Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 51: Ball Control & First Touch

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

In a football match, a wide variety of passes has to be controlled in all kinds of match situations. The passes can reach the team-mate along the ground, firmly, in the air or at half-height. In addition, the pressure from opponents can vary greatly. The 1st touch can be taken in lots of free space, but also with an opponent nearby or right at your back pushing and leaning in. Besides the type of pass and the pressure from opponents, the 1st touch can also be distinguished by the follow-up action it prepares. So with his control, a receiver can prepare a pass, a dribble or a shot.

So it is clear that players face very different challenges when receiving the ball. However, certain patterns emerge in the individual positions.

A striker will usually have to control the ball under very heavy pressure or in depth. On the wing, long and also high balls after switches of play are often controlled. A holding midfielder or number eight can come under pressure from all sides when receiving the ball.

These patterns make it very easy to train receiving the ball and taking it in the stride position-specifically. The training week starts with a session in which the 1st touch is trained in the holding midfielder and number eight positions. The 2nd session focuses on the positions on the flanks. The week ends with receiving the ball in the striker position.

The 3 sessions not only train how the passes into each position are safely brought under control. The aim of the practices is also that follow-up actions are prepared as well as possible with the 1st touch.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Today's session works on controlling the ball in the holding midfield and number eight positions. The players in central midfield can come under pressure from any side. So it is not enough to have a good first touch. The players also have to recognise in which direction they can take the ball. It helps the holding midfielders and number eights to keep scanning and, whenever possible, to show for the ball in an open body position.

This also allows the central midfielders to recognise whether taking the ball in the direction of play is possible. If this works, they should try to prepare the follow-up action with the very first touch, because space and time are in short supply in the centre of the pitch. From the centre, a forward pass is often prepared, which is why the ball does not need to be pushed very far ahead with the first touch and should rather be kept close to the foot. Only in the final third does the chance of a finish come up now and then. In that case, the shot should already be prepared with the 1st touch if a first-time finish is not possible.

So in the centre of the pitch the ball is usually not held for long. If a first-time pass is not possible, it is often only a matter of getting a little away from the opponent in order to play the ball on. It helps to be able to take the ball in different directions, or to combine controlling the ball with a body feint.

Coaching points for this session
  • Practise varied first touches and ways of taking the ball in stride: left, right, outside of the foot, inside of the foot, taking the ball behind the standing leg
  • Perform a body feint before the first touch to get away from the opponent
  • Prepare a follow-up action with the very first touch
  • Scan in advance
  • Show for the ball in an open body position
Drill 1

Footbonaut: Improving Technique and Awareness

20 min
  • The coach calls out one of the targets and plays a pass to the player.
  • This player has two touches to finish on the corresponding mini goal.

Variations:

  • As group training with a maximum of five players per group: one player stands in the middle, the other four on the outside between the mini goals with balls. The coach calls out a name and a target — the pass comes from the player named, and the finish is taken on the goal named. In this way the ball does not only come from one direction, and two questions have to be answered at once: where is the ball coming from, and where does it have to go? This makes the drill more game-realistic.
  • Use different goal sizes; the size of the goal depends on the importance of the respective target.
  • As a partner drill: set team targets and go into the middle in pairs. One player stops the ball, the other plays it into the goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four mini goals stand in a diamond shape, two of them opposite each other in each case. In the middle a square of four cones forms the standing area.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, 4 cones and balls with the coach.

Players: One player stands in the middle between the goals. Before the drill each goal is assigned a target or a value — depending on the focus.

Coaching points
  • Act in an open body position.
  • Act with both feet.
  • Vary the pace of the passes.
Drill 2

Positional Play: Cone Goals and Passes Through the Gaps

20 minFrom the penalty area to the halfway line
  • The teams play for possession.
  • A pass through a cone goal to a team-mate scores one point.
  • A team also scores one point for playing 15 passes in a row.

Variations: The pass through the cone goal must come from a one-two.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four tall cones mark out the playing area; several small cone goals are set up all over the area.

Equipment: 4 tall cones, cones for the cone goals and several balls.

Players: The players are divided into two teams.

Coaching points
  • Get as many players as possible close to the cone goals in order to play passing combinations.
  • If the opponents close down the space and the cone goal well, switch play quickly.
Drill 3

Agility Ladder & Sprint with Finishing

20 min
  • Player A plays the ball past the ladder and then completes an exercise in the ladder.
  • At the same time, Player B sets off to the first cone and back again.
  • As soon as Player A comes out of the ladder, A passes the ball first time to Player B, who looks for the finish.
  • Player A moves to B's position, Player B to A's.
  • Players C and D perform the same drill on the other side, offset in time.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two agility ladders and six cones.

Equipment: 2 agility ladders, 6 cones, several balls and 1 full-size goal.

Players: The players at positions A, B, C and D.

Coaching points
  • Have the step sequence at the agility ladder varied.
  • Take the ball straight into the movement.
  • Move towards the pass.
Drill 4

First Touch and Taking the Ball in Stride I

15 min
  • Players A pass to Players B.
  • Players B control the pass, turn slightly around their cones and play on to Players C.
  • Players C take the pass forward into their stride and shoot at goal from the marked line.
  • After that all players move on one position.

Variations:

  • Player B turns after a body feint.
  • Player C carries out a body feint before the first touch.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight red and eight blue cones as well as one goal.

Equipment: 16 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: The players at positions A, B and C.

Coaching points
  • Player B controls the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent and turns with that foot.
  • Player C takes the ball into the stride with an explosive burst.
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

The 2nd session of the week is about how the players on the flanks control the ball. On the wing, the space is not guarded as tightly as in the centre, so the wide players often have more time for their first touch. In addition, the full-backs do not need to scan as much, because the touchline is behind them. If the players show for the ball in a half-open body position, facing the centre of the pitch, they can essentially see all the opponents near the ball. But even if the pressure from opponents is not so great, the players on the flanks face certain challenges when controlling the ball. The full-backs and wingers need to be able to…

  • …control lofted balls and bring them down quickly. The players on the flanks are often the target players for high balls. This is because high balls are often in the air for a long time. A lofted ball into the centre can practically never be controlled without pressure from opponents. If, on the other hand, a high ball is played onto the wing against the direction of the shift, the receiver has enough time to bring the ball down. Even so, the wide player still has to be prepared for body contact from time to time when controlling lofted balls. For example, when the ball is in the air for a very long time or a defender has read the situation in time.
  • …pick up speed with the 1st touch. The flanks lend themselves particularly well to attacking 1 vs 1 situations, because the space is not so tight. But to give themselves a good starting point for the 1 vs 1, the players should go into it at the highest possible speed. This starts with the very first touch. So, wherever possible, the ball is not stopped but taken forward straight away.
  • …control balls at full speed. Wingers and full-backs are often the target of switches of play. To make the best possible use of the space gained, the ball is therefore played straight into the path of the full-back or wide midfielder.
Coaching points for this session
  • Bring lofted balls down quickly (be ready for contact with an opponent)
  • Pick up speed immediately with the first touch
  • Use the first touch to dribble directly at the opponent
Drill 1

Passing in a Square - Passing into the Run

20 min
  • The red player plays the ball into the zone of the blue player, who has asked for it beforehand.
  • The blue player takes the ball on under control and plays it on to the next player — here to the yellow one.
  • The drill continues in this way.

Variations: After a few rounds, change the direction of play.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four zones are set up with 16 cones.

Equipment: 16 cones and balls.

Players: At least one player stands at each zone, at least two at the starting position.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball on with the outside foot and play it with that foot.
Drill 2

Passing in 8s

20 minHalf a pitch
  • The player on the left starts with the ball and dribbles forward a little.
  • This player passes to the first ball distributor, who passes exactly into the run of the player on the right-hand side.
  • The receiver takes the ball and passes to the second ball distributor.
  • This distributor passes to the left into the run of the left-hand player.
  • The left-hand player takes the ball and plays a diagonal pass to the right-hand player on the opposite side.
  • The sequence is identical on the other side.

Variations: Only one-touch play is allowed.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six cones mark the positions.

Equipment: 6 cones and several balls.

Players: Four ball distributors stand back to back in the centre, two to three metres apart from each other; two players stand at each side.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball straight into the movement.
  • Play the balls into the run or into the front foot of the team-mate in such a way that the team-mate does not have to reduce the tempo.
  • Take the ball with the outside foot and play it on.
Drill 3

Controlling High Balls

20 minAs shown in the graphic
  • The coach alternately plays lofted balls to the players on the left and on the right.
  • The players control the high ball with the chest or with the foot.
  • They then dribble through the cones.
  • To finish, they play a pass into the mini goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: 16 cones form three areas: a rectangle directly in front of the penalty area as well as one square each on the left and on the right in midfield. To the left and to the right of the rectangle stands one mini goal each.

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

Players: Two groups, which spread out across the cone squares on the left and on the right. The coach stands with the balls in the rectangle in front of the penalty area.

Coaching points
  • Bring the ball under control.
  • Bring the ball down to the ground quickly and pick up speed immediately.
  • Take the ball with the first touch in the direction of play.
Drill 4

Playing Through the Wings with a Finish

25 minHalf a pitch
  • The number eight plays the ball to the number nine coming towards the ball, who turns with the ball and finishes.
  • At the same time the holding midfielder passes to the number ten, who lays the ball off to the number eight.
  • So after the pass to the number nine, the number eight immediately turns attention to the number ten.
  • The number eight plays to the winger on the ball side.
  • This winger crosses from zone A to the number nine, the number ten and the winger on the far side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones mark the positions and the wing zone A; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: 8 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: A holding midfielder, a number eight, a number nine, a number ten as well as a right-hand and a left-hand winger; the holding midfielder and the number eight start with a ball. Plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Make sure the tempo is close to a match situation.
  • Do not make the run too early.
  • Drop away on the far side from the ball before the cross.
  • Make a diagonal run towards the goal and the crosser.

Session 3

4 drills

In the striker's position, almost every time the ball is controlled there is pressure from opponents. When the ball has been played in behind, the opponents attack from the side or from behind. If the attacker receives the pass in front of the opposing back four, the striker comes under pressure from behind. On top of that, the attacker may also be doubled up on from the front.

If an attacker runs onto a pass in behind the opposing defence, the attacker is of course chased by opponents. If the opposing defender is very close, the attacker should take the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent. In addition, no speed should be lost when taking the ball, so that the defenders cannot catch the striker again. If the attacker has managed to get a little away from the direct opponent while sprinting to the ball, the first touch can cut across the defender's running line, so that the defender has to slow down.

Suppose the attacker receives the ball with their back to goal. There is then usually a centre-back behind the striker. So that the centre-back cannot attack or intercept the ball, the ball should be received as far away from the opponent as possible. To do this, the attacker can switch to a side-on position relative to the centre-back and control the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent. If the defender is too eager and makes body contact, the attacker can also roll the opponent.

Because of the enormous lack of time and space in front of goal, the attacker should carry out a follow-up action as quickly as possible. This is often the finish. But for that, the attacker has to get away from the opponent with the first touch in order to open up the way to goal. Taking the ball with pace and combining it with a body feint can help here.

Coaching points for this session
  • Control the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent
  • Combine taking the ball in stride with a body feint
  • Use the first touch to get away from the opponent so that you can make a follow-up action
  • Defender is marking very tightly from behind: turn into that defender
Drill 1

Passing Organisation Format

20 min
  • Player A passes to Player B, who takes the ball to the left.
  • Player A runs to position B.
  • After taking the ball, Player B plays a pass to Player C.
  • Player C takes the ball into the space and dribbles towards A.
  • Player B moves to position C.
  • The sequence is then repeated down the other side.

Variations:

  • First touch and taking the ball with the second touch.
  • First touch, body feint and taking the ball with the second touch.
  • Take the ball with the first touch using the inside of the foot.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Three cones and two poles are set up in a Y shape.

Equipment: 3 cones, 2 poles and several balls.

Players: Several players stand at position A, one player each at the positions B, C and D.

Coaching points
  • Stand in a slightly side-on position with the defender behind.
  • Control and take the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Shift the centre of gravity far enough during the body feint.
  • Take the ball with an explosive burst.
Drill 2

Side Steps and Sprint

15 min
  • The players move through the slalom poles with side steps.
  • Then they sprint to the cone.
  • Every player completes six runs, three of them sprinting to each side.

Variations:

  • Carry out the side steps backwards.
  • Carry out the drill with a ball.
  • Carry out the drill as a competition so that two teams compete against each other.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Six slalom poles stand one behind the other, behind them two cones mark the sprint targets.

Equipment: 6 slalom poles and 2 cones.

Players: The players start one after the other.

Coaching points

Possible variations

  • Carry out side steps backwards
  • Carry out the drill with a ball

The drill can of course also be carried out as a competition format, so that two teams can compete against each other.

Drill 3

Taking the Ball with an Opponent and the Goal Behind

20 min
  • Player A stands with the back directly in front of the wall of poles.
  • Player B plays a pass into Player A's foot.
  • Player A takes the ball to the side and tries to gain space and time with the first touch.
  • Player A then looks for the finish.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Five poles form a wall, one cone marks the position of the passer; behind it stands a goal.

Equipment: 1 goal, 5 poles, 1 cone and several balls.

Players: Players A and B; plus one goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Control and take the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Always take the finish with the foot furthest from the opponent as well.
  • Take the ball with an explosive burst.
Drill 4

First Touch and Taking the Ball from Different Heights

20 minSmall pitch
  • A player runs around the dummy.
  • The coach throws the ball to this player high or half-high.
  • The player controls the ball and gets to the shot at goal immediately.
  • Then this player runs on to the coach standing opposite.
  • This coach plays the ball in along the ground; the player controls it again and gets to the shot at goal immediately.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two dummies stand in the playing area; there is a goal at each end. The coaches stand opposite each other.

Equipment: 2 dummies, 2 goals and several balls.

Players: The players start one after the other; plus goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Get the ball down quickly and get to the finish.
  • Take the ball straight into the movement.
  • Do not allow any loss of tempo when taking the ball.
  • Finish accurately with the inside of the foot from close range.
  • Lean the upper body over 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.