15 Minutes
Aim: Countering backwards blocking
Drill: Get into groups of 2: one jammer, one blocker.
Blocker faces backwards, jammer approaches and allows blocker to make contact with them. Jammer starts to 'club' the blocker with their shoulder, this makes it harder for the blocker to maintain contact and feel which way the jammers body is likely to go, i.e. it should be a distraction technique before the jammer disengages moves passed the blocker.
Version 1: Try getting the jammer juking around the blocker, relying on explosive speed.
Version 2: If the jammer has been using their left shoulder to club the blocker. Try getting the jammer to move their body to the left side of the blocker - also the side of the blocker they are aiming to go passed. Allow the jammer's body to quickly side surf passed the blocker. Whilst the jammer is going passed i.e. they are level to the blockers shoulder get the jammer to aim their right shoulder (and the whole of their body weight) into the blockers shoulder blade to allow them to gain momentum from the blockers body as they push off backwards, before quickly transitioning to forwards and skating off.
For this to work there needs to be no delay between clubbing the blocker and side surfing so the blocker has less time to react.
Backwards blocking is slower than forwards facing blocking, meaning using acceleration and explosive speed will be really useful to get around them.
Aim: Countering backwards blocking
Drill: Get into groups of 2: one jammer, one blocker.
Blocker faces backwards, jammer approaches and allows blocker to make contact with them. Jammer starts to 'club' the blocker with their shoulder, this makes it harder for the blocker to maintain contact and feel which way the jammers body is likely to go, i.e. it should be a distraction technique before the jammer disengages moves passed the blocker.
Version 1: Try getting the jammer juking around the blocker, relying on explosive speed.
Version 2: If the jammer has been using their left shoulder to club the blocker. Try getting the jammer to move their body to the left side of the blocker - also the side of the blocker they are aiming to go passed. Allow the jammer's body to quickly side surf passed the blocker. Whilst the jammer is going passed i.e. they are level to the blockers shoulder get the jammer to aim their right shoulder (and the whole of their body weight) into the blockers shoulder blade to allow them to gain momentum from the blockers body as they push off backwards, before quickly transitioning to forwards and skating off.
For this to work there needs to be no delay between clubbing the blocker and side surfing so the blocker has less time to react.
Backwards blocking is slower than forwards facing blocking, meaning using acceleration and explosive speed will be really useful to get around them.