Titans have to be on the ball

[patskE]

Titans have to be on the ball

By Karl deKroo
February 20, 2007

GOLD Coast Titans have adopted an unusual training technique from the manual of American football in a bid to get players treasuring the football.

Titans coach John Cartwright yesterday issued every player with their own personal ball, which they have to carry with them everywhere during a week-long camp.

It is a task often given to young gridiron players in America -- mostly running-backs - to help them overcome the fumbles, and Cartwright says his hope is for players to gain a feel for the football.

"I don't think players carry the football around enough any more," the former Penrith forward said last night.

"A lot of our training these days tends to focus on the athletic side of things and sometimes ball skills take a back-seat.

"We make it all a bit robotic. You are only meant to catch, pass and kick the ball in certain ways, but in reality in games it doesn't always work out that way."

The Titans, who are in camp this week in Coffs Harbour, have been told they risk being fined if they lose or don't carry their ball with them any time they leave their rooms.

"What they do behind closed doors is up to them, but whenever they are walking around the complex they should have the ball with them," Cartwright said.

"They have to bring it to training, breakfast and by the end of the week I want them to all come up with some sort of trick with it. "If you look at most other sports that involve a ball, be that basketball or golf or soccer, all those guys can do tricks with the ball, because they are that comfortable with handling it.

"You don't tend to see that in rugby league and we think this is a bit of a novel and fun way of improving our ball skills.

"Put it this way, if it helps us drop one less ball this season, then it can't be a bad thing."

The players took to the concept yesterday with many giving their footballs nicknames.

Injured players James Stosic and Michael Hodgson even took theirs with them as they exercised on pushbikes.

Cartwright said he was likely to delay naming his squad for Saturday night's trial game against Parramatta in Lismore until the end of the week.

He said back rower Luke Swain would be available to meet the Eels despite spending several days in hospital last week.

"Luke is fine," Cartwright said. "He had a bit of infection last week, so he spent a few nights in hospital to help get the antibiotics into him."

[patskE]

man i rkn its a good idea

[Capital_Shark]

I believe this is a brilliant idea.

I remember on the Joey Johns DVD 'The Story So Far' they had a few coaches and stuff talking of the Johns boys, saying stuff about them ALWAYS having a footy in their hands. When they'd walk down to the training fields for Origin the rest of the squad would walk down the foot path, but Matty and Joey would be chipping and chasing a ball down the road, or running and passing between cars and wheelie bins. And if you think back to when they'd have cameras (Footy Show I think) on the Origin buses, Joey always had his earphones in and juggling a footy.

[Steve Dangerous]

http://www.titans.com.au//forum/showthread.php?t=8656