Highest Hands

Winning the dropping ball — catch it at the top of your jump, protect it on the way down.

Gaelic football
U10
60 min
12–20 players
2 coaches
Effort 3/5
30x30m grid + one goal area
high-catch
handling
aerial
confidence

The PitchPlans coaching teamGAA Award 1 & 2 coaches

Kit: A ball per pair (size 4), 20 cones, 10 bibs

Warm-up10 min

Storm Clouds

Setup: 30×30m square, ball each where possible. Players jog and solo or bounce anywhere inside.

How it works: On the call STORM, everyone throws their ball high above their own head and catches it at full stretch, then plays on. Build the ladder call by call: catch above the eyes, catch with a jump, catch with a one-two step and jump. Final round is SWAP STORM — throw yours high, sprint to catch the nearest other ball before it bounces twice. Chaos is fine; reaching up is the habit you are buying.

What to say

“Throw it honest — straight up, good height, no cheating it low.”
“Reach for the ball at its highest point, arms long.”
“Fingers spread, thumbs behind the ball.”

Easier

Allow one bounce before every catch.

Harder

Every catch off one-leg take-off; SWAP STORM with no bounces allowed.

Activity12 min

High Ball Ladder

Setup: Pairs, one ball, 8m apart. A take-off cone in front of each catcher. Server lobs two-handed, high and slightly in front.

How it works: Climb the ladder one rung at a time — two clean catches moves you up, a spill moves you down one. Rung 1: standing catch above the eyes. Rung 2: jump catch off one leg. Rung 3: three-step run onto the cone, jump and catch. Rung 4: same, but land, turn and hand-pass back before the server counts three. Swap jobs every four serves. Call out the highest rung in the group every few minutes so the room chases it.

Key details

Time the run so you meet the ball going UP — arriving early and waiting flat-footed loses all your height.
Eyes stay on the flight the whole way; the crowd of bodies is a blur, the ball is not.
Pull the catch down and across your body as you land so it cannot be flicked away.

Common mistakes

Standing under the ball and letting it drop to chest height — that is where it gets stolen.
Jumping off two feet from a standstill — you will never reach your real top height.

What to say

“One-leg take-off, other knee driving up — it lifts you and protects your side.”
“Catch in front of your forehead, not behind your head.”
“Land wide and strong, ball pulled into your chest.”

Easier

Softer, higher lobs from 5m; two-leg take-off allowed on rungs 2 and 3.

Harder

Server calls LEFT or RIGHT mid-flight and the catch must be taken moving that way; weak-side take-off leg only.

Activity12 min

Break or Catch

Setup: 10×10m boxes, four players per box — 2v2 in bibs, matched by size. One server per box (rotate every six throws), spare balls beside them.

How it works: Server lobs high into the middle of the box. Both pairs contest: a clean overhead catch is two points, and deliberately breaking the ball down to your partner who gathers it is one point. Play the gather — the drill is not over when the ball is touched, only when someone owns it on the ground. First pair to ten, then rotate the server in and mix the pairs. Referee body contact honestly: shoulder to shoulder is football, hands in the back is a free.

What to say

“Time your run so you arrive as the ball arrives.”
“Can't catch it? Break it down to grass your partner can reach first.”
“Brace in the air — strong body, no pushing.”

Easier

Serve 1v1 with a height mismatch removed; underarm lobs.

Harder

Serve lower and flatter so the contest is a front-position battle; catches under pressure count triple.

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

PitchPlans coaching team

Free on PitchPlans — new sessions weekly.