Ball retention skills

Ball retention skills

How can I improve my U15 ball retention skills? They keep getting stripped or lose the ball in contact.

Noel HillCoach, England
TOP ANSWER
Dave westgarthCoach, New Zealand

a drill i`ve used to great effect is ziz zag passing.

OBJECTIVE:

Develop a pass, catch and run drill during warm-up.

EQUIPMENT:

As many balls as the group`s skills will allow. Up to one for every two players.

GROUP SIZE:

Any number but using full squad.

AREA:

10 x 50 metre grid.

DRILL SET-UP:

Two lines facing each other. Each line should be 3-5 metres apart and each player should be one metre from the player beside them.

DRILL EXPLANATION:

  1. The coach feeds as many balls one at a time, as the player`s skill will allow, to player 1 and these are passed in a zigzag from one line to the other right down the two lines.
  2. Once all the balls being used have been handled by a player, that player runs to the end of the line to receive the balls again.
  3. The drill continues until the players reach the end of the 50-metre grid.

VARIATIONS / PROGRESSION:

The players run down the centre line between the two groups. The players must be careful not to hit the running players. can also add balls or have lines move further apart

ANSWERS
Dave westgarthCoach, New Zealand

a drill i`ve used to great effect is ziz zag passing.

OBJECTIVE:

Develop a pass, catch and run drill during warm-up.

EQUIPMENT:

As many balls as the group`s skills will allow. Up to one for every two players.

GROUP SIZE:

Any number but using full squad.

AREA:

10 x 50 metre grid.

DRILL SET-UP:

Two lines facing each other. Each line should be 3-5 metres apart and each player should be one metre from the player beside them.

DRILL EXPLANATION:

  1. The coach feeds as many balls one at a time, as the player`s skill will allow, to player 1 and these are passed in a zigzag from one line to the other right down the two lines.
  2. Once all the balls being used have been handled by a player, that player runs to the end of the line to receive the balls again.
  3. The drill continues until the players reach the end of the 50-metre grid.

VARIATIONS / PROGRESSION:

The players run down the centre line between the two groups. The players must be careful not to hit the running players. can also add balls or have lines move further apart

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