I've decided to stop using this blog as a way to record my training due to the existence of the aus-junior-open-2008 group which does essentially the same thing.
Now, I'm injured at the moment, so I can't do any of the runs set to me by Timill, but I can do the sets of 100 throws. Joy.
Let me set the record straight: I love comparing myself to Owen Shepherd, so just as (I hear) he hates the dump-swing-score drill, I hate 100 throws.
It's unrealistic. At the Melbourne camp, there were a lot of people who were inexperienced with throwing and needed to improve. For them, it was the perfect drill to get started. Great. Awesome. Of course it was perfect! We had Piers, Johnny Mac and Jimmy breathing down our necks and making sure that we were all pivoting, faking (but not too much) and throwing as best we could. That's fine, and I could see that all the inexperienced folks by the end of the week had vastly improved. But why is there so much emphasis put on it during our regime? It's only the first week of squad training and we have to do 3 sets of 120 throws (the extra 20 are dump cuts, which I actually really like but I'll get into that later).
100 throws, at best, gets one a little bit more confident with the disc. Outside of a strictly regulated throwing environment where coaches can whip the fear of pushups into you, it develops bad habits. How many times in a game situation are you unmarked and have to throw to an similarly unmarked, stationary person with no other defenders within any conceivable distance? To be fair, it does happen: off the pull, once a cup has been busted in zone for the short deep/wings to work it, after a deep huck has been pulled down - but even then there tend to be a crowd of players (defensive and offensive) running to the play, making the drill and the in-game experience markedly different. Something I've noticed though, in actuality, 100 throws paralyses people who don't have proper throwing experience strictly because they're unused to throwing under pressure. Even worse, people get lazy and content during 100 throws! - they don't fake, they don't pivot, they don't release the disc low enough - and this leads to 100 throws basically instilling poor form within a player.
My solution? I have two: a combination of the 100 throws/thrower-marker drill, where two people throw as normal with a puppy chasing the disc who is allowed to set up a mark before they let each throw off - forcing forehand for the O/I, flat and I/O flicks, backhand for the backhands, etc. Probably best used in situations where there are two relatively inexperienced throwers and one reasonably athletic puppy (or one who is trying to warm up), although as the throwers get more experienced incorporate a set target of forehand/backhand break throws to be achieved at random so the mark doesn't expect it.
Alternatively, establish some rules and enforce them brutally with sit ups or push ups. No talking is a good one: for many, 100 throws is a borderline social activity which should not be, as it makes for a loss of focus and then bad habits set in. Have two 2m 'throwing lanes' through which your throw must pass. You must fake at least once every throw. You must pivot. Anyone breaking these rules has to do pushups, or start their throws again. Having done some of these rules with Semfel, I know that you learn very quickly to cherish the disc and what's more you concentrate!
As I see it, the 100 throws drill is great for beginners who need to learn how to throw or for anyone who has Piers around to yell at them to change their forehand grip. It's once you get past that point that I think it stops being as beneficial to your game and starts becoming negative.
Peace,
T.
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4 comments:
Interesting thoughts Tiger, but i gotta say that i think 100 throws is more useful than you are crediting it for.
It is vital for throwing as part of prep for any game...try playing having not thrown. and see how many passes are completed. It warms up hands. bth for throwing and catching.
AS for the weaknesses, arent they inherent to the user of the drill. its not the fault of the drill that people are lazy when using it. Of course its better to do with a mark, or involving some game aspect, but its not always realistic, possible or necessary, especially if its the first thing being done in a session../.other more invovledf drilsl may come later might come later, but for starters, the very basics, throwing and catching.
I know pivoting and faking are important, and i dont practice or use them enough...i am liable to try to hammer or scoober over a cup/mark rather than break it, which i know is bad, but i dont necesaril think that you need to declare war on 100 throws, more throwing cant be a bad thing in any case.
Hey Tiger,
I also find the 100 throws drill boring.
But then that's what I value it for.
The discipline.
Sure, I'm old and slow so I'm going to say this anyway, but "boring" Ultimate - ie retaining possession, taking the easy passes over and over again, and making sure every pass is perfect - is a tactic you need to have in your possession.
You don't have to make 100 passes every point to score, but there you will always need to be able to use 100 passes if that's what it takes.
ps love the blog
To Dave: You're right. The problem isn't with the drill it's with the focus of the people doing the drill - that's why I disprove of the emphasis on 100 throws in the U19s squad training - my suggestions are pretty much ways to keep the focus going strong throughout the drill so bad habits are not accrued. You are spot on though.
to DJ JdR: thanks!
T.
I think 100 throws is a great drill to do when there are only two of you (I don't like doing it at a training session - much prefer three man). You still need to have the punishments - 10 pushups for an incomplete pass - that way you're chasing the achievement of 100 throws without turnovers.
You need to throw as much as possible, because you're aiming for your throws to become autonomous - top level soccer/basketball/rugby players don't need to practice passing nearly as much as their junior days because they've done so much of it.
As far as keeping focus on the drill, having a structure to simple throwing between two people will mean you keep your focus a lot better than just unstructured throwing around.
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