More and more coaches want their teams to play creative, attacking soccer but they are often playing against teams that are content to simply launch the ball up the field in hopes of taking advantage of a mistake to score a goal. If you want your team to be able to play skillful soccer you're going to have to spend some time teaching them how to get the ball down and under control.
These two exercises are ones that I have used to train my players to control balls out of the air quickly and cleanly so that we can keep possession and learn to play attractive soccer.
Aerial Receiving
The players each have a ball and throw it into the air and receive it with the following parts of the foot: Sole, Inside, Outside.
Begin with the basics of timing and good contact. The players should be on their toes and moving with the ball so that they can control the ball with their first touch.
Coaching Points
The players should allow the ball to bounce and take it away with the proper surface of the foot. Once they have the ball under control they should use their ‘get away’ touches to find some open space.
Taking a small hop has the player makes contact with the ball will help to cushion and control it.
When using the sole it is important to have the foot close to the ground with the heel down and the toes up. Push the ball out in front keep it moving rather than 'smashing it' under the foot.
When using the inside and outside of the foot the key is to have the knee over the ball before contact and then sweep the ball away with the proper part of the foot.
Aerial Receiving - Circle
Half of the players are on the edge of the circle with a ball in their hands while the other half start on the inside of the circle without a ball. The players on the inside show toward on of the outside players and are served a ball to control. They bring it down with the sole, inside or outside of the foot, then turn, dribble away and find an outside player without a ball. When the inside player passes the ball, the outside player controls it with their feet and then picks it up to serve it back to an inside player and continue the pattern.
Change rolls after one minute.
Coaching Points
- Get in line with the ball so that you don’t have to reach for it
- Let the ball bounce and then take it away with the appropriate part of the foot
- Turn and dribble away quickly
- Make each pass good one
These are just two of many exercises you can use to train your players to control the ball effectively out of the air. Please share your favorite activities to train this skill in the comments section below.
Have a great day!
Tom
