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LOGINHandling booster
A session ideal for pre-season or in-season if you need to reconnect your players with their handling skills and pace onto the ball. By DAN COTTRELL.
WHY USE IT
Accurate passing is essential to maintaining a flowing attacking move capable of exploiting mismatches and space. Look at the detail as well as the outcomes.
set up
Cones and balls.
HOW TO PLAY
ACTIVITY 1: Two columns of players start about 5m apart. You can adjust this according to skill level. One column will be the catch-and-pass group and they will start about 2m ahead of the catch column. The first catch-and-pass group jogs forward. Once they get level with a feeder, they receive a ball and pass it for the next player. The catch column’s first player has to sprint forward, so holds their run before setting off. The feeder joins the first column, the passer joins the next and the catcher becomes a feeder. You should have a couple of feeders ready.
ACTIVITY 2: The ball carrier races forward and passes only when they are out of the box in front of them. A defender races forward also, aiming to touch the ball carrier or slide off and touch the receiver. The receiver should sprint onto the pass, so the defender has no chance of catching them. The original ball carrier can dummy if they think the defender is moving over too quickly.
COACHING POINTS
- Pass in front of the receiver.
- The receiver should reach for the ball only when it’s passed.
- The receiver only puts their hands out when the ball is passed
- The passer aims in front of the runner to draw them onto the pass
Related Files
- The first player in the line jogs onto a pass then releases the ball after the cones
- A feeder pops the ball to the first player
- The receiver sprints off, timing their run based on the first players
- A ball carrier sprints through the box and passes once outside
- The defender decides whether to go for the passer or the receiver, but only once they have left their box
- The next receiver aims to beat the defender should they cover across
Dan Cottrell
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