Control and Support Play

The following session includes exercises to aid players ability to control the ball; from there we look at controlling the ball and playing it to the supporting teammates who should be moving off the ball to help the player in possession.

 

Warm Up

Set up and instruction: Have a team of players in red, a team in blue and 2 yellow (neutral) players. The teams use there teammates and the yellow players to pass and move inside the area, focusing on their first touch. 

Coaching points: When receiving the ball, use the inside of your foot to control the ball and stop the center of the ball so the ball cannot bounce over or roll under your foot. Lock your ankle to you make a firm connection with the ball, stopping it instantly. Coach should demonstrate

Progressions:

1. Make sure your first touch is in front of you so you can then step onto the ball and pass
2. Challenge players to turn with the ball with their first touch
3. Play 2 touch - players must control then pass

Drill 1

Set up and Instruction: Split the team into groups of 3 or 4 players, with 1 ball per group. On the coaches command the teams work the ball from one side of the area to another, always using 2 touches, 1 to control and another to pass. Encourage creativity and imaginative combinations.

Routine: When the first pass is played, the receiving player controls the ball, other players move to support and receive a pass from that player

Coaching points for support run:

• Always be in a position to receive the ball, get there as fast as you can!
• Make sure you communicate to the player on the ball to let them know you are open
• Give the player on the ball options, run into a difference space from other teammates
 

Progression:

Insert 1 defender who will attempt to stop the team from getting from one side of the playing area to the other.

Drill 1 - Progression

Set up and Instruction: Play 2v2 with 2 yellow supporting players outside of the area, yellow players cannot be tackles. The red team start by playing the ball to a yellow and then showing support, the yellow will control and play back to the red team. If the red team is successful in scoring a goal against the blue defenders then the next 2 red players go, if possession is lost or a shot is missed, the next team become attackers.

Conditioned Game

Set up and Instruction: As in the diagram, set up each team with 2 defenders, 3 midfielders and 1 striker -  these players must stay in their allocated zones. The aim of the drill is to play the ball into the strikers feet and then 2 midfielders can go into the final third area and support. The striker must look to control the ball and play to a supporting midfielder (3v2). 

Progressions:

• Progress to a full game, re-iterating the technique for a good first touch and encouraging quick and effective support play