Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 46: Receiving High Balls & Playing Long Balls

2 complete training sessions with 8 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

By the move to the full-size pitch at the latest, long balls also become an option. On the one hand because the size of the pitch offers more opportunities for wide switches of play, and on the other hand because players now also have the physical attributes to play and receive long balls.

But to integrate long balls into your game, you need not only a good kicking technique and a certain amount of strength but also good control of the ball.

When controlling high balls, players first have to develop a feel for the flight of the ball in order to get into the right position. If the ball is received in a small-sided game or a practice with pressure from opponents, the player has to scan beforehand. There are 2 reasons for this. One important purpose of scanning is that the receiver can prepare for the pressure from opponents. Especially when the ball is in the air for a long time, opponents have time to disrupt the player's control of the ball. In this case, the receiver should assert himself against his opponent robustly but fairly.

The 2nd reason for scanning is that possible follow-up actions can already be spotted. This means the first touch can already be made with a clear purpose.

When the ball reaches the player, it can be received very well with the chest, the thigh or the inside of the foot. But high balls can also be controlled with other parts of the body, such as the instep or the outside of the foot.

Once a lofted ball has been received, no time should be lost. The ball should be brought down as quickly as possible to get better control of it. For this, the 2nd touch comes immediately after the ball touches the ground. Once receiving high balls is no longer much of a challenge, the ball can also be taken in the stride straight away and brought down on the move. The ball can even be brought down and taken in the stride with the first touch. For this too, the ball is touched with the inside or outside of the foot immediately after it bounces.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

Receiving and taking high balls in stride is a much greater challenge than controlling balls along the ground. To gain confidence in controlling high balls, the training drills should be kept somewhat easier at the beginning. Over the course of the session or the week, receiving and taking the high balls in stride can then gradually become more difficult.

At the start, it is a good idea for the balls to be thrown to the team-mate from a short distance first. This means the technical demands are not yet so high, as the ball does not come with as much force as with a lofted ball. In the first step, the thrown balls can be received, in the second step taken in stride and in the third step taken in stride on the move. In both cases, the ball should be brought down to the ground as quickly as possible.

Once the players are already very confident at controlling thrown balls, you can move on to controlling lofted balls. Here too, receiving the ball with the 1st touch should be practised first, before the ball is taken directly in stride.

To make training to improve receiving and taking the ball in stride as match-realistic as possible, controlling the ball should be combined with follow-up actions and pressure from opponents in the main part of the session.

Coaching points for this session
  • Cushion the ball on contact
  • Control and take the ball with a purpose (follow-up action)
  • Bring the ball down quickly (touch the ball as it meets the ground)
  • Scan in advance when the ball is in the air for longer
  • Control the ball as quickly as possible
Drill 1

Dealing with High Balls II

15 min
  • Player A throws the ball in to Player B.
  • Player B controls the ball forwards and passes to Player C.
  • Player C lays the ball off first time.
  • With the second touch, Player B plays a lofted ball to Player D.
  • Player D controls the ball towards A, dribbles there and performs a feint on the way.
  • The players move on one position; as soon as position B is filled again, the next round starts.

Variations: Play it as a competition — which group manages the most clean first touches and carries in four minutes?

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones form a kite-shaped quadrilateral; plus one dummy.

Equipment: 4 cones, 1 dummy and several balls.

Players: Positions B, C and D have one player each, the remaining players stand at position A.

Coaching points
  • Take or carry the ball in the direction of play.
  • Get the ball down with the second touch.
  • Give a little with the relevant part of the body on contact with the ball.
  • Once sufficiently warmed up, ensure a match-like tempo.
Drill 2

Coordination Training: Coordination with Sprints

20 min

Right side

  • The players run through the agility ladder with a quick sequence of steps.
  • This is followed by a short sprint over six to seven metres.
  • The players then run through the slalom course at a fast pace.
  • This is followed by a sprint over about 10 to 12 metres.
  • On reaching the goal line, they jog easily across to the other side.

Left side

  • The players run through the agility ladder with a quick sequence of steps.
  • This is followed by a sprint over six to eight metres.
  • The hurdles are then jumped through; here too the focus is on speed.
  • This is followed by a sprint over 10 to 12 metres.
  • On reaching the goal line, they jog easily across to the other side.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two courses side by side with agility ladders, hurdles and slalom poles.

Equipment: 2 agility ladders, 10 hurdles, 5 slalom poles, 2 red and 2 yellow cones.

Players: Two groups, lined up on the goal line.

Coaching points
  • Have different variations performed at the agility ladders.
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

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.
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

Long balls can be an effective tool above all when the opponent shifts very far towards the ball side. The free space on the far side can then be targeted with a lofted ball.

But to be able to use this free space effectively, the ball must be controlled as quickly as possible. This requires a good feel for the ball and its flight path. When receiving high balls, it is crucial to cushion the ball slightly on contact.

In addition, the ball should of course be received in the direction of play. For example, when receiving the ball on the chest, the upper body can be turned slightly in the direction of play as the ball is touched.

Once the ball has been brought down, the player should immediately pick up speed or quickly carry out a follow-up action. For this it can be helpful to scan in advance while the ball is in the air.

Coaching points for this session
  • Cushion the ball a little on contact
  • Bring the ball down quickly
  • Take the ball in the direction of play
  • Scan in advance
Drill 1

Dealing with High Balls

15 min
  • Player A throws a ball to the player behind the pole goal.
  • That player receives the ball and dribbles past the pole goal on the right to player A.
  • During the dribble that player performs a feint of choice.
  • After the throw-in, player A goes straight behind the pole goal.

Variations: Take the ball past the pole goal on the left.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two poles form a pole goal, two cones mark the positions.

Equipment: 2 cones, 2 poles and several balls.

Players: Player A takes the throw-in, a second player stands behind the pole goal.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball in the direction of play.
  • Bring the ball down promptly and pick up speed.
  • For matches the rule is: always throw the ball to the foot, because controlling it is then quicker than with a throw-in to the chest or thigh — or to the head for a flick-on.
Drill 2

Coordination Relay

20 min
  • On a start signal from the coach, the first players of both groups run through the course.
  • They then receive a pass from the feeder and play the ball into the mini goal with a maximum of two touches before the line of cones.
  • Runner and feeder then swap tasks.
  • The winner is the team that is first to score ten goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A course of cones, tall cones, poles and hurdles; behind it a line of cones marks the passing zone in front of two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, cones, tall cones, poles, hurdles and several balls.

Players: Two groups, each with a runner A and a feeder B.

Coaching points
  • Perform the drills cleanly despite the competition.
  • Look up from the ball.
Drill 3

Finishing Drill with First Touch and Carrying the Ball

25 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A throws the ball to Player B.
  • Player B controls the ball towards C and plays a lofted ball to Player C.
  • Player C takes the high ball and carries it towards D.
  • Player D runs towards the goal and receives a pass from Player C.
  • Player D takes the ball, carries it, feints and gets a shot away in front of the penalty area.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark the positions: A centrally in front of the penalty area, B wide at the corner of the penalty area, C wide on the halfway line and D on the opposite side between the centre circle and the penalty area. At the end there is a goal with a goalkeeper.

Equipment: 4 cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Position B has one player, positions C and D have two players each; two to six players stand at position A, each with a ball. Plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Ensure a match-like tempo.
  • Take and carry the ball straight in the direction of play.
  • Get the ball down quickly.
  • Play the lofted ball with backspin and without curl.
  • Give a little on contact with the ball.
Drill 4

First Touch and Carrying the Ball with a Finish

20 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A passes the ball to Player B.
  • Player B turns, carries the ball and finishes.
  • The players then swap tasks.

Variations:

  • The ball is played in with a throw-in.
  • Player A plays a chipped ball to Player B.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: One cone marks the starting position, four poles represent the opponents; at the end there is a goal.

Equipment: 1 cone, 4 poles, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Pairs made up of Players A and B; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Dribble forward before the pass.
  • Show for the ball in an open body position.
  • Carry the ball with the front foot.
  • Ensure a match-like tempo.
  • With the chipped ball and the throw-in, turn into the direction of play with the first touch.
  • Get the ball down quickly in doing so.
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