Football: Run the Ball

Set up as shown with cones evenly spaced out. The distance between the cones can be modified depending on your players abilities. Player(s) dribbles through the cone performing all touches with the interior of their feet to get through the cones without touching them, neither with the ball nor their feet.

All players have a ball and stand on a island. The only player without a ball in the defender. The defender can only tag the attackers when they come off their island. If tagged players must go and stand and wait on a specified island.

Set up a square roughly 10m x 10m. Have a few players at each corner. In 2 of the corners (diagonal) a player starts with a ball. They run clockwise around the square to the next corner. When they reach the corner they put their foot on the ball to stop it so that the player at that corner can take it over immediately. The ball moves clockwise around the square. Repeat anticlockwise after each player has dribbled the ball a few times.

Group in pairs. One ball per pair. Position one player on each side of an imaginary line made by the discs. Repeat in 5 other areas for a total of 12 players. One player starts with the ball. Neither player is allowed to cross the imaginary line. The player in possession of the ball attempts to dribble to either of the discs before the defender touches the very same disc. Repeat practice with the other player in possession. To encourage feints, try doing the practice first without a ball, then with.

Players must listen and respond to the coaches commands. If the coach says North Stand the players must dribble to that line, likewise if the coach says South Stand the players run to that end. Below are some commands you could use. 1. The Boss is here - Players stand to attention and salute. 2. The trainer is here - Players fall to the ground and grab their knees and make lots of noise. 3. Diving headers - Players fall to the ground, face down with forehead on the ball.

Two players with one ball per pair. Player 1 and player 2 juggle to decide who starts with the ball. If player 1 wins, he/she begins with the ball and player 2 begins at a disadvantage (i.e. on one knee, on both knees etc.) Player 1 must dribble through as many gates as possible while player 2 must try to win possession of the ball and do the same. Each gate is worth one point. One circuit should last no more than 2 minutes. Note: A player may not go through the same gate until they have been through another gate.

Two players with a ball each stand in a 10x10 square. Player 1 has 1 minute to tag player 2 as many times as possible on the shoulder. You must maintain possession of the ball at all times; if player 2's ball leaves the square then player 1 is awarded a tag. After every tag the tagger must retire to a corner. After 1 minute, player 2 tries to beat player 1's score.

Players run towards the cone and when they are about to go past the cone they pull back the ball with the sole of the boot and change direction to run at the next cone. This is a good practice for repetition.

2 players, with one ball per pair stand between two cones. Players face each other in the centre of an imaginary line between two cones 10 metres apart. On the coaches command "1-2-3 Quickfire", the players must perform a dragback or Cruijff turn and take the ball past the cone behind. If the player passes the cone before being tackled he/she wins a point.

1 ball per player. Players should perform fast footwork drills - either with the inside of the foot to inside of foot or toe tapping on top of the ball. When the coach shouts out "Rats!", the players at the top of the diagram must attempt to chase the other players. The object of the game is for the player in pursuit to tag his opposing partner on the back of the shoulders before he reaches the end line. Players return to the middle discs after each attempt. Repeat and rotate directions. The team in pursuit attempts to strike their ball to hit the opposing player on or below the knee.

Set out two lines of six discs approximately 5 yards apart. Station 1 player by each disc. One ball per player. One team is the "Rats" and the others the "Rabbits". When the coach calls out "Rabbits", the rabbits team chase the rats to the end line. The rabbits must tag the rats before they reach the safety of their end line. Repeat in the opposite direction when the coach calls out "Rats".

This practice can best used to help players practice the beating of the player from left to right. Players run to just beyond the first cone and use a move to bring the ball across and infront of the 2nd cone, to then be taken forward and around the cone to the other side where another player could be waiting to take the ball and return practicing the same skill.

Set up as shown with cones evenly spaced out. The distance between the cones can be modified depending on your players abilities. Players dribble through the cone performing 1 touch with the interior and a roll across their body to get through the cones without touching them, neither with the ball nor their feet.

Player(s) dribble from one cone to the other. They work on taking touches with the sole of one foot followed by the interior of the other foot. Once a player competes one set they quickly turn and accelerate back to the start before repeating the sequence.

Play 3 v 3. Each team elects a goalkeeper. This player is allowed to use his hands in the defensive end zone. He must also go forward as an outfield player during attacks on the opposing goal. Rotate keepers every two minutes. When a player receives the ball, he should try to move forward with it. Award 3 points for every successful turn; 5 points for every goal; 1st team to 21 wins. Allow the players to pick scores for different skills.

One ball per group of 4. Player 1 dribbles the ball to the second line, stopping the ball on the second line with the sole of their foot. Player 1 then passes the ball to player 3 and follows their pass to join player 4 on the end line. Player 3 dribbles to the second line in the other direction and repeats the routine. Continue until players return to their original starting positions.

Set up an area as shown with the coach (sleeping giant) in one end surounded by cones (gold coins). The players are at the other end and they have 1 ball each. While the sleeping giant is asleep the players can move towards him/her, as soon as the sleeping giant awakes they have to stop and be still, if they are caught moving the sleeping giant can chase them back to the start. If players get to the sleeping giant they pick up a gold coin and run back to the starting area to store it.

Station 1 player on each end line and a lone defender in the middle of the area. Repeat in 3 other areas for a total of 12 players. The outer players each have a ball. The object of the game is for the outer players to get over the middle line without losing the ball to the middle player. The middle player can only move along the line between the cones. If the defender wins the ball, then the attacking player and defender change places and roles. Keep score of how many times a player can get over the line without losing the ball.

A player dribbles around the outside of the cones, when he tags someone he shouts sticky donut. The two players then dribble around the circle in opposite directions. The first player to get back on the vacant gate fills the spot. The other player dribbles on and repeats the exercise.

Players work in the square and they lose a life if: They are dribbling too slowly, if they dribble outside the square or if they do not stop on your command. Players can also gain lives if they can perform the above well. Upon hearing the coach's command players must stop and perform certain skills. If a player loses all their lives they can either do a forfeit (press ups or running a lap of the grid) or be sent to the 'dog pound' (see video).