Rule the Skies

Winning the ball in the air, and winning the one that breaks off it

Hurling
U16
60 min
14–26 players
2 coaches
Effort 4/5
Half pitch
u16
aerial
breaking-ball
high-catch
midfield

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: Hurleys and helmets with faceguards down, 12 sliotars, 24 cones, 12 bibs (2 colours), a mentor with a good puckout or a throw-up to feed the drop

Warm-up8 min

Under the Drop

Setup: Pairs in a 20m channel, one ball per pair, helmets on and faceguards down. Mentors demonstrate the catch from a soft self-lob first.

How it works: Feet and hands under a falling ball, no contest yet. One partner lobs the ball high and soft; the catcher gets the feet under the flight, reaches the catching hand up to meet it at the highest point they can, hurley angled across to guard that hand, and pulls it in. Ten catches, swap. Then the batting option for those still growing into the catch: instead of catching, meet the dropping ball with a controlled overhead tap of the bas down into space in front. Finish with quick-feet adjustments — the lobber makes the catcher move three steps to get under it every time.

What to say

“Tell them: 'get your feet there early — a catch is a footwork skill first, a hands skill second.'”
“Tell them: 'meet it at the top of your reach, out in front of the helmet, not down at your chest.'”
“Tell them: 'hurley guards the catching hand — the timber protects the fingers.'”

Easier

Softer, lower lobs straight over the catcher; batting down allowed instead of catching.

Harder

Lob to either side so the catcher sprints to get under it; catch and immediately turn out of the catch onto the strong side.

Activity13 min

The Catch Contest

Setup: Groups of three in a 12m box: a feeder with a bag of balls, two contesters starting back to back under the middle. Boxes spread so contests do not collide.

How it works: The contested high ball, one on one. The feeder lobs a high ball into the middle; the two contesters break from back-to-back, read the flight and compete for it — catch clean for two points, bat it down and gather for one, and a clean spoil that stops the other winning it is worth one too. The rule that keeps it safe and skilful: eyes on the ball, hurley up to protect the hand, no pulling across an opponent and no dropping the shoulder into them — it is a jump-and-catch duel, not a wrestle. Six feeds, rotate the feeder, keep your own tally. Best of the box does a lap of honour that nobody minds.

The technique, step by step

Read the flight from back-to-back and break to it.
Attack the ball at the highest point, jumping off one foot.
Catch clean, or spoil it down with a protected bas.
Land balanced and turn out of trouble onto the strong side.

Common mistakes

Backing off and letting the ball drop to the chest — the drop belongs to whoever goes up highest.
Dropping the shoulder or pulling the arm down — a foul, and dangerous under a dropping ball.

What to say

“Tell them: 'attack the ball, do not wait for it — the one who goes to meet it usually wins it.'”
“Tell them: 'if you cannot win the catch, spoil it clean with the bas so nobody does.'”
“Tell them: 'jump off one foot, catch at the top, and protect the hand with the hurley the whole way.'”

Easier

Contesters start facing the drop; feeder favours one catcher slightly so timing is built before it is even; batting only.

Harder

STEPR: contesters start further apart and sprint in; feed varies high and flat; winner must catch and clear to a target inside three seconds.

Activity13 min

Break and Pounce

Setup: Fours around a 14m box: one high catcher, one contester, and two 'breakers' waiting a few metres out on opposite sides. A feeder with a bag of balls lobs the contest in.

How it works: Most high balls are not caught — they break, and the game is won by whoever reads the break. The feeder lobs in; the catcher and contester compete but neither is allowed to catch this time — both must bat or tip the ball on, so it always breaks loose. The two breakers read the drop off the hurleys, one stepping in low to win the breaking ball, the other holding a step deeper as cover. Win the break clean and drive out of the box for the point. Rotate all four jobs every few feeds. The lesson lands fast: breakers who watch the hurleys, not the sky, win the ball.

What to say

“Tell them: 'the ball breaks low and fast — get small, knees bent, hurley down ready.'”
“Tell them: 'watch the hurleys in the air, not the ball — the break comes off the timber.'”
“Tell them: 'one attacks the break, one covers behind — never both diving at the same ball.'”

Easier

Contest is a single batter tapping the ball down for the breakers; breakers start closer and lower.

Harder

STEPR: add a second contester so the break is more violent; breakers must win it and link a hand-pass before driving out; shrink the box.

The rest of this session is free — along with 3 more this week.

PitchPlans coaching team

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