X number of reps of the skill successfully before being allowed back in the game.
- You may want to narrow the focus to specific types of errors, like hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds or not passing the ball to target – depending on your area of focus of that session.
- If you don’t have some kind of play-ender (like a clean kill), this game will end up being continuous. That’s good for conditioning, but you’ll need to have plays end at some point to change things up and keep your front row players (especially) from becoming overtaxed.
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