drills

[nikegirl0923]

I am going to try out for the school team. I play in the front. I need some work on my ball control does anybody have any drills that I can use for ball control?

[CC05]

Juggling would probably help.

[AggressivelyOffsides]

Hey, NikeGirl. first of all, I have to say, Adidas stuff rocks. So does Diadora. Just a general comment. I worked at Eurosport for a while, so I claim to know something about gear. :-)

About ball control: this is one thing you can work on a lot by yourself. Just you and a ball. I played about 20 years, most of them in midfield and forward, and I worked a lot on ball control by myself. I've also coached u-8 and u-14 girls.

Juggling is the best "drill" for learning to control the ball when it's NOT on the ground. Don't try to just juggle with one foot or in one static position. Juggle like you would in a game, which is to say, use both feet, use your head, your thighs, different parts of your body to control the ball. You can use your feet to flick the ball into the air or throw it up and control it.

MOST of the time you'll be working with the ball already on the ground. For that, you need drills that enhance your feel, control, and foot speed with the ball. There's a few different things I used to do for that.

For general quickness (plyometrics) and "ball feel", I used to simply stand with the ball between my feet. I'd touch the ball back and forth from my right foot to my left foot quickly, kinda bouncing while I did it. When I got better at moving the ball quickly from foot to foot, I'd start to move the drill, dribbling forward at 1/2 jogging pace. If you get very comfortable with this, you can even look up while you do it. This works on the feel of having the ball at your feet while you're looking up. In a game situation, you might take 1-2 dribbles, then you'd have to look up, with the ball at your feet, and this simulates that in a small way.

Another drill I used to do was similar in concept, except you use the OUTSIDE of your feet, and you dribble forward making cutbacks. So I'd cut to the right using the outside of my right foot to push the ball (kinda like an ice skater making a skating stride), and then I'd cut back to the left using the outside of my left foot. It's a much more dramatic movement intended to beat a defender or surprise the defense with a quick change of direction. (don't try to look up while doing this unless you like falling on your face)

If you have a friend, you can also practice holding the ball under pressure (shielding). That's another important skill to have for a forward. But before I write a book here, try those first 3 and tell me if they work for you. :-)

[CG]

one of the simplest things you can do and made me a better player early on in my playing career was to pass the ball against the wall. If you make a good pass, the wall gives you a good pass in return. Also, do it two touch so it works on your receiving. Pass with the right, receive with the right across your body and pass back with the left and then switch these. Many variations that are only limited by your imaginantion.