Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 23: Training Lofted Balls

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

With the move to the full-size pitch, playing lofted balls becomes much more important. Above all because of the larger pitch combined with ball-orientated defending, which creates large spaces on the far side. These can be exploited by a switch of play over several players, but also by a well-aimed lofted ball.

In addition, thanks to their physical development, players are now able to play high balls over longer distances.

However, the extra physical strength is not enough to use lofted balls effectively in your own game. Of course, work also has to be done on the technical execution of lofted balls so that they reach the team-mate accurately. But playing lofted balls safely and precisely is only useful if the receiver is able to control the ball quickly.

That is why this week also works on controlling high balls. Besides the technical aspects of the lofted ball, one question also plays a role: “When and how can I use lofted balls in my game?”

In the next 3 sessions, give your players tips to bear in mind when playing lofted balls:

  • Play the lofted ball from the centre-back to the far-side wing against the direction of the shift wherever possible
  • Lofted balls in behind the defence are a particularly good option against opponents who defend high. Provided that team-mates offer runs in behind.
  • Only use lofted balls when the team-mate has enough time to control the ball without pressure from opponents
  • Point out to players how the ball behaves in the given weather and pitch conditions. Is the grass wet? Are you playing on artificial turf? Is the grass short or rather long?

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

In preparation for the training focus of lofted balls, the warm-up works on controlling high balls. It is important that the ball is controlled out of the air, brought down quickly and that the player picks up speed quickly.

After that, playing and controlling lofted balls is trained in a total of 3 exercises. At first without time pressure or pressure from opponents, in order to gain confidence both in playing and in receiving lofted balls.

In the 3rd exercise some pressure from opponents is then added. After a lofted ball, 1 vs 1 is played in an area the size of a double penalty area. Here too the rule is again: bring the ball down quickly and pick up speed in order to gain an advantage in the 1 vs 1.

To finish, 8 vs 8 is played on half a pitch. Encourage the players to bring the lofted ball into the game deliberately. However, the high ball should only be used when the match situation actually allows it.

Coaching points for this session

Playing lofted balls:

  • Look up from the ball once more before the lofted ball is played
  • Plant the standing foot to the side of and behind the ball
  • Play the ball with the inside of the instep and without spin
  • Play balls on the move (match-like training)

Controlling high balls:

  • Do not let the ball bounce
  • Get the ball down quickly
Drill 1

Warm-Up in the Centre Circle

15 minAt least as big as the centre circle, to suit the number of players
  • The outside player plays the ball along the ground to the partner.
  • The partner plays the ball back, turns at high speed, runs through two cones and looks for a new partner.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: The centre circle; next to it four cones mark out a square.

Equipment: 4 cones and 1 ball per pair.

Players: Pairs are formed. One player of each pair stands inside the circle, the other outside.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to a good tempo.
  • Demand full concentration, so that the players do not get in each other's way when sprinting.
Drill 2

Lofted Balls over the Goal

20 minVary according to the level of ability
  • The players take up a position in their respective zone.
  • They alternately play lofted balls over the goals into the respective zones.

Variations: Run the drill as a competition — which players manage to play more balls over the goal into the target area? Optionally also with the weaker foot.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 16 cones mark four zones; two youth goals stand between them.

Equipment: 16 cones, 2 youth goals and several balls.

Players: One player per zone.

Coaching points
  • Play the lofted ball out of the movement.
  • Play the balls with the inside of the instep.
  • Place the standing foot to the side behind the ball.
  • When controlling the ball, do not let the ball bounce.
  • Bring the ball down to the ground quickly.
  • Give way at the moment of contact with the ball.
Drill 3

Duel After a Lofted Ball

25 minDouble penalty area
  • Player A plays a diagonal lofted ball to Player B.
  • Player A runs forward and takes up the defending position.
  • Player B controls the ball and dribbles towards Player A; a duel develops.
  • Ideally Player B is able to finish on the goal behind Player A.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 6 cones, 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Four groups are formed.

Coaching points
  • Demand a drive towards goal.
  • If an action takes too long, stop the drill.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game 2: 8 vs 8 + Goalkeepers in One Half of the Pitch to 2 Goals

30 minHalf a pitch
  • The two teams play against each other — with offside and without a limit on touches.
  • The team in possession tries to create a finish.
  • The other team disrupts the build-up early with pressing and tries to win the ball and to finish in the dangerous area itself.
  • One team continues to play with one striker in the basic shape.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: In one half of the pitch, a halfway line and a goal line are marked out with cones. There is one goal on the goal line and one on the halfway line.

Equipment: 5 cones and 2 full-size goals.

Players: Two teams of eight are formed. There is a goalkeeper in each goal.

Coaching points
  • On winning the ball, switch immediately from defence to attack and first control the ball securely.
  • The defenders force the attacker on the ball into the area away from goal, double up on that player or tuck in to block the passing lane to the goal and to team-mates.
  • In attack, a staggered shape in depth is kept; moving on one line is avoided. The wide players stand on the touchline and use the width.
  • Passes in behind bring the defensive line into a forward movement; switching to the flanks forces it to shift across and opens up spaces for the diagonal ball into the side that has been vacated.
  • Triangles are formed again and again in order to create passing options.
  • Getting stuck in a tight space is avoided; switches of play and passes in behind are played regularly.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

A lofted ball that is played quite often is the one from a centre-back to the far-side winger. It is an advantage if the ball is played against the direction of the shift. How high up the pitch the opposing back four stands also plays a role.

If it plays very compact and deep, a lofted ball is an excellent way of finding a wide player who is standing very wide in front of the line. The task then is to bring the ball down quickly in order to pick up speed or carry out a follow-up action.

If, on the other hand, the opposing team's last line plays very high, lofted balls in behind the defence are a good option. Of course, this requires runs in behind, with the wide player moving parallel towards the line and setting off in behind as the pass is played. The centre-back should not play the ball too far wide, but in behind the opposing full-back. This allows the winger to cut across the defender's path when taking the ball in stride.

Coaching points for this session
  • Get the ball down quickly
  • Do not let the balls bounce
  • Play lofted balls against the direction of the shift
  • Play balls with the inside of the instep and without spin
  • Look up from the ball once more
Drill 1

Coordination with the Ball

15 min
  • The players work through the ladders as instructed.
  • Then they dribble a ball through the course.
  • On the way back they put the ball down again in front of the agility ladder.

Exercises for the agility ladder:

  • Short, quick steps.
  • Two steps forwards, one step back.
  • In from the side and forwards with short steps.
  • Single-leg jumps.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Agility ladders next to each other, behind them a tall cone course.

Equipment: Agility ladders, tall cones and several balls.

Players: Two groups of equal size, which line up behind the ladders.

Coaching points
  • Work on the balls of the feet at the agility ladder.
  • Bring the hands along properly.
  • Keep the ball close in the course.
  • Dribble with both feet.
  • Look up from the ball.
Drill 2

Short Pass | Lofted Ball

15 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A plays a ground pass to Player B.
  • Player B plays a ground pass to Player C.
  • Player C plays a ground pass to Player D.
  • Player D plays a lofted pass to Player E.
  • Player E plays a ground pass to Player F.
  • Player F plays a ground pass to Player G.
  • Player G plays a ground pass to Player H.
  • Player H plays a lofted pass to Player A.

Note: Every player moves to the position they have passed to.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions.

Equipment: Cones and several balls.

Players: The players at positions A to H. Player A's position is filled by two players at the start.

Coaching points
  • Play all ground passes with the second touch.
  • Play the lofted balls on the move.
Drill 3

Switches of Play

20 min
  • Yellow Player 5 passes to yellow Player 3.
  • The blue back four shifts across to the ball side.
  • Yellow Player 3 passes back to yellow Player 5.
  • Yellow Player 5 switches play with a lofted ball to yellow Player 2.
  • With the back pass the blue back four first shifts sideways and drops back as soon as yellow Player 5 sets up for the lofted ball.
  • Blue Player 3 tries to intercept the pass.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two back fours face each other.

Equipment: Several balls.

Players: Two back fours in yellow and blue.

Coaching points
  • Play the lofted ball out of the movement.
  • Bring the ball down to the ground quickly.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 with Outside Players in 3 Variations

25 minDouble penalty area
  • Inside the playing area the game is played 4 vs 4.
  • In the attacking half each team positions two crossing players.
  • The crossing players have three ways of getting involved in the game: one-touch play to a team-mate, dribbling into the playing area — in which case the passer must switch to the outside — or a cross.

Scoring of goals:

  • An outside player sets up a goal or scores a goal after dribbling in: two points.
  • Goal after a cross: three points.
  • All other goals: one point.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area; two goals stand at the ends.

Equipment: 2 goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams. For each team four players are in the playing area and two outside as crossing players; in addition there are goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Encourage the players to look for the wingers on the far side of the ball, because they usually have a lot of space; a lofted ball is particularly well suited to this.
  • Bring the ball down to the ground quickly and dribble straight forward into the playing area.

Session 3

4 drills

The third session rounds things off with some final fine-tuning of lofted balls. In the first and second exercises the players will first work purely on technique.

Exercise 3 simulates a match situation in which the strikers receive a delivery at the end that they can convert.

The last exercise is a match-realistic exercise that above all trains the players' creativity in connection with lofted balls.

Coaching points for this session
  • Get the ball down quickly
  • Do not let the balls bounce
  • Play lofted balls against the direction of the shift
  • Play balls with the inside of the instep and without spin
  • Look up from the ball once more
Drill 1

Passing/Coordination

15 min
  • Players 1, 3 and 5 start dribbling at the same time.
  • From the middle onwards, Player 1 passes to Player 2, Player 3 to Player 6 and Player 5 to Player 4.
  • On the way back, Player 2 passes to Player 3, Player 4 to Player 1 and Player 6 to Player 5.
  • Every player always runs straight ahead into the group opposite.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the positions.

Equipment: 6 cones and several balls.

Players: The players at positions 1 to 6.

Coaching points
  • All players must start dribbling at the same time.
  • Look up from the ball.
Drill 2

Lofted Ball + Lay-Off + Short Pass

15 min
  • Player A plays a long lofted ball to Player C, who lays it off to Player D.
  • Players A and B swap positions.
  • Player D lays the ball off to Player C.
  • Player C plays a lofted ball to Player B.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the positions.

Equipment: 4 cones and several balls.

Players: Pairs at positions A and B as well as C and D.

Coaching points
  • At the start of the drill, always control the lofted ball first and play it on with the second touch.
  • Plant the standing foot to the side and behind the ball.
  • Play the ball with the inside of the instep and without spin.
Drill 3

Lofted Ball with Cross and Finish

25 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A plays a lofted ball to Player B in the square.
  • Player B controls the ball in the square and sprints towards the pole.
  • In front of the pole Player B performs a step-over.
  • Then Player B crosses the ball into the penalty area to Player C or D, who make crossing runs in front of it.
  • After that the same sequence runs mirrored down the other side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Twelve cones mark the starting points and the squares, two poles stand on the way to the penalty area.

Equipment: 12 cones, 2 poles, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Groups of four with Players A, B, C and D; in addition one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Bring the ball down to the ground quickly.
  • Take the ball in the direction of play.
  • Pick up speed immediately.
  • Place the pole further towards the centre, so that the dribble comes in on a vertical line.
  • When performing the step-over, shift the centre of gravity sufficiently and go past the pole with a change of pace.
Drill 4

8 vs 7 plus Goalkeeper

25 minHalf a pitch
  • The game is played 8 vs 7 on the goal with the goalkeeper and on the two counter-attack goals.
  • Attackers and defenders may only follow up in front of the goal once the ball has crossed the offside line.
  • After a while the two teams swap tasks.

Variations: Play with a maximum of three touches.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four tall cones form two counter-attack goals on the halfway line, two further tall cones mark the offside line; a goal stands at one end.

Equipment: 6 tall cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Eight attackers and seven defenders; in addition one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • As soon as the ball has been played over the offside line, get to a finish quickly.
  • Keep offering runs in behind to the players on the ball.
Your training. Your web app.

Get the complete training plans in the web app

  • All 52 weeks, up to three sessions per week
  • More than 3,000 drills – many of them animated
  • Build your own training plans & share them with your team
Start for free

No subscription, no credit card. Sign up in 1 minute.