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Pass Receiving Fundamentals
Passing Skills Fundamentals

Pass Receiving Fundamentals

Since Flag football is primarily a passing game and every player is an eligible receiver, the art of catching the ball under a variety of circumstances is extremely important.

Work with a teammate with a ball. Space yourselves approximately 10 yards apart. Throw the ball to your teammate at or above chest height. Note the following points:

RECEIVING THE PASS ABOVE THE WAIST

1. Shoulders are perpendicular to flight of the ball. Extend arms (but keep elbows slightly flexed) toward the ball. Fingers spread: palms out facing passer; tips of thumbs touching.
   
   
2. As the ball touches the hands, allow the fingers and wrists to move back toward forearms to provide a more secure grip on the ball and cushion the catch.
   
   
3. Look ball into hands (missed pass result, in large part, by taking the eyes off a ball in the last 2 – 3 feet of its flight).

RECEIVING THE PASS BELOW THE WAIST

1. Shoulders are perpendicular to the flight of the ball.
   
   
2. Extend arms out and down, with elbows flexed and close together. If necessary, lower body by bending at the knees, not the waist. Fingers spread, palms out, facing passer, with the tips of little fingers touching.
   
   
3. As the ball contacts the hands, the fingers, wrists and arms give, in order to absorb the impact of the ball.

RECEIVING THE PASS OVER THE SHOULDER

Catching over the shoulder is a skill required when the receiver is running away from the passer.

Note the following points:

1. Judge the flight of the ball.
   
   
2. Run with a natural arm motion until the ball approaches. Extend the arms at the last moment; fingers spread, little fingers touching, thumbs apart, palms facing the flight of the ball.
   
   
3. The elbows should be close together to provide a greater surface area for catching the ball.
   
   
4. Look the ball into the hands.
   
   
5. Give with the ball on contact, and gather the ball in. Arms should be relaxed.
   
   
6. Tuck the ball away. Continue to run.

AFTER THE CATCH

Once the reception is made, the receiver must attempt to gain as much yardage as possible, but first he/she must secure possession of the ball and tuck it into the proper carrying position.

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Passing Skills Fundamentals

THE GRIP

• Spread the fingers wide and allow them to rest on the football naturally. The last two (or maybe three) fingers may lie across the laces, about one –third of the way down the ball. The thumb serves as a brace beneath the ball.
• Grip the ball firmly, but do not squeeze it.
• The ball should not rest on the palm of the hand – leave space between the palm and the ball.

THE SPIRAL

• A spiral pass is accomplished by having the ball roll off the fingertips as it is released.
• Work with another player. Place the ball in your hand. With the ball resting on your finger (widthwise), flick the ball off your fingertips (ball should roll off of the fingertips and create a spiral) to your teammate.

THROWING MOTION

1. Hold the ball close to the body at about chest height.
2. Stand tall with the body at right angles to the target, feet slightly staggered.
3. Focus on the target and bring the ball back close to the ear with both hands.
4. Step with the lead foot in the direction of the target.
5. Open the hips and rotate the shoulders square to the target.
6. Throw from an overhand position, with the elbow leading, and release the ball with a good wrist snap.
7. As the ball is released, the hand should finish with the palm facing the ground, which imparts the proper spiral. The ball should roll off the fingers, leaving the little finger first and the index finger last.
8. A good follow through will provide maximum power to the pass. The throwing arm should finish parallel to the front leg.

CORRECTING THROWING PROBLEMS

Usually throwing problems are the result of one technique in the sequence of throwing. The key to correction is to analyze the cause and attend to it. Concentrate only one point at a time.

• Overthrowing
  
  
  • Releasing behind, top of arm arc
  • Opening front shoulder too soon
  • Overstriding
    
    
• Underthrowing
  
  
  • Releasing in front of arm arc
  • Elbow not leading arm
  • Understriding (causes inability to throw with velocity)
  • No spiral
  • Ensure proper grip
  • Forearm not pronated
  • No wrist snap and acceleration at release
  • Not pulling down on ball with index finger
  • Upper arm less parallel to ground
    
    
• Inaccuracy
  
  
  • Guide step not at target (reception point)
  • Front shoulder opening too soon or too late
  • Lack of concentration (reduce size of visual concentration)
  • Repetition brings consistency (with receivers)
    
    
• Inability to throw with velocity
  
  
  • Weight not transferred
  • Poor hip and shoulder rotation
  • Ball release – not pulling down on ball
  • No follow through

For information concerning skill fundamentals, contact us at: admin@footballcanada.com.

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