Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Ball control and passing practice

Description

This practice is designed to help players improve their ball control and turning ability, as well as a secondary focus on passing technique. Suitable for all age groups at different stages of the session, I primarily use this for U10s at the moment but the session can be used as a warmup/activation drill at higher ages.

To progress it you can ask your players to perform different dribbling techniques and turning techniques as well as add challenges to the pass (inside, outside or use even smaller mini goals or even a player that asks for the ball).

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

• Set-up a 20 x 20 area (meters)
• Set up the red cones 5 meters apart, with the first red cone 1 meter in front of the sideline/white line
• Set up the orange cone 10 meters away from the second red cone
• Set up the mini goal on the opposite sideline
• Player start with the ball at their feet, running with the ball from first red cone to the second
• Player performs a turn (Cruyff or any other turning technique) at the second red cone, running with the ball back to the initial cone
• Player performs a second turn at the first red cone
• From the first red cone to the large orange cone, the player will now dribble at a higher speed and perform the stepover dribble to get past the orange cone, on either side of it
• Following a successful dribble, player passes in the mini goal

• Running with the ball
  • get the ball out of feet
  • make contact with laces
  • head up
  • get into running stride
  • move quickly
• Dribbling:
  • keep ball close
  • vary surfaces of thefoot
  • head up
  • change of pace
  • change of direction
• Turning
  • ensure ball is travelling at speed and a step ahead of the player
  • place the foot on top of the ball (dominant foot)
  • roll the ball back behind you, turn your body and accelerate away
• Stepover
  • place the foot next to the ball and drop the shoulder
  • take your foot around the ball
  • the the other foot around the ball
  • push the ball with the outside of the foot and accelerate away
• Passing:
  • look at target
  • eye on the ball
  • angle of approach
  • non-kicking foot alongside ball in a comfortable position
  • strike centre of the ball with inside/outside of foot on the identified area of ball
  • firm ankle
  • follow through towards target

Key considerations and observations

• Pay attention to the technical elements of the moves and assess any technical breakdowns
• Interventions can be concurrent to keep the practice flowing and get as many repetitions as possible for all players
• Encourage players to be brave and try use both feet. Training is where they get better and developing happens when they feel safe to take risks