— TRAINING SESSION

Pass and Catch Basics (U8)

Block and Bank · 32 minutes · 5 drills · Generated 13 May 2026

Age group: U8
Focus: Passing
Duration: 32 minutes
Drills: 5

Most kids this age fumble basic catches. This session is two-handed receiving and stepping into passes, taught through repetition and games.

5DRILLS

32MINUTES

6AVG / DRILL

1 Animal Walks Warm-Up

4 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u8 Court: Half

Players cross the court doing different animal walks: bear crawl forward, crab walk sideways, inchworm forward, frog jumps, spider crawl.

Full-body dynamic warm-up that's actually fun. Activates hips, shoulders, core, gets kids laughing.

Coaching points

Bear crawl: opposite hand and foot together.
Crab walk: bum off the ground, eyes forward.
Inchworm: straight legs on the walk-out.
Frog jumps: explode from squat, land soft.
Don't sacrifice form for speed.

2 Passing Lines Warm-Up

8 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u8 Court: Half

Pairs, 5 metres apart. 20 chest passes, 20 bounce passes, 20 overhead passes, 20 one-handed push passes (10 each hand).

Fundamentals warm-up every coach should run every practice. Countless turnovers prevented.

Coaching points

Step into every pass.
Fingertips on follow-through.
Receive with both hands, fingers spread.
Bounce passes: 2/3 of the way to your partner.
Overhead passes: snap wrists, from the forehead.

Note: Every pass type, drill the basics

3 Trust Pass

6 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u10 Court: Half

Two players, 10 metres apart. One stands with eyes CLOSED. Partner says 'GO' and immediately passes. Receiver must open eyes on the call and catch.

Forces quick reaction under uncertainty. Builds trust AND reaction time.

Coaching points

Trust your partner, they won't throw early.
Open eyes IMMEDIATELY on 'GO'.
Hands up, ready before opening.
Passer: aim for the chest.
Switch every 5 passes.

Note: Adds the catch reaction, kids love it

4 Bull in the Ring

10 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u10 Court: Half

Players form a circle. One 'bull' in the middle. Outside players pass across the circle; bull deflects or intercepts. Whoever's pass is deflected becomes the new bull.

Fun chaos that sharpens passing AND defensive anticipation.

Coaching points

Crisp, decisive passes, no lazy lobs.
Fake before passing, bull is reading you.
Don't pass to a teammate the bull is closer to.
Bull: read the eyes, not the hands.
Keep moving, both as bull and as outside.

Note: Competition makes passing feel meaningful

5 Cool Down Routine

4 min Difficulty: Beginner Age: u8 Court: Half

End-of-practice: 30 seconds each, toe touches, quad stretch, hamstring stretch, calf stretch, lunge stretch, cobra back stretch, shoulder rolls. Total 4 minutes.

Most coaches skip it. Don't. Recovery starts here. Players who stretch consistently miss less practice from soreness.

Coaching points

Slow movements, no bouncing.
Breathe, exhale on stretch.
Don't push through pain, just to the edge.
Hold each stretch.
Debrief while stretching: what worked today?