Continuous stacking: 2 minutes of 3-3-3 and 3 minutes of 3-6-3
Players set up for a 3-3-3 and start their timer. They continuously upstack and downstack 3-3-3’s for 2 minutes focusing on good technique but not speed.
Once their timer shows 2 minutes, they stop the timer and repeat the same warm up by practicing 3-6-3.
Start the timer and continuously upstack and downstack the 3-6-3.
Training
1-10-1 (10 min)
Teach players how to upstack and downstack the 1-10-1.
Players who already know how to upstack the 1-10-1 should do the following training drill while you teach their teammates.
Timing upstacks and downstacks
Players put their cups in a column.
They start the timer and upstack their 1-10-1 and then stop the timer.
Note the time.
Put the cups back in a column and repeat the drill for 5 minutes trying for consistent and/or faster time.
Now repeat the same drill for downstacks.
Set up the cups in an upstacked 1-10-1, start the timer and downstack the 1-10-1 as fast as you can.
Timed 3-6-3 Relay (15 min)
Break students up into groups of 4. Groups of 5 or 6 also work but 4 is better for this drill if you can have all groups of 4.
Each team sets up a mat and timer and one set of cups to practice the Timed 3-6-3 Relays. Place a piece of tape on the floor approximately 7 feet back from the table to represent the start line.
Review all the rules of the Timed 3-6-3 Relay especially the foot return.
Have each team practice the Timed 3-6-3 Relay and record their times.
After each attempt, the players rotate. The starter goes to the end of the line and everyone else moves up a position.
After all the teams have practiced for about 10 minutes and each player has had a chance to be the starter, a middle position and the anchor,, have a meeting and talk about what positions they think they are good at, what techniques they think are important in each position and other details that will help everyone improve their performance on the Timed 3-6-3 Relay.
HTH Relays (15 minutes)
Match up two teams at each table in the set up for a HTH Relay.
Explain that in HTH Relays, teams race each other. Any infraction will scratch the team and it is especially important to not cross the center line.
Have teams practice racing using the 3-6-3 or the 3-3-3 for younger/less experienced players.
Remind the players that during all relays, it’s best practice to turn to turn away from the center line after stacking and going to complete the foot return with their teammate.
Independent Practice (10 minutes)
Have players go to their own mat and timer and practice whichever stacks they want to practice.
The coach circulates around giving feedback to players until the end of practice.
