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First Touch Reception
By Conor Lynch
Take Control of the Ball and
Preserve Your Offensive Momentum!
Receiving is a very important skill for players in a team to have.
When players take too many touches to take control of the ball or
allow it to get away from them, the offensive game collapses. You
become sitting ducks. But, with these six distinct drills, your players will
learn to deftly maneuver the ball off the pass and greatly improve their
fluidity on the field. They'll move rapidly through the space they've
created on the field to set up plays and score more goals, before the
opponent even knows what¡®s happened.
Exercise 1
Setup
A 10- by 10- yards area.
Group of three players.
One ball to each group.
Two players with the ball are positioned on one side of the square.
The third player faces them on the other side.
Action
The player with the ball passes to the third player on the opposite lane
who receives with the inside of the foot and takes the ball a couple of
yards to the side in one action.
On his next touch he passes the ball back across the square with his
other foot.
The pair opposite switch places and repeat the action.
Tips
Remind players that it's important to give a good pass so it is easier for
their teammates to receive the ball and control it away with their first
touch.
Allow two touches to start before limiting players to one touch.
Remind the receiving player to move toward the ball.
Exercise 2
Setup
A 10- by 10- yards area.
Players in groups of three with a ball to each group.
Two players with the ball on one side of the square face the third
player on the opposite side.
Action
The first player passes to the opposite player and sprints around
him/her.
The receiving player taps the ball to the side, first touch, as the
sprinting player comes around him/her. The sprinting player passes first
touch to the next player facing him/her who repeats the action.
The end player changes after several sequences.
Tips
Receiving players can start with two touches to make the pass. Once
this becomes easy, limit players to one- touch passes.
Exercise 3
Set up
A 10-by 10-yard to 15-by 15-yard area.
Groups of up to four players at each corner.
One group starts with a ball.
Action
Players pass counterclockwise to the first player in the next group and
follow their passes.
The receiving player taps the ball softly by the incoming passer, runs
around him to the ball and passes to the first player in the next group.
Tips
Have players cushion the impact of a received ball by drawing back their
foot as the ball arrives.
Remind receiving players to move to the ball.
To increase difficulty, introduce another ball. Have two groups
diagonally across from one another start with balls.
Exercise 4
Set up
A 10-by 10-yard area
Two small 2-yard gates on either side of the square as shown.
Two passers, each with a ball, at opposite corners and facing their
respective gates.
Two receivers in the gates.
Action
The passers pass to their receivers.
Receivers take the ball to the opposite side of the square with their
first touch and pass to the next corner player.
The receiver then returns to his/her first gate to receive the next pass
from a corner player and the sequence continues.
Passers and receivers switch after eight repetitions.
Tips
Allow players three touches at first: one to receive, one to turn and
one to pass. After players are comfortable, tell them to try turning
with the ball on their first touch.
A good first touch gives a player more time and space during a game.
Receiving players should try to play the ball in the direction they want
to go ¨C without stopping the ball.
Exercise 5
Setup
Players in pairs about five yards apart.
A ball to each pair.
Action
1. Players throw the ball to their partners, who receive with the thigh
and pass it back on the ground.
2. Players toss and partners control with the thigh, let the ball drop to
the ground, flick it up with same foot and catch it.
3. Same as #2, but this time the receivers flick the ball up with the
opposite foot and catch it.
4. Passers throw a high toss and the receivers control it with the
chest, thigh, other thigh, foot and other foot, before flicking the ball
up and catching it.
Make the action a competition between pairs. If a pair misses or drops
the ball they have to repeat the exercise until the sequence has been
mastered. The first pair to complete all four exercises wins.
Tips
Tell players to make their bodies act like cushions; at impact, players
should draw the receiving part of their body back.
Remind them to serve the ball with a gentle underhanded toss.
When receiving the ball, players should keep their arms out for good
balance.
Concentration is very important- players should focus on the ball.
Exercise 6
Set up
Players in two teams of up to six players, 5 to 10 yards apart depending
on their age and 5 yards from a goal with a net and a keeper.
Each player on the serving team has a ball.
Action
The first server tosses the ball to the first striker, who controls with the
chest and tries to volley the ball into the goal before it touches the
ground.
Server and striker then move to the ends of the opposite lines.
Change the receiving body part as the players progress to: thigh; head;
chest then thigh; head then thigh; and head, chest then thigh.
Tips
Instruct players to concentrate on the ball.
Remind players to use their bodies as cushions and that timing is crucial
to success. Allow beginners to let the ball bounce once before they
shoot.
Every passing exercise in the next section can also be used to teach
receiving skills.
Be sure to practice these drills as often as possible. With each
repetition the movements will become more instinctual.
Soon your players will be able to take control of a pass and redirect or
move it down the field with ease.
Be diligent in your training and your team will go far!
About the Author
Six great reception drills straight from the New Era Guide Book compiled by the Coerver Coaches. These exercises will drastically improve your reception. To learn more about the Coerver program just visit http://www.playgreatsoccer.com/
Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/5448.html
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| Some other articles by Conor Lynch | Command the Ball!
What if there were 4 simple exercises
that could vastly improve your teams
ball mastery?
Ball mastery is essential for any aspiring soccer player. The
ability ...
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