rolling

Question
i want to teach a barrel-roll (not over the shoulder) roll
can you suggest a step by step progression?

Answer
Shari,

The first thing you have to let your athletes know is that the roll is not a way to pass it is a way to get back up, into a good defensive position.

I would have them practice on a mat.  Stay low and extend with the right hand, simulate contact and have them lie in that position.  With their right side on the floor, have them start to roll towards their back and whip their right leg over their hip.  Have them either plant their right foot or knee on the floor and stand up in the ready position.  Do this a number of times on the mat and then on the floor.  Then add a ball....when you add a ball make sure they are not diving for a ball they can play standing up.  If you use run throughs you can get a good idea on how far they can go before they have to hit the floor.  Do the same thing to her left.

Here are a few problems you may see and their corrections.
1 A player hit the floor too hard.  Place emphasis on the player being low to the grownd on the last stride, the wider the stride the lower the body will be to the floor.

2 The player contacts the ball on the floor.  In a roll, the ball must be played while the player is low but not yet on the floor.  The roll is a recovery method not a passing technique.

3 The player is slow getting up.  The player must use her momentum to get her up.  If her roll is to slow she will stay on the floor.  Her momentum should naturally pop her up into the air.

4 The player dives /rolls when it is high in the air.  The player does not need to hit the floor, and she should play the ball on her feet.

I hope this was of some help.
Steve