Indoor Training for U6/U7: Mat Circuit with Ball

Pitch: Mark out a square with 4 cones and lay out a floor mat on each side between two cones.

Equipment: 4 cones, 4 floor mats, 1 ball per player.

Players: The players spread out as evenly as possible over the four cones.

• The players run anticlockwise around the square with the ball and dribble over the mats.
• Between the mats they complete different ball familiarisation exercises, for example stopping the ball with the sole or dragging it sideways.
• After a while the running direction is changed.

Scoring: Run as an individual competition: which player manages the most laps with the ball at the feet without a mistake? As a team competition: one team catches, which team catches more players in the circuit with the ball at the feet?

Variations:

• The players bounce the ball between the mats.
• On the mats the players throw the ball up.
• On the mats the ball circles around the hips.

Note: Drill idea by Max Schönijahn. The mat circuit without a ball is suitable as a preparatory drill.