The Med Ball drill tests leg strength/ power, individual technique and determination.

Power

If the athlete doesn't have enough power in their legs, they need to work on a progressive growth of weight. Begin with 3 kilos for 1 min, 2 kilos for 2 min, and 1 kilo for 3 min as a way to gradually increase leg strength. Another example is using bands and weighted bars for 1, 2, or 3 min with 20 seconds of rest. This emulates game play.

Technique

Many athletes don’t learn how to eggbeat correctly at a young age. This needs to be fixed as soon as possible or it can greatly limit growth. Incorporate drills using vertical breast kicks and flexibility drills to increase range of motion. Also watch video of both the athlete (and an example of good technique) so that the athlete can fully understand the motion with a visual example (and see what they are doing incorrectly). 

Determination

This is a part of the mental aspect of the game. Players and coaches should pay critical attention to how an athlete responds to adversity. Will they quit when they start to feel fatigued or can they fight through it? During swim sets, take note of how players respond to fatigue. Are they saving everything they have until the end or are they constantly going for it? Oftentimes, how an athlete responds to adversity in isolated situations is reflective of how they will respond in difficult game situations. Athletes need to understand what being tired really means.

Suggested Drills: