Receiving a Pass

Receiving Technique
Grip
Receiving Position of the Stick
Ball-Pocket Contact
Eye-on-the-Ball
Stick Position after Receiving a Pass

Receiving Technique

  • Grip,
  • Receiving Position of the Stick ,
  • Contact of the Ball with the Netting ,
  • Eye on the Ball,
  • Stick Position after Receiving a Pass .

Stick handling or ball handling is the ability to catch and throw the ball accurately without a conscious effort and without looking at the ball when it is in the pocket. Receiving is part of ball handling which is based on the feel or weight of the ball in the stick. For beginners, receiving a pass and cushioning the ball is a much harder skill to master than making a pass. [Top]

Grip

The bottom hand is placed at the butt of the stick to give the stick stability. A soft grip is used to allow the stick to rotate in the hand. The top hand is for power and guiding the stick. It is placed slightly below the mid-point of the shaft, about 8" from the bottom hand. Be loose with the grip when catching. Keep the wrist and fingers of both hands relaxed. If the hands and arms are tightened, passing and catching will be stiff and and the player will be fighting the ball for control.

Some players like to place both their thumbs along the shaft for better stick control. Experienced players should try to position their hands so the hands do not move along the shaft when receiving a pass and the making a pass. A beginning player who is having problems catching may slide the top hand up the shaft to the throat of the stick to receive a pass and then slide the hand down the shaft to make a pass. [Top]

Receiving Position of the Stick

In general a receiver wants to receive all passes high over the stick shoulder, with the following technique.

  • Always give a good target to the passer. Align the face of the pocket with the passer as a target.
  • Hold the stick about one foot in front of the body, with the head of the stick over the shoulder. By holding the stick in front, a player can catch the ball and see the play developing in front. In addition, the stick is in a good position to cushion the ball and it is easier to line up the face of the stick with the oncoming ball.
  • It is important to catch the ball with the stick in the same position that the player throws from. It is also important to catch the ball in the same spot in the pocket that it is thrown from. Both these techniques allow quick releases because no extra time is needed to reposition the stick or cradle the stick before a pass is made.
  • Line up the face of the pocket in front of the ball and let the ball enter the pocket.
  • It is important to be physically and mentally prepared to pass the ball before receiving the pass. Hold the stick in a passing position, so that as soon as the receiver catches the ball the receiver is in a position to make a pass. Have the stick up and ready! [Top]

Ball-Pocket Contact

  • Before contact with the ball, keep the stick out in front of the body and wait for the ball to enter the pocket. As the ball approaches the pocket, drop the stick back gradually.
  • Reaching ahead for the ball with the stick forces the player to cradle the stick by automatically bringing the stick around in front of the body so the ball will not fall out of the pocket. This movement wastes time, (especially in a quick give-and-go play), because the player has to move the stick back into a position over the shoulder before the pass can be made.
  • As soon as the ball makes contact with the netting, the stick should be in a position such that the head of the stick is alongside the players head.
  • In a manner similar to catching a baseball in a glove, the receiver must cushion the impact of the ball in the head of the stick by relaxing the top hand and wrist. This lets his stick head drop backwards as the ball makes contact and it helps to cushion the impact so the ball won't bounce out.

Beginning players have a tendency to make the following errors.

  • They tighten up when catching.
  • They try to catch the ball in front of their body causing the ball to bounce out of the pocket.
  • They twirl their stick inwards to hold the ball in the pocket. [Top]

Eye-on-the-Ball

Concentrate on keeping an eye on the ball as it approaches. Players often drop passes because of a lack of concentration. "Look the ball into the pocket" -  but once in the pocket watch the play. [Top]

Stick Position after Receiving a Pass

Once the ball is caught, the stick and pocket should be in a horizontal position or slightly higher so the ball does not roll out. The player is automatically in a position to pass or shoot the ball. [Top]