Pendulum Roll

Objectives

To give practice in the correct landing techniques involved in side diving.

Organization

• Set out as many goals as there are goalkeepers.
• Two goalkeepers per area, one with a ball, both kneeling and facing one another four yards apart.
• Important that the players kneel in an upright position and not sit back on their heels.
• Balls must be rolled to the side of each keeper, not straight, but not so far to the side that the receiver cannot roll over and collect the ball.
• After receiving the ball the keeper should roll back to the kneeling position.

Coaching Points

• Hands and arms should reach forward to catch ball in front of body.
• Arms should not be at full stretch, but "crooked" instead.
• Upper knee should be drawn in comfortably across the body as the ball is received.
• Lower leg should remain loosely trailing.
• Head and upper shoulder should be drawn over and above the height of the ball.
• " W" hand position is employed but with ball "trapped" by the upper hand on top of the ball and lower hand behind the ball.

ABILITIES DEVELOPED - Introduction to the best way of diving for the ball.

KC's EMPHASIZED - Side Diving, Open, Recovery, Absorption, Hands, Shape, AMOB III.

Additional Information

The "W" hand position, but this time with the ball trapped on the ground by the positioning of the hands at the top and back of the ball, is an important technique to develop in relation to diving and retaining the ball after the impact on landing.

As players become more comfortable with the "Pendulum Roll," the practice can be progressed to the "Squat Thrust," where a squat position is adopted to receive the throw. Because of the greater leaping potential of the "Squat Thrust" the ball can be thrown further to the side of the diving player than the kneeling position.

Age Suitability

Age	Suitable	Comments
6-11	YES	Essential activity, which all of the team can do as a warm-up.
12-15	YES	Essential Back-to-Basics (BTB) exercise to ensure the maintenance of good side diving techniques.
16+	YES	Good basic work which can be incorporated in a warm-up routine.