Soccer: Thigh Control - Stage 1

One feeder throws the ball up for the other player to try and head, back between the feeder's legs. The feeder needs to stand with their feet apart and react quickly to the return header. The heading player should keep their feet moving, being ready at all times to head the ball back with power.

Try to bounce the ball with the sole of your foot

Defensive header relay. 3 players with one ball. Front player of the 2 players throws up the ball to the heading player, after the player throws the ball he has to try and close down the heading player. The player heading the ball has to head the ball over the approaching player to the 3rd player waiting to catch the ball.

Players split into pairs or small groups up to 5, with 1 ball per group. Player keep the ball in the air and must take two touches. One touch to control the ball and the second touch to pass the ball to their partner.

One player throws the ball to the other player's head. The throw should be slightly in front of the heading player so that they need to meet the ball in the air. The returning header should also be slightly long, meaning the catching player needs to back track slightly in order to catch the ball.

Work in pairs. Defender passes the ball to the player practicing the skill. The skill in this practice is that the player taps the ball with the instep of one foot onto the instep of the other foot for the ball to be taken wide of the defender the attacker runs past the defender and continues to run to the opposite cone.

In this skill the player taps the ball with the instep of one foot onto the instep of the other foot for the ball to be taken wide of the defender.

Ball each players running on the spot (happy feet) on the command of the coach the players push drag the ball with the outside of the foot. and return t to the happy feet

In this practice the player performs a sequence of 2 steps in a particular move the first step being the step out and the 2nd a step over the ball

The player step out, then step over the ball. Then steps over the ball again, to then take the ball with the outside of the foot to beat the opponent. After having performed the skill the player should go back to the starting position and practise again.

In this practice the defender passes the ball the player practising the skill. The receiving player each player double steps over and drag the ball. After performing the skill the players role reverse.

Players practice moving the ball with the sole of their boot. to then stop the ball with the instep of the opposite foot

In this practice there are 2 stages of a particular skill to beat an opponent. In this practice the player has to drag the ball with one foot and dummy step over the ball to make the ball roll wide of the step over leg

Practicing the skill of dragging the ball with the sole of the boot and step over the ball to let the ball roll. After each time the skill is performed the player should go back to the starting point and repeat the practice.

Push the ball with the outside of the foot to then drag the ball back across and dummy step over the ball.

Working in pairs, the drills starts with the defender passing the ball to the player practicing the skill. The skill in this practice is that the player drags the ball with the instep of the right foot across the body. The player then steps over the ball with the left foot pretending to kick the ball in the opposite direction (moving the defender out of the way). The ball continues to roll and the attacker runs past the defender and continues to run to the opposite cone.

Players practice moving the ball with the sole of their boot while hopping on the opposite foot. This improves their control of the ball and can be used to drag the ball past a defender in a game.

Use your instep to drive through the ball, keeping the ball on the ground to quickly get the ball from A to B. To keep the ball down ensure your knee is over the ball as you strike it and don't lean back. Strike the centre of the ball with the instep, with the toes pointing downwards. Follow through with the kicking leg to increase power.

Use your laces to drive through the ball, keeping the ball on the ground to quickly get the ball from A to B. To keep the ball down ensure your knee is over the ball as you strike it and don't lean back. Strike the centre of the ball with the laces (instep), with the toes pointing downwards. Follow through with the kicking leg to increase power.

When the ball is in the air or bouncing around you want to get the ball on the ground. Doing this requires a soft touch and a general downward motion of your body. To practice the skill players feed the ball to themselves with a head height throw. As the ball goes up players raise their foot to meet the ball at around waist height. As the ball comes down also lower your foot so that you are cushioning the ball - trying to maintain contact between your foot and the ball until it reaches the ground.