Canoe Polo
Level 1
Coaching Course
Australian Canoeing
Award Scheme
By Duncan Cochrane
© Duncan Cochrane 2010
1
Module CP11
Basic Ball Skills
2
Ball skills
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Picking up the ball
Passing
Catching
Shooting
Dribbling
3
Picking up the ball
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Pick up the ball at the
knees
Reach out for the ball
Place hand on top with
some downward
pressure
As ball bounces up out
of the water, roll hand
underneath to pick it up
4
Picking up the ball
5
Baseball pass
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Key points
 sit upright
 body rotation
 elbow at or just above
shoulder level
 wrist flick is last thing
to occur
 point fingers at target
 follow through
Arm and body rotation give
power
Wrist and fingers give
direction and deception
Short wind up is more
deceptive
6
Cradle the ball in your hand
7
Body rotation/elbow at shoulder height
8
Elbow comes through before release
9
Use paddle as a counter weight
10
Wrist flick and follow through
11
Fingers give direction and accuracy
12
Fingers give direction and accuracy
13
Two-handed pass
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Hold ball in finger tipsnot palms of hands
Thumbs down
Elbows out just below
wrist level
90% of power comes
from the wrist and
fingers
Accuracy comes from
the fingers
A plyometric catch and
release action like a
rubber band gives the
best power
14
Hold the ball in your finger tips
15
Hold the ball in your finger tips
16
Elbows out
17
Fingers give direction
18
Follow through
19
Round arm
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Accuracy and direction
comes from fingers and
wrist “slap”
Keep arm almost
straight
Body rotation gives
power for longer
distances
20
Round arm
21
Fingers give direction and accuracy
22
Round arm release
23
Round arm follow through
24
Catching
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Catching technique is just
as important as correct
throwing technique but is
often overlooked
Use soft hands to absorb
impact of the ball
Every player needs to be
able to catch or control
every ball that comes their
way
Reach out and start to
catch the ball where you
would release it from if
you were throwing it
Always turn to face the
ball- over either shoulder
for a ball coming from
behind
Catching bubble:
• inside yellow – 2 hands
• inside red – 1 hand
• outside red – paddle
25
Reach out to catch the ball
26
Two hands inside inner circle
27
Turn to catch ball coming from behind
28
Shooting
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Take high percentage shots
Highest percentage is one-on-one or open goal
Create deception by
 Varying release point
 Varying speed/spin of shot
 Varying type of shot
 Varying boat angle/lean
29
Percentage shooting
Low %
Low
Low%%
Low %
High
High
%%
Low %
Low %
30
Aim for the corners
31
Aim for the corners
32
Aim for the corners
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Aim for the corners
34
Who shot the ball?
For improved shot deception, change the angle of your boat,
vary the release point and shoot into the corners – or do all
three!
35
Dribbling
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Place the ball to one side, about a metre in front of
the boat
Approach the ball and position to pick it up when it is
level with the knees (not the hip)
Time the pick up so that the last paddle stroke is on
the opposite side to the ball
Hold the paddle low across the deck to avoid
obstructing the ball when it is thrown
Pick up the ball, throw it forward and follow by
picking up the paddle with the same hand, ready to
paddle forward
36