summer 2012

THE NAU NARWHALS LINE UP FOR PRACTICE.ing direction in a 90-degree angle is askill that chasers should have. Second, thisdrill helps the passer practice the timingof their pass and the ability to “lead” theirreceiver. Throw where they’re going to be,not where they are. Lastly, this drill helpsingrain broom hand switching skills intothe styles of your chasers. If you cut rightto the third cone, your broom hand shouldbe your right hand. If you cut left, it shouldbe your left hand. This reduces backhandedcatching and improves ambidextrous use.The “T” ExtensionAn extension of the “T” drill, this instanceserves to lengthen the drill distance and introduceand extra turn. Still using the firsttwo cones, make a “Y” with the third conesby walking five yards in a 45-degree anglefrom the second cone each direction andmark those spots. Starting from the secondcone again, walk ten yards straight aheadand mark the fourth cone. Your cone formationshould now look like a diamondshapedlollipop.Still begin by sprinting to the secondcone and picking a direction. At the secondcone, cut right or left and look back atthe passer for a pump fake. Then cut andchange direction at the third cone, headingfor the fourth cone, in order to catch thepass.Things to consider: Make sure to switchbroom hands every time you look for a pass.Abrupt changes in directions, or “cuts,” arealso important at all points in this drill. Finally,the passer should be cocked and readyto pass when the receiver hits the thirdcone, and the pass should be complete atthe fourth cone.“Block Shot”This is helpful for chasers and beaters withtheir ball handling and grip strength. If youhave beaters with you, add them in at theend of either of the “T” drills.This drill practices interaction betweenbeaters and chasers who have possession ofa bludger and quaffle, respectively. Standingabout three to five yards apart, the beaterwill threaten the chaser with their bludger,causing the chaser to put up a quaffle defense.The beater tries to get their bludgeraround the quaffle, and the chaser uses itas a shield.Integrating this drill into your routinewill keep your hands used to gripping andcontrolling a ball, if not already improvingyour finger dexterity.Things to consider: If you just have onequidditch buddy to practice with, repeatthis drill again and again after every quaffleor bludger drop to include muscle repetitionand conditioning.These drills may seem simple and mundane,but using them as incidental trainingand combining all three results in an effectiveand all-encompassing skill drill. Tryadding a set of hoops to the end of the lineso that a chaser must cut, fake, catch, block,and score—all in one set.So, when faced with a summer that couldbe desolate without quidditch, don’t fall behindyour teammates by not keeping yourquaffle quandary quenched. nEric Andres is the captain and coach of the Northern Arizona University Narwhals. He has seen action on three different teams: representing theNAU Narwhals, the Utah Crimson Fliers at World Cup V, and the Western Region at the Champions Series in Boston. His passions are quidditch,writing, and teaching, three things he hopes to combine as he becomes a high school English teacher.Quidditch Quarterly • Summer 2012 53