Indoor Training: Colour Forest

Pitch: On one half of the hall, mark out a square with 4 large cones; the size is adapted to the number of players. Inside the square 16 small cones are spread out freely, 4 cones in each of 4 different colours.

Equipment: 4 large and 16 small cones in four colours, 1 ball per player.

Players: The players spread out freely inside the square. Before the start the coach assigns a dribbling format or a coordination task to each colour.

• To begin with the players dribble inside the square with an unlimited number of touches.
• They should not touch the cones but avoid them with close ball control.
• On a stop command from the coach the players complete the assigned task at a cone of the colour named, for example 5 squat jumps.

Progression:

• At the coloured cones the players perform a set feint, for example a single step-over, a double step-over, a step-over from the outside to the inside or a drag-back.
• As a further progression, replace the colours with animal names, club names, letters or city names.

Variations:

• Control the ball with the weaker foot only.
• Drag the ball with the sole, right and left.
• Let the ball swing between the legs, forwards and backwards.
• Control the ball in strict alternation with the inside and the outside of the foot.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn.