Complexity Rating ★★★

Cardiovascular Rating ★

Purpose

Build confidence and commitment to passes while developing vertical passing pathways.

Description

Training Partner Starting Position-  The assisting student will start on their back with their legs bent and feet flat on the floor. The feet should be spread slightly wider than the hips but in a comfortable position. The hands should be in the Home Alone position.

Practicing Student- The practicing student will start by standing directly in front of the assisting student.  The practicing student will then place one foot directly between the assisting students legs and slightly squat. The lead hand will be placed on the belt knot and the other hand placed on the assisting student’s knee.  

To execute the drill, the practicing student will swing the outside leg up into the air, taking care to keep the leg as straight as possible.  The arms should be stiff and posted on the knot and knee.  As the leg extends to the very top of the practicing student’s flexibility, they will push off the non- swinging leg.   Once in the air, the swinging leg will return to the floor past the assisting student’s legs, with the goal of being the posted leg in the Knee on Belly position.

As the student lands, they will bring the trail leg to the stomach and move to Knee-on-Belly by dropping their knee, pushing forward with their hips and pulling back with their shoulders.  Immediately the practicing student will reset the position and skip to the other side.

Common Mistakes 

  • Students commonly make this drill very difficult by trying to land on the foot that is starting between the assisting student’s legs.  Make sure they understand that the leg that is swinging is also the leg that is land on.  

  • Some students will try to jump off of both feet.  While this will get them past the legs it does not pivot the hips effectively and they will find that they get caught by De la Riva hooks and/or can’t get a foot off the hip effectively.  

  • Some student’s will allow their swinging leg to bend as they try to extend it back.  It is ok to pump the leg 3 or 4 times to build confidence, increasing the height with each swing of the leg.  This will help them develop confidence and timing in the pass and lead to more proficiency.

Testing Threshold 

Time 45 Seconds

Requirement 20 Repetitions