Alright, so today I decided to get back on the field and work on some outside center specific drills. It’s been a while, so I knew I needed to start with the basics and build my way up.
Warm-up
First things first, gotta warm up those muscles! I started with some light jogging around the field.
- Jogging for about 10 minutes.
- Then, I did some dynamic stretches, you know, leg swings, arm circles, torso twists, the whole shebang. Gotta get that blood flowing and avoid any pulls.
Passing Drills
Next up, passing. As an outside center, you gotta have those crisp, accurate passes down. So, I grabbed a buddy and we started with some simple drills.
- Basic Pass: We stood about 10 yards apart and just focused on spin passes, working on that smooth release and hitting the target every time.
- Moving Pass: Then we started moving, running parallel to each other and passing the ball back and forth. Really focusing on passing ahead of the receiver, leading them into the space.
- Pressure Pass: Added a little fake defender(my other friend). Practiced the pop pass.
My arms definitely started to feel it after a while, but it’s all about building that muscle memory.
Evasion Drills
After passing, I wanted to work on my footwork and evasion. An outside center needs to be able to step off both feet and beat defenders.
- Cone Weaving: I set up some cones in a line and practiced weaving through them, focusing on quick changes of direction and keeping my balance.
- Sidestep Drill: Then, I worked on my sidestep, really exaggerating the movement and exploding off each foot. Tried to visualize a defender in front of me.
- Swerving Run: Finally, I did some swerving runs, changing my pace and angle to make it harder for a defender to predict my movement.
Kicking (Just a Bit!)
Okay, I’m not a kicker, but every player should practice a bit. So I did some very, very basic grubber kicks, just to get a feel for it. Let’s just say, it’s not my forte, but it’s good to be somewhat versatile, right?
Cool Down
Finally, wrapped things up with some static stretches, holding each stretch for about 30 seconds. Hamstrings, quads, calves, groin – gotta give those muscles some love after a good workout.
Overall, it was a good session. Felt good to be back out there, working on my skills. It’s definitely a work in progress, but that’s what practice is all about. You gotta put in the time and effort if you want to see results. Will do it again!
