Key Points

• Position the body between the opponent and the goal.
• Keep the feet wide and bend the knees.
• Lean slightly forward.
• Extend the arms to either side with fingers spread.
• Keep one foot slightly ahead of the other to aid stability and enable a quick change of direction.
• Use short steps to shadow the opponent and avoid crossing the legs.
• Once the ball is in sight, or as the ball is being played, attempt to intercept it with an open hand.

Practice the Technique

Drill 1 – Basic – Zig-Zag Solo

• Mark a grid 8 to 10m square using cones.
• Divide the group into pairs.
• Player A runs in a zigzag manner from one side of the grid to the other until they reach the end of the grid.
• Player B facing player A, attempts to maintain the ‘check’ position throughout.
• Change roles and then repeat the drill.
• The drill should be run without and then with a ball
• To vary the drill, Player B must attempt to shadow the opponent by turning the inside shoulder into Player A, keeping the inside hand close to the ball and the outside hand high.

Drill 2 - Intermediate – Check Solo

• Mark out a grid 8 to 10m square using cones.
• Divide the group into pairs; one player is as the attacker, the other the defender.
• On the whistle, each pair race around the near corners of the grid.
• The attacking player must attempt to pass the defender to reach the far end of the grid.
• The defending player attempts to check the player to delay their progress.
• The defending player may not touch the attacking player.
• Change roles and then repeat the drill.

Drill  3 - Intermediate – 1 V 1 to goal from 30m line

• Divide the group into pairs; one player is as the attacker, the other the defender.
• Beginning 30m from goal, the attacking player must attempt to round the defender and kick for a score.
• The defending player attempts to check the player to delay their progress and attempt to flick or palm the ball away as the attacking player solos the ball.
• Change roles and then repeat the drill.
• Encourage players to only attempt dispossession when the player in possession is soloing or bouncing the ball.