Drill 7: Long ball variance

DESCRIPTION

Objective: Technical work in hitting different long balls. This drill is more about technical development than fitness or game scenario 

Setup: Line of blue cones. Orange server has balls and is 8-10 yards away from blue cones. Red is working player -  will start a few yards away at green cone. Red will need space to check into space behind blue cones to receive pass. White cones in gate 25 yards away

COACHING POINTS

• Orange will play ball to red, who is checking into space. Red's first contact should be behind the line of cones.
• Red will take touch out to the side of the cones to set up hitting the long ball. This should simulate a game where you have your head up to find a target, then drop it to hit the ball.
• Variety in long balls will be:

1. Normal ball: This is how we usually hit a ball, with some natural curve away from our strong foot. Lofted with normal pace
2. Floated/Chipped ball: Lofted ball that does not have side spin. Pace is naturally less, and the path of the ball has minimal curve. Best strikes have backspin. In games, best ball for playing behind a back line and letting forwards run onto it
3. Driven ball: Hit with the laces, high-paced. Minimal curve. Best ball when giving service on free kicks and  secondary crosses
4. Driven ground pass: Ball that never gets above the knees. Minimal curve, or curve that spins the ball further to the side we kick it. Hit with the laces. High-pace. Used in games to keep ball low but cover a lot of ground. 

• You may have to remove the cones and practice the technique with a stationary ball, then build up to receiving a pass, then advance to this drill with the cones.
• Do both feet, so drill would mirror image of example.