By Jebreel Bubtana
This exercise works on your player’s first touch, speed dribbling and endurance. This is another exercise that can work very well with your team for preseason training.
There are 4 stations as shown below (figure 1), with your players spending 5 minutes at each station before moving onto the next.
Station 1:
The player must shuffle in and out of the cones before receiving a pass from the feeder. The ball must be controlled with the inside of the foot and passed back. As soon as this is done, the player must sprint to the ball behind the feeder and speed dribble around the tall cone and stop the ball where the speed dribble started (figure 2). The two players switch roles and keep doing so until the coach calls time.
Station 2:
The player must run through the ladders placing both feet in the gaps of the ladder. The feeder at this station starts with the ball in their hands and throws the ball to their partner who will perform a side foot volley back into their partner's hands. After this has been done, the player must sprint to the ball behind the feeder and speed dribble around the tall cone and stop the ball where the speed dribble started (figure 2).The two players now switch roles and continue until the coach calls time
Station 3:
The player must shuffle backwards through the cones and then turn to face their partner. The feeder at this station starts with the ball in their hands and throws the ball to their partner who will control the ball with their chest and pass it back to their partner. After this has been done, the player must sprint to the ball behind the feeder and speed dribble around the tall cone and stop the ball where the speed dribble started (figure 2). The two players now switch roles and keep doing so until the coach calls time.
Station 4:
The player must perform two footed jumps over each hurdle. The feeder will now throw the ball high in the air and their partner must head the ball back into their hands. After this has been done, the player must sprint to the ball behind the feeder and speed dribble around the tall cones and stop the ball where the speed dribble started (figure 2). The two players now switch roles and keep doing so until the coach calls time.
It is important to make sure that the intensity is kept to a maximum during this exercise ensuring that the players complete the stations as quickly as possible every time they go, especially as they have a little rest after every go when they switch with the feeder. Eventually fatigue will start to set into the players so it is important to emphasize that technique does not start to suffer when controlling, volleying or passing the ball. You could also increase the work load on the players by having them and the feeder stay in the same role for a set period of time rather than switch after every go. If you choose to do it this way then I would recommend 2 or 3 minutes in each role before moving onto the next station.
[wpsharely id="1886"][/wpsharely]Jebreel Bubtana
BRASA – Brazilian Soccer Academy
NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma
Follow me on Twitter @jib1989
