Practice: Staying in control

WHY USE IT

This practice works on players receiving on the half-turn, scanning, taking a positive first touch, dribbling through traffic and passing.

SET UP

Use the same playing area as for the warm-up, but with an added small square marked out in the centre. Players on the outside start with a ball each this time.

HOW TO PLAY

Players in possession on the outside pass to a player in the middle. The receiving players aim to receive on the half-turn and take their first touch into the central square. They then find another player around the outside to pass to before looking to receive again from another outside player. Swap roles after a couple of minutes.

COACHING POINTS

Can the players adopt a body shape that will enable their first touch to take them into the central square? What other turns can they think of and execute? Coaches can also add challenges for the outside players - can they receive and play off two touches? Outside players can also be encouraged to move around the square to force players to get their heads up.