Ball Manipulation & Awareness Drill - Nick Green – UEFA A Licensed Coach

Overview:

Two groups of players split evenly working in different directions with different purposes. The idea of this setup is to create chaos and confusion amongst players so they concentrate on the actions they are required to perform. With two groups working it means players have to be aware of their surroundings and make the correct decisions quickly while carrying out the technical actions. To start one group dribbles across in both directions with the other group dribbling forwards and then passing back to the next player.

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Coaching Points:

Ball Control: Throughout this practise players need to keep the ball close to their feet allowing them to remain in full control of the ball at all times. Once the ball becomes out of control it could lead to the whole practise breaking down by bumping into another players ball. Players receiving a pass need to keep their first touch tight and close by with other players running across them.

Awareness: The most important point in this setup is to be aware of other players and footballs to enable change of direction, slowing down or speeding up. Players must keep their head/ eyes up constantly scanning for space & potential obstacles in their path.

Quality of Pass: To keep the balls in the area and continuously moving all the time, the passes need to be directed onto the receivers foot at a good weight allowing the first touch to remain in close proximity. A pass too hard may make the ball bounce too far and collide into other balls or players dribbling across.

Decision Making: The decision to dribble quickly or slowly depending on the amount of space available will be a common one, is it safe to pass the ball across the square? Identifying space and player positioning will help these decisions be good ones which will in return allow all balls to within the area.

Progressions:
Dribbling players move in a diagonal direction.
Both groups move in a diagonal direction.
One group dribble diagonal, one group pass back and forth following their pass.
One group dribble diagonal, one group play passing combinations with a player in the middle.

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