Blocking Drills
Basic Rotation Drill
Group Size: Small Group (3-4)
Skill Level: Beginner
Improves: Pack, Blocking, Communication/Teamwork, Building Walls/Waterfalls
Equipment: Whistle
Duration: 5-10 minutes
Form a tight pack with 4 people, Pivot on the inside front and Blocker 2 outside front, Blocker 1 on the inside behind the Pivot and Blocker 3 on the outside behind Blocker 2. Touch the person next to you during this drill. On the whistle, everyone rotates positions clockwise, keeping the pack tight. Switch directions and rotate counterclockwise.
Variation: Add a fifth person in the middle of the pack for everyone to rotate around.
Jammer G
Group Size: Game (10)
Skill Level: Beginner
Improves: Jamming, Blocking, Strategy
Equipment: none
Duration: 5-10 minutes
Everyone lines up as if they are scrimmaging. Blockers will randomly move laterally on the track and are not allowed to look behind them or communicate. Blockers behind have to look out for blockers ahead. Jammers are sent through the pack one at a time at about 2 seconds apart. Jammers are encouraged to watch the blockers’ hips to see where they are moving and to see where the hole is or about to be. Good jammers will find the holes and navigate through the pack.
Blocker Arr!
Group Size: Game (10)
Skill Level: Intermediate
Improves: Pack, Jamming, Pivoting, Blocking, Strategy, Communication/Teamwork, Building Walls/Waterfalls, Timing
Equipment: Timer
Duration: 5-10 minutes
Everyone lines up as if they are scrimmaging. Blockers will randomly move laterally on the track. Blockers are now encouraged to hit the jammer. If the jammer can get through once without stepping out of bounds, reset the pack and send another jammer through. If the jammer cannot get through in 90 seconds, end the drill, reset the pack and send another jammer through.
Jammers should be thinking about the holes and minding their speed.
B3 Blocking Matchup
Group Size: Game (10)
Skill Level: Intermediate
Improves: Jamming, Blocking, Strategy, Communication/Teamwork, Timing
Equipment: Timer
Duration: 10-20 minutes
Everyone lines up as if they are scrimmaging. On the whistle, a jam begins. The B3 blocker will slow their pace and drop back behind the pack approximately 20-30 feet, everyone else stays in a tight pack. Designate a jammer who must make their way through the pack and complete a scoring pass. As the jammer approaches the B3 blocker, the B3 blocker must speed up to the jammers pace and hit/block the jammer within 20 feet of the pack and before they both reach the back of the pack. Time the jam and ensure it is completed in 90 seconds or less. Continue the drill until each person has been the B3 blocker and jammer.