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lofted DRILLS
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Control and Shoot - simple pairs drill

Player 2 plays an in field pass to player 1 and then follows their pass. Player 1 either: Controls the ball and shoots or Shoots first time.

Shooting

Lofted pass and control

4 players, 1 ball. The blue player starts with the ball and plays a one-two pass with their partner. When they have received the ball again they should play a lofted pass to the furthest player from them (the other blue player) and then rotate with their partner so that the blue player is now on the inside and the red player is on the outside. Meanwhile at the other end of the drill the receiving player should have controlled the lofted pass, played a one-two with their partner and then played a strong lofted ball back to the furthest player on the other side. Both players should then swap places.

Passing and Receiving

Lofted pass

Lofted passes are great for clearing your lines, switching play or dinking the ball over the top to a striker who is making a run behind the other team's defensive line. Approach the ball at a slight angle, back swing of leg (using arms for balance) and follow through with your pass.

Passing and Receiving

Movement before receiving the ball

The red player (1) stands between the cones closest to the blue player. When red player 1 is ready to receive the ball they move towards their marker before checking off the player and making a run to either the left, centre or right gate. The blue player then plays the ball towards red player 1 who receives the ball and plays a one touch pass back. The red players change roles when the defender intercepts the ball from the attacking player.

Passing and Receiving

Movement before the pass - 1 vs 1

Red player 1 stands on the red cone closest to the blue player. When red 1 is ready they should run and tag red player 2. Red player 2 can try to win the ball once tagged. The blue player then plays the ball towards red player 1 who receives the ball on the move. Red 1 can choose to lay the ball back to Blue 1 or turn and try to score a goal by passing or running the ball through the goal where red 2 started.

1 v 1 skills

Pass, Receive and Run Relay

A three way pass and receive drill. The first player passes straight to the red player and then runs out wide ready to receive the red player's return pass which should go through the gate. Once they've received this pass through the gate the blue player plays a long ball (lofted or driven) to the player on the far cone who controls the ball and then dribbles through the slalom back to the start line.

Passing and Receiving

Pass, up and over!

Players work inside a 10 meter long grid with one ball divided into three. The players on the outside pass the ball into the middle player who passes the ball straight back. When the outside players receives the return ball they play it first time, passing a lofted pass over the top of the middle player to the opposite outside player who controls the ball and then repeats the drill from the other side.

Passing and Receiving

Passing and Shooting

Player 2 passes to player 1 in the centre then follows the pass. Player 1 either controls the ball and shoots or shoots first time. The type of pass used can be varied so to vary the shot used. For example a lofted pass may be used to introduce the use of a volley when shooting.

1 v 1 skills

Passing Triangle

3 players stand around 3 metres apart from one another with one ball between them. They can pass in either direction and should start with two touch football, using strong side footed passes. After a few minutes you can introduce a one touch rule to encourage players to think about where they are going to pass before they even receive the ball.

Passing and Receiving

Piggy in the Middle

2 players are placed on the outside of the grid and 2 players on the inside. The players on the inside of the grid are the defenders but are not allowed to come out of the grid. The 2 outside players just have to keep possession by playing lofted passes over the 2 middle players.

Passing and Receiving

Lofted pass Technique video - ...

Lofted passes are great for clearing your lines, switching play or dinking the ball over the top to a striker who is making a run behind the other team's defensive line. Approach the ball at a slight angle, back swing of leg (using arms for balance) and follow through with your pass.

General

Lofted pass and control Passin...

4 players, 1 ball. The blue player starts with the ball and plays a one-two pass with their partner. When they have received the ball again they should play a lofted pass to the furthest player from them (the other blue player) and then rotate with their partner so that the blue player is now on the inside and the red player is on the outside. Meanwhile at the other end of the drill the receiving player should have controlled the lofted pass, played a one-two with their partner and then played a strong lofted ball back to the furthest player on the other side. Both players should then swap places.

General

Pass, up and over! Passing and...

Players work inside a 10 meter long grid with one ball divided into three. The players on the outside pass the ball into the middle player who passes the ball straight back. When the outside players receives the return ball they play it first time, passing a lofted pass over the top of the middle player to the opposite outside player who controls the ball and then repeats the drill from the other side.

General

Long ball relay Passing and Re...

Passing pattern: The ball starts with the player near the corner flag who passes up the line to the next player. the next player must them play a long ball (lofted or driven) the opposite corner player. That player must then control the ball and then pass to the center player who then dribbles back to the start point.

General

Instep pass Passing and Receiv...

Taking only one step before striking the ball, players should pass using the instep of both their feet - left and right.

General

Loop Overlap And Shoot Passing...

The first player plays a one-two pass with player 2, who passes back in front of player 1's looping run.Player 1 then dribbles with the ball either to the half-way line or the by-line where they then:either pass to player 3 on the half-way line who then dribbles to the outside of the 16 yard box and shootor cross the ball into the box for the attacking player to attack.

General

Football: Pass, Receive and Ru...

A three way pass and receive drill. The first player passes straight to the red player and then runs out wide ready to receive the red player's return pass which should go through the gate. Once they've received this pass through the gate the blue player plays a long ball (lofted or driven) to the player on the far cone who controls the ball and then dribbles through the slalom back to the start line.

General

Piggy in the Middle Passing an...

2 players are placed on the outside of the grid and 2 players on the inside. The players on the inside of the grid are the defenders but are not allowed to come out of the grid. The 2 outside players just have to keep possession by playing lofted passes over the 2 middle players.

General

Movement before receiving the ...

The red player (1) stands between the cones closest to the blue player. When red player 1 is ready to receive the ball they move towards their marker before checking off the player and making a run to either the left, centre or right gate. The blue player then plays the ball towards red player 1 who receives the ball and plays a one touch pass back. The red players change roles when the defender intercepts the ball from the attacking player.

General

Loop overlap and shoot Passing...

The first player plays a one-two pass with player 2, who passes back in front of player 1's looping run. Player 1 then dribbles with the ball either to the half-way line or the by-line where they then: either pass to player 3 on the half-way line who then dribbles to the outside of the 16 yard box and shoot or cross the ball into the box for the attacking player to attack.

General

Football: Control and Shoot - ...

Player 2 plays an in field pass to player 1 and then follows their pass. Player 1 either: Controls the ball and shoots or Shoots first time.

General

Pass, Rotate and Move Passing ...

3 players start with one ball between them. Players must pass and follow on the move.<br> Important that the pass is always in front of the receiver so the drill flows.

General

Driven pass - with laces Techn...

Use your laces to drive through the ball, keeping the ball on the ground to quickly get the ball from A to B. To keep the ball down ensure your knee is over the ball as you strike it and don't lean back. Strike the centre of the ball with the laces (instep), with the toes pointing downwards. Follow through with the kicking leg to increase power.

General

Shoot, Recover, Finish Crossin...

Make a pitch from the edge of one penalty box to the same the other end, full width. Set up a goal with a GK at each end.A group of Attackers start in the centre circle. A group of Defenders start offset to the left of them.The coach feeds the ball in to and Attacker and they run forward to a 1 vs 1 situation with 1 Defender. The Attacker should take on the Defender and attempt to score.Once the Attacker has taken a shot they recover in an arc to receive a ball cross in from the right side.As this is going on, when the GK at the other end has seen the coach pass the first ball then they pass the ball to a player in the fullback position out to the right (F).F passes the ball down the line to a winger (W), who will be the one to cross the ball in after the Attacker has taken their first shot.At the same time the exact same is happening at the other end of the pitch.Players move positions:The Attacker becomes the F for the other side, attacking in the other direction. F follows their pass to become the W, the W joins the line of Attackers. Rotate the Defenders after 5 minutes. Play different progressions/variations for about 30 minutes in total.Includes breaks for water and feedback to the players

General

Heading Game Heading - Footbal...

Players are split into two teams and line up behind the red cone at their end. One blue player starts in the middle between the two middle cones. They are the goalkeeper.To start the drill the coach feeds a lofted throw to the red player to advance onto and try to head between the cones. The blue keeper tries to stop the ball and can use any part of their body to do so.After they have headed the ball the goalkeeping player joins the back of the opposite line and the red player (who just had the attacking header) becomes the new keeper between the cones.

General

Heading Variations Heading - F...

Working in pairs one player feeds whilst the other player is the returning player who heads the ball back to the feeder's hands. However, the returning player must have their wits about them as they need to listen out to the feeder's call. The feeder has three calls - Feet, attacking and defensive. Depending on the call the heading player must perform a different sort of header.

General

Ring the Doorbell 1 v 1 skills...

Both players face each other on either side of a line drawn between 2 cones (10 metres apart). Both players must stay on their own side of the imaginary line. Player 1 starts with the ball and to score a goal he/she must stop the ball against one of the two cones. If the ball crosses the line or player 2 puts a foot on the line next to the cone before player 1 touches the ball against it, then possession changes to player 2. Play for 1 minute then change.

General

Pass and Release relay Passing...

Player 1 passes to player 2, meanwhile player 3 reacts to this pass and moves so that they're ready to receive from player 2, with their body open to the wing. Meanwhile player 1 charges up the line, ready to receive the pass from player 3. When they receive the ball on the run they switch the ball to player 1 on the other side and the drill continues.

General

Playing up the line Passing an...

Player 1 plays the ball up the line into space. Player 2 receives the ball on the move and takes a touch. <br />Player 2 then passes the ball up the line again into space to players 3.

General

Shadow defending 1 v 1 skills ...

Players are working in pairs. Player 1 dribbles forward and player 2 shadows them, not trying to win the ball but trying to put pressure on the player in possession.

General

Shake and Bake 1 v 1 skills - ...

Set up as shown with a goal at each end. Play 3 v 3. Each team elects a goal keeper. This player is allowed to use his hands when saving a shot. He must also go forward as an outfield player during attacks on the opposing goal. Rotate keepers every two minutes. When a player gets the ball in the opposition's half, he should try to dribble past them. Award 3 points for fakes past the defender and 5 points for every goal. The first team to 21 wins. Allow the players to pick scores for different skills.

General

1v1 to Goal 1 v 1 skills - Foo...

Organise the players into groups of 3, with 1 goalkeeper and 2 outfield players. Player 1 and player 2 stand or sit facing away from goal. The goalkeeper then throws the ball out and player 1 and player 2 play the ball back to the goal, passing between them before shooting.

General

World Cup Headers Heading - Fo...

Groups of 4 players are paired and stationed on the sides of the area as shown in the diagram. Each team takes on the identity of a World Cup Team. The object of the game is to head the ball past the opposing team and over the opposing goal line. The player in possession serves the ball to his teammate to head towards the opposing goal line. The defending team must attempt to stop the ball from crossing their end line without using their hands. Once the ball has been stopped, the receiving player picks the ball up and serves the ball to his partner to repeat in the opposite direction. If a team heads a ball straight back and scores, the team gets 2 points.

General

Pass Through the Gate Passing ...

In pairs, players pass the ball to each other through a gate, or through a hurdle.

General

Power Ball Passing and Receivi...

Group players in pairs, facing each other 5 yards apart.The player in possession rolls the ball to the side of his partner to demonstrate how much harder a ball is to stop when it travels along the ground. Once familiar with this knowledge, players must attempt to shoot their balls past their partners. Partners must attempt to stop or save the balls. Repeat and rotate.

General

Heading on the move Technique ...

1 ball between two players. One player feeds and catches the ball, while the other player heads the ball back to the player throwing. The player must head the ball back to the feeder's hands. However, both players should be moving at all times - firstly the feeder should walk forwards, but when they reach the baseline players change direction.

General

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lofted DRILL CATEGORIES
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Passing and Receiving Drills
Passing and Receiving Drills
lofted SESSIONS
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Aerial Passing - Switch it like Beckham

Get your players' to look up, spot the player in space and play an accurate aerial pass to release the player in space.

Turnover - Recovering after losing possession

Don't get caught out by a quick counter-attacking team! React quickly, hold up the ball and reorganize your back line to box out their striker
lofted ANSWERS
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ball control skills

how can i improve my ball control skills?

Archived User Coach

Coaching goalkeepers to take goal kicks

How can i teach goalies to take good goal kicks

Archived User Coach

How to improve goal kicks

How do I get my keeper to kick hi and longer goal kicks. Thanks Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Archived User Coach

Driven and Lofted Passing - why is it important?

Why is driven passing and lofted passing important when starting an attack from the back?

Archived User Coach

How to improve goal kicks | Sp...

How do I get my keeper to kick hi and longer goal kicks. Thanks Asked using Sportplan Mobile App

Archived User Coach

defending the long ball | Spor...

defending the long ball

Archived User Coach

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