RUNNING WITH THE BALL (Circuit Training)
Coaches can of course set up their own practices, involving various circuits and obstacles to test, not only the player's skill, but also his stamina and concentration levels when under pressure while maintaining control of the ball.
This practice is an example, and it can be varied by coaches as it involves a form of circuit training with the ball.
Nevertheless, each player must be made to concentrate on speed and ball control despite the physical demands.
Area: 30m x 20m
(A) is the player first to compete, facing (B) who is 5 metres away outside the area, as illustrated in the diagram.
(A) and (B) exchange first time short passes and after 3 / 4 passes, (A) receives the ball, turns quickly and sets off (station 1).
After around 10 metres (A) plays a 1 / 2 with (C), who is outside the area (station 2).
On reaching the cone/marker as the top of the area (A) dribbles his ball a complete circle around it (station 3) before setting off in and out through 5 posts (station 4).
That completed, (A) plays his ball to (E) who returns (first time) as (C) did, (station 5) then (A) goes into the small 2 metre square where he flicks the ball and keeps it up for around 30 seconds - staying inside the area (station 6).
He then moves off, and from around 10-12 metres he shoots at a target goal defended by goalkeeper (F). That completed (A) proceeds to join the starting line.
The coach must decide when B starts off on the practice, e.g. he could set off when (A) reaches station 5 or 6.
