#groupdrill

Screening Drill

This drill’s teaches players how to properly screen a player with possession of the ball by emphasizing the need to control the ball carrier’s front wheel and to not get beat. It also helps teach the ball carrier how to out maneuver a screener and to deal with stop and go play without t-boning the screener, all super important skills!

This drill is sans ball to help players focus on the bike handling skills needed to execute a proper screen**. After they master the bike handling needed in screening, the ball is added to give additional challenge and real play scenario.

To practice this drill, have one player act as the “ball carrier” (but without a ball) and the other act as the screener. Set up some cones about half court away, the “ball carrier” is going to try to get to these cones while the screener is going to try to prevent them from reaching the cones by blocking their path.  Have the screener tripod in front of the “ball carrier”, their back wheel should be positioned in front of the ball carrier’s front wheel with only a few feet between them to start.

On “ready, go!” the “ball carrier” tried to get around the screener while the screener tries to prevent them from getting past and to the cones. The drill ends when the “ball carrier” gets to the cones. If the “ball carrier” t-bones the screener or crashes into them, they must return to the starting line and begin again.

Once this drill starts feeling easier, add a ball to up the challenge, boom! Repeat, practice, become a master!

Tips and tricks:

“Ball carrier” - remember to use the whole court. Don’t just ride in a straight line up court and towards the cones, you can circle back (“reset”) towards the starting line to try to get the screener out of position or just to give yourself more maneuvering room.

Screener - stay in front of the ball carrier and face the same direction as them.

Remember that screening the ball carrier is about getting in tight on their front wheel so you can control where they ride. If they run into you and dab, that is their fault not yours, and technically would be a t-bone foul on them.

When you can, keep both hands on your handle bars so you can get out of the saddle to pedal faster and for better bike control.

Coaches - it might be worthwhile doing a demo of this drill with some experienced players before having newer players try it. Make sure to go over the rules of t-boning, obstruction, etc., so they have context for the drill.

Give feedback after each time the players run this drill to help them improve their technique. Give live feedback as the drills going on, encouraging the “ball carrier” to reset if they get stuck (getting them to think about the whole court and not just moving straight up court), encourage both to get out of the saddle, etc.

The Gate Drill

This little drill created by Danny over at Prague Bike Polo will help you work on your bike handling skills and while most of the people in this video are attempting endo turns and wheelie turns to get out of the tight space, you could have this drill work for any level of player. For example, more beginner players couple work on balance and backing up with the help of the mallet, intermediate players could practice hopping back and around to get out, etc. Great drill, practice it with your club!

How to practice this drill:

Sprint to the gate

Stop before the board

Get out through the gate

Don’t Get Beat Drill

This is a defensive drill inspired by Nico from San Fransisco who is always quietly yelling at Jenny (in a French accent), not to get beat. This drill is meant to help players learn how to not get beat when an offensive player is bringing the ball across the mid-line. It will teach them how to incorporate getting out of their saddle to get speed, timing and how to use their bike to screen and obstruct the ball carrier.

The goal of the defensive player is to not let the offensive player "beat" them and to control the offensive player's line and front wheel as much as possible and ultimately to create less opportunity for them to shoot and to force them to pass (where hopefully their teammate is waiting to pick the pass).

Nico’s reasons for why play the player and not the ball:

In bike polo taking the ball from someone is hard, messing up their shot/blocking their line on the goal is easier and more effective (most of the time), especially for less experienced players

Playing the player and not getting beat often forces the offensive player to pass the ball or taking a difficult shot, giving your team an opportunity to pick the ball

To practice this drill, start on either side of the mid-line, just like you would at the beginning of a play. The offensive player then tries to bring the ball across the line and past the defensive player to shoot on the goal. The defensive player should keep both hands on their handle bars (don't use your mallet) and try to stay ahead and obstructing the offensive player’s line on the goal. As you get better, you'll improve your timing and your ability to get closer to the offensive player to control their front wheel and line.

Nico’s tips for not getting beat:

keep both hands on your handle bars, this way you can get out of your saddle to get more speed if you need to and you’ll have better bike control

keep your bike pointed towards your own goal, don’t face the oncoming ball carrier, otherwise they will ride right around you and beat you!

If the ball carrier is a faster player then you, keep more space between you so they are less likely to get around you. Just make sure you continue to stay in their “shooting line” so they can’t take a shot

Against the World Drill

This is great  group drill to practice goalie skills, defense and offense. A variation of the Happy Threesome Carousel, but instead of the two players working together against the goalie, this drill pits everyone against everyone! It’s kinda like a knife fight but with one goal and a goalie.

Criss-Cross Passing Drill

This is a great drill to introduce offensive play to rookies. One of the biggest challenges in teaching polo is positioning and this is a basic drill that teaches players a way to work with their teammates and a basic passing strategy.

To practice this drill, it might be helpful to have a more experienced player work with a rookie to get them started, then you can pair up rookies and have them practice together.

The first time doing this drill, have the experienced player carry the ball without passing and have the rookie "criss-cross" behind the ball carrier up the court. Do this until they feel comfortable with the pattern of movement.

Then add the passing. Have the pass happen right as the ball carrier’s teammate rides and crosses behind them. Ask the ball carrier to "anticipate" where their teammate is going to be when passing. Have the two players continue to "criss-cross" pass up and down the court. The teammate getting the pass, always crossing behind the ball carrier.

Obstacle Course - Basic Ball Handling Drill

Here is a great drill for new and experienced players to work on bike and ball handling skills!

Pass-Sprint-Shoot Drill

This is a variation of the Pass-Sprint-Catch-Stop-Cradle Drill and is a good drill to practice either on your own or with a partner to get better at sprinting after a fast ball, gaining control and/or shooting the ball at high speeds. 

Individual

To do this drill, pass the ball hard forward, fast enough that you really have to sprint and get out of your saddle to catch the ball. Once you’ve caught up to the ball, try one-time shooting, or for variation, collect then shoot.

Partners

With a partner you can take turns having one player pass the ball forward and the other chasing after to either collect and control or shoot.

This probably isn’t a great drill for newer players who haven’t gotten some of the basics of bike and ball handling down. But once a player is comfortable getting out of their saddle and sprinting, this would be a perfect drill to introduce them too.

Name for drill stolen from Oulu Bike Polo ;)

This is a three person drill and is a great drill for developing goalie skills and to develop offensive plays with a teammate to juke (trick) a goalie.

Have one person act as goalie, the other two act as offensive players and try to work the ball in on the goalie. When we do this drill at Davis Bike Polo, we say anything goes. The point is to get creative in your passing, shooting and juking, this gives you practice both offensively and it also gives the goalie great practice dealing with intense pressure while in the goal. The goalie can also be active, coming out of the goal to challenge the offensive players, etc.

After 3 or 4 goals, switch out the goalie and start over again. Giving everyone in the threesome a chance to play offense with a teammate and also to play goalie.