Soccer coaching drill to develop visual awareness

How this soccer (football) drill works

• Refer to the diagram above. Player 2 should only use three touches in the centre – one to control the ball, one to move it and one to pass.
• Encourage the players to call out the colour of the visual cue during the soccer drill. This is an important secondary task that increases the challenge for the players and gets them used to talking during play.

Run the drill

• You need three players, two balls and six markers.
• Player 2 stands between two markers (one black, one white) approximately three yards apart.
• Players 1 and 3 each have one black and one white marker.
• Player 1 passes to player 2.
• Player 2 must look around to "spot" the visual cue, held up by player 3.
• Player 2 must then shift the ball around the same coloured marker as the visual cue.
• Player 2 follows the ball and makes a return pass to player 1.
• Player 2 turns and repeats with player 3. This time, player 1 will hold up the visual cue.

How to progress the drill skills Continue as above but player 2 must now "spot" a second visual cue, held up by player 3 in the picture, and call out the colour before making the return pass. Rotate the players after they have had two turns. Key soccer coaching tips

• Make sure the players look over their shoulder before receiving a pass.
• The players need a good touch to shift the ball out of their feet and beyond the cone.
• Ensure the players look up and correctly identify the second visual cue before making the return pass.

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