Practice one of our ball mastery section focuses on improving dribbling skills, with half of the group on a ball in the central area, and the remaining players on the outside. Players must dribble the ball to the outside and lay off to an outside player, encourage a change of direction when entering the square.
Attacking Emphasis90%90%
Defending Emphasis10%10%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points: Receive on the Move
Players must dribble the ball to the outside and lay off to an outside player, encourage a change of direction when entering the square.
Progression 1: Rotational Movement
Progress to a one two pass on the outside, allowing all players to be involved in rotational movement in and out of the square. Focus on takeover and speed of movement when transferring.
Progression 2
Players use their weaker foot in the central area, encouraging the need to think about changing direction on entering specific zones where there is player congestion.
Key Coaching Points
Tech | Ability to use both feet
Tech | Close control
Physical | Agile to change direction
Q&A
How can you keep close control?
How can you avoid players in your dribbling?
What changes in smaller and larger areas in your dribble?
%
Difficulty Rating
Click For Audio Support TBC
Session Tips
Upgrade to View Full Video and Download Session Plan
This Ball Mastery practice develops players control with different parts of the body, with volleys, chest and head being used to control and pass the ball to opponents.
Attacking Emphasis90%90%
Defending Emphasis10%10%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Progression: Outside Players Skill
Progress so outside players must perform a skill in between runs.
Progression 1: Single Defender
Introduce a defender to block different gates, encouraging more thoughtful movement.
Progression 2: Rotational Movement
Finally all players can be involved with rotational movement between players inside and out.
Key Coaching Points
Technical | Ability to use both feet
Technical | Control with feet, chest and head
Physical | Agility to change direction
Q&A
How can you adjust to bad throws or passes quickly?
What type of contact do you need to make, area of the ball?
How can you avoid defenders better in this small area to travel through gates?
This Technical practice is played in a 36 x 36 yard area, broken down into 4 x 4 squares, with 3 or 4 teams of 4 creating effective supporting angles, and movement, whilst unopposed. Objective is for each team to simply move the ball around the area whilst avoiding other players in the area, and developing an understanding of how to rotate with teammates during this phase.
Attacking Emphasis90%90%
Defending Emphasis10%10%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points: Receive on the Move
Players must now receive a pass in another area to where they are as pass is played. This will slow play down, yet will encourage players to think about weight of pass and verbal and non verbal cues will be more important with this progression.
Progression 1: Rotational Movement
We can progress this by allowing two players to support the striker, with a defender now active on their first touch, 1 recovering defender will create a 3 v 2 situation. Ensure we rotate attackers and defenders throughout the practice.
Progression 2: Players must now rotate with another player in a different square after they have played the pass. This will encourage players off the ball not to just focus on receiving the next pass, but on the movement to create space with passing player.
Key Coaching Points
– Passing quality – Movement to receive on the front foot. – Avoiding obstacles and traffic during play
Q&A
How can you avoid other players in your movement off the ball?
Practice 3 of our counter attacking theme has a 2 v 2 with a floater in a 15 by 15 square in each corner of the practice. When possession is won, one of two players must play the ball into an awaiting striker with one player able to support, creating a 2 v 1 to finish. The practice must work in both directions throughout.
Attacking Emphasis75%75%
Defending Emphasis25%25%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points: 2 v 1 Counter Attack on Break
If defender wins possession they must attempt to play the ball into the square to restart the practice and gain a point.
Depending on player numbers you may be able to allow for recovery rotating players in and out.
Key Coaching Points: Maintaining Soccer Practice Speed
We can progress this by allowing two players to support the striker, with a defender now active on their first touch, 1 recovering defender will create a 3 v 2 situation. Ensure we rotate attackers and defenders throughout the practice.
Key Coaching Points
– Speed of counter – Angles of support – Combination to finish with overload
Q&A
How do the opposition defend against this and what problems does this cause?
How can central players combine in one touch effectively, what support can you provide in your teams for this player?
20 x 20 yard for younger age groups, increasing in size with age increase no bigger than 30 x 30. Four players to keep possession on outside of square with two Floaters either end & 1-2 placed centrally, with four Yellows central trying to regain possession. When possession regained Yellows move to outside, Blues become central defending players.
Progression 1
Once defenders have gained possession, then now become outside players and switch play.
Progression 2
1 player can step inside off the line, encouraging outside floater to find angles.
Progression 3
Central Floater can rotate with outside floater to encourage fluid movement.
Progression 4
Central Floater can rotate with outside floater to encourage fluid movement.
Progression 5
Central Floater can rotate with outside floater to encourage fluid movement.
Key Coaching Points
Players love this possession practice, yet must be disciplined to ensure practice runs smoothly. Once possession lost, there is no immediate regain, players must get to the inside and regain team must move to outside before possession contested.
SPACE | Ensure practice area is appropriate for age group, may need to add 5 yard outside zone for younger players
TIME | Players have 2 seconds in transition to get inside and outside, change groups every 2-3 minutes, go through groups twice.
EQUIPMENT | Need to have a supply of balls with transition regular. 2/3 sets of bibs (4) and flat discs to ensure minimum disruption to session. Ability to finish chances.
PLAYER | May want to designate Floater players as those identified as needing to improve in possession. Be creative with numbers 5 v 5 + 2 Floaters?
Q&A
Where is the best position to support my teammate?
How can I bring my teammates into play better?
Who are defenders staying with when overloaded? What does this mean?
