Training On Your Own?

Technical Session Warm-Up

This is the warm-up we run at the start of every technical session. Do it before any solo ball work too. It takes about 10 minutes and gets your body and movement patterns ready before you start working with the ball.

Technical Drills

A library of drills you can run on your own. Use these after the warm-up to get purposeful reps in. Click any drill to expand the full instructions.

Drill 1

Soft First Touch and Opening Up When Receiving

Partner drill for developing a cushioned first touch and proper body shape when receiving passes.

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Set-Up

• Two players, 10 to 12 yards apart.
• No cones required. Firm ground passes only.

Stage 1

Driven Pass Receiving

5 minutes on the right foot, 5 minutes on the left foot

• Player A plays a firm driven pass to Player B.
• Player B cushions the ball with the inside of their foot, absorbing the pace.
• Player B returns the pass in two touches.
• Focus: keep the receiving foot relaxed at contact, do not stab at the ball.

Stage 2

Open Body Receiving on the Back Foot

5 minutes on the right foot, 5 minutes on the left foot

• Receiver adjusts body angle so they are receiving at a slight angle rather than straight-on, opening their hips to the field.
• Take the first touch on the back foot, slightly away from and ahead of the direction of the pass, then pull back and play the return pass across.
• Before receiving, scan the space behind and beside you.
• Add a pass fake: after the first touch, show a pass in one direction, then switch and play it back across.

Drill 2

Receiving and Opening Up, Turning, Shielding, Letting the Ball Run

Cone drill with three progressive stages covering checking runs, turning away from pressure, and letting the ball run past a defender.

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Set-Up

• Place a Base Cone for the passer.
• 15 steps forward from the passer, place the Near Cone.
• 10 steps further forward, place two Far Cones about 5 steps apart horizontally.
• Passer stands at the Base Cone with the ball. Receiver starts at the Far Left Cone.

Stage 1

Check, Receive, Open Up, and Play a Long Ball

1.5 minutes on the left, rotate with partner, then both do the right side

• Receiver checks from the Far Left Cone to the Near Cone, running onto the ball as it arrives.
• Receive on the back foot on the left side of the Near Cone, take a soft touch, and play it back with the same foot.
• Open up and swing wide of the Far Cone to create a new angle.
• Passer plays a long ball to the receiver's feet. Receiver takes a big first touch towards and around the Far Left Cone, then plays it back to the passer.

Stage 2

Check Away, Check Back, Turn, and Release

1.5 minutes on the left, rotate with partner, then both do the right side

• Receiver starts at the Near Cone and checks away to the Far Left Cone, dragging an imaginary defender with them.
• Receiver then checks back hard to the Near Cone to lose the defender.
• Receive the ball and take the first touch away from pressure, turning to face away from the imaginary defender.
• Open up and play a pass to the passer, who has made a run wide of the Far Cone.

Stage 3

Check, Shield, and Let the Ball Run

1.5 minutes on the left, rotate with partner, then both do the right side

• Receiver checks from the Far Left Cone to the Near Cone. Assume an imaginary defender is overplaying the right side.
• As soon as the receiver starts checking, the passer plays a medium-weight pass to the left of the passer, curving to the receiver's right foot.
• Rather than taking a normal touch, the receiver shields the imaginary defender and lets the ball run past them.
• Change direction quickly to chase the ball. Stay low and on the toes through the direction change.