CONTROL
SHOOTING
PASSING
DRIBBLING
TURNING
HEADING
CREATE SPACE
INDIVIDUAL DEFENDING
SUPPORT PLAY
GOALKEEPING
CROSSING
TACKLING
THE THROW IN
ATTACKING SET PLAYS
DEFENDING SET PLAYS
THE FREE KICK
CONTROL
Please select a subsection from the topics below :

 A basic introduction    Inside of the foot    Extending Control  
  Swivelling with the ball     in tight situations    
Running with the ball Running with the ball (close control)
Running with the ball (changing pace)
Running with the ball (control) Running with the ball (to score)
Running with the ball (to score cont.)
Running with the ball (central)
Running with the ball (circuit training)
Movement off the ball Movement off the ball cont.
Movement off the ball (passing & moving)
Movement off the ball (switching play in defence)
Switch play in defence (progression)
Switching play in centre field
Switching play in the attacking third of the field
Switching play (in attack) continued - around the penalty area
Switching play in attack around the penalty area (continued)
Adding Defenders: Switching play continued
Developing the reverse Pass Playing back to goal (turning)
Turning and Finishing I II III Playing with back to goal I
II III IV V Making decisions II III IV
Progression Shadow play I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX The Short Corner The Short Corner 2 The Short Corner 3 The Short Corner 4 The Short Corner 5 Defending against a short corner (1) Defending against a short corner (2) Defending against a short corner (3) Defending against a short corner (4) The throw in (1) The throw in (2) The throw in (3) Defending at a throw in

RUNNING WITH THE BALL (CONTROL)

Practice 1

Diagram 1

* Area - 20 metres in length x 20 metres in width

- Divided into 2 areas of 10 metres AS IN DIAGRAM 1

Six players (3 in each group lined up at opposite ends of each section. So A, B, C at one end, and facing them at the other end of the section are D, E and F.

Exercise to be attempted as sharply as possible

(D) and (A) start off at the same time, each with a ball

So they play the ball ahead, set off after it, and take it (under control) until they get within 10 metres of the far line, then using the outside of the foot they pass the ball sharply across to the front man of the other section who continues on with the practice.

So in diagram 1, D sets off from line (Y), and at the same time A sets off from line (X)

With a 30 metre run ahead of them they need a good firm strike of the ball and then they run after it quickly

It is important they don't break their early stride, that they do use the space ahead, and get on to the ball quickly

Around 10 metres from the far line they will slow down slightly but then the coach should insist on a firm crisp pass to the next player. So in diagram 1, D will pass to B, and A will pass to E, who will both move up with the practice.

Progression

To progress, players can be made to follow their pass so as to put a little pressure on the next man.

So in diagram 1, once D and A have completed their run, they pass the ball, and (D) will run towards B making it crucial that B makes a good early contact and moves off from baseline (X) with some sharpness.

(A) does exactly the same at the other end, putting E under pressure.