Ladder & Pass Activation

Raise heart rate and switch on footwork, coordination and a sharp pass before the main session.

A ladder at each station with a passer 6 yards beyond it. Players queue behind the ladder with a ball each or share with the passer.

1. Player performs the called ladder pattern (one foot in each, then two-in-two-out).
2. On exit, they receive a pass from the server and play it back first time.
3. Jog to the back of the queue; next player goes.
4. Change the ladder pattern every 90 seconds and build the tempo.

• Fast feet, light on the toes, knees up through the ladder.
• Out of the ladder with your head up, ready to receive.
• Crisp first-time return pass — quality even at warm-up pace.
• Build intensity gradually; finish near game speed.

• Players look at their feet in the ladder — quick feet with eyes up.
• The pass after the ladder is treated as an afterthought and misplaced — the footwork earns the pass; the pass is the point.
• Queues build and players stand cold — split into more lanes or shorten the circuit.

• Two-touch receive and pass.
• Add a turn after the ladder before passing.
• Finish the pattern with a shot or a sprint.

• Slow the patterns down.
• Remove the ball and just do footwork first.
• Allow extra touches on the return.

• Return pass must be first time once warmed up.