In the previous Smart Sessions Core Skills, we looked at long passing. Today, we show you how to teach your players how to bring those long passes under control.
When trying to control a ball arriving in the air, players need to:
| Warm up | Session | Developments | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-15 minutes | 10 minutes | 15 minutes | 10 minutes | 10-15 minutes |
Stand a pair of players 20 yards apart and mark a two-yard square at each end. Players take it in turns to hit driven passes to each other. The player receiving must control the ball, making sure it stays inside their square, with their first touch before hitting a driven pass back with their second touch.
Add a third player who stands between the other two. Now the players at each end hit lofted passes over the head of the third player. The player receiving controls the ball, plays a one-two along the ground with the middle player and takes another controlling touch before hitting a lofted pass back.
The middle player regularly rotates with end players. In both drills, stress the importance of the accuracy and weight of service.
Pairs make long passes to each other but must control the ball in their zone.
Mark out a 30-yard square and play 4v4 with an additional four “target” players – two for each team in diagonally opposite corners, as shown in the middle picture.
Each target player is restricted to a two-yard square. Teams score a point when they hit a lofted or driven pass to one of their target players, who controls it within the target zone and then passes to a team mate with their second touch.
No other player is allowed to enter these zones. After every pass to a target player, whether successfully controlled or not, the target player swaps roles with a team mate.
Teams play long passes (lofted or driven) to team mates in target zones, who must control the ball and pass it to a team mate.
Play 6v6 in an area with no goals (the playing area can be adjusted depending on age and ability).
Teams score two points for each successful control of a driven or lofted pass, and also score a point for completing five consecutive passes. The team with most points wins.
Good control of long passes and a build-up of grounded passes earns points for teams in a small-sided game.
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I was talking to a coach this week about how to control balls in the air, especially when heading the ball in training is off the menu for most clubs. I imagine that there will be much more of a contest to win the ball with a volley once it has dropped from head height. So how do you coach controlling balls in the air? MORE
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