A players ability to control the ball is paramount in soccer. Nothing is more critical than being able to control the ball, pass to teammates and execute shots on goal. Improving your players technical skills should be a top priority for all soccer programs.

In the clip below, Alan Kirkup, associate head coach for Sporting Club Jacksonville of the USL Super League, demonstrates a few partner drills that focus on one and two touches.

Obviously, you can incorporate your own similar moves and skills into this partner sequence.

The drills are part of a collection that Coach Kirkup has compiled. For more information about the DVD that these drills come from click the link Maximize the Efficiency of Your Training Sessions

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is on and that you have access to the site.

 
Nothing is more fundamental to soccer than the ability to control the ball. There are multiple moves that a skilled soccer player should master if they are to be effective. In the clip below Brandon Koons, Otterbein University Head Women’s Soccer Coach, demonstrates two different types of turns that can and should be utilized by players of different skill levels.

In the clip he shows the Nutmeg Turn and Cruyff Turn, two moves to deceive the defense and get away from pressure. For more information about the DVD that these drills came from you may click the link 2,000 Touches to Better Soccer: Dribbling and Goalkeeping Exercises

This YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on.

This holding the ball drill is a simple and effective way to give your forwards multiple reps holding the ball verses defensive pressure. Forwards are often times asked to hold the ball as the ball comes to them from the back. They may need to hold the ball vs pressure for four to five seconds as the wait for teammates to get up into position to attack.

The drill is called Hold It or Dog Fights and is presented by Brent Ridenour, the winningest coach in Ohio Northern Men’s Soccer history. The clip below is from a DVD that was created to help coaches develop stronger play in the attacking half of the field, reduce turnovers and created more scoring opportunities for your target players. For more information about the DVD click the link Creating to Win: Attacking in the Final Third

The YouTube video has sound, so please makes sure that your sound is turned and that you have access to YouTube. (Some school block access to YouTube)

The drill set up is as follows. A 12 x 12 area is marked off and a forward will begin in the middle of the field. Five other players are placed around the perimeter of the marked off area. One player will serve the ball into the forward and them call out one of the names of the teammates surrounding the forward in the middle. The players whose name was called will then rush to the forward and pressure as much as possible to win the ball.

The forward must recognize where the pressure is coming from and turn away from the defender. He then must keep low, protect the ball and hold off the defender until one of his teammates on the perimeters calls “man on”. At this point he will pass the ball to the teammate and defender leaves the playing area.

Another ball is served into the forward and a different defender from a different position rushes in. Again the forward must hold the ball for about 4-5 seconds before passing to a teammate. Give each player 4-5 reps and then rotate.

 
The importance of goal scoring can never be emphasized too much.

The clip below shows Jay Entlich, Columbus State University Women’s Head Coach, explaining a drill that creates multiple scoring opportunities.

Coach Entlich shows how to create goal scoring using three phases and teaches players to recognize why they are missing shots on frame. Using a small-sided game, he teaches players when and how to take their best shot on goal.

For other drills and more information about the dvd this drill came from click the link Progressions for Becoming a More Efficient Shooting and Finishing Team

The YouTube video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to the site.

 
Developing skills and systems for attack are critical for team success in soccer.

In the video below Jay Entlich, Columbus State University Women’s Head Coach, shows an effective 6v3 drill for developing the necessary skills to attack.

Coach Entlich uses a reduced field and numbers to instill the basic principles needed to effectively move through the three zones commonly used in team play.

His fast-paced 6v3 possession game requires offensive players move from one zone to another to creative number advantages and use overlapping runs and combination play to maintain possession. The competitive drill allows methods for both the offense and defense to score.

The video has sound, so please make sure that your sound is turned on and that you have access to YouTube (many school block access)

For more information about the dvd that this drill came from click the link Developing an Effective Team Attack