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Stealing/taking the ball

what would be a few good drills for stealing the ball from opponents my team needs working on it.

Aaron cassCoach, England

1 answer

ANSWERS

Cam HughesCoach, United Kingdom

Hi Aaron,

There are a few drills you could try with your team to improve on this.

One-on-One Defensive Drill: Pair up players and have them take turns trying to steal the ball from each other. Emphasise proper defensive stance, footwork, and timing of the steal.
Transition Drill: Set up a scenario where the attacking team is trying to advance the ball while the defending team focuses on intercepting passes or stealing the ball. This helps players practice stealing in game-like situations.
Pressure Defence Drill: Divide the team into two groups: attackers and defenders. The defenders apply pressure on the attackers while they try to maintain possession. Encourage defenders to anticipate passes and opportunities to steal the ball.
Small-Sided Games: Incorporate stealing the ball as a key objective in small-sided scrimmage games. Limit the playing area to encourage quick transitions and more opportunities for steals.
Reaction Drill: Have players stand in a circle with one player in the middle. The players in the circle pass the ball around while the player in the middle tries to steal it. Rotate players in and out of the middle to practice stealing from various angles and situations.

I hope this helps.

Cam