Inside outside
Quick touches with the inside and outside of your feet. Keep your toes pointed and work in a zig zag pattern up the pitch.
Roll n Step
Roll the ball diagonally across your body with the sole of the foot stepping with the other foot to let the ball go through the legs. Immediately catch the ball with the sole of the other foot and go back. Repeat in a running motion working on balance, rhythm and close control.
U turns
Improve your balance with the ball mastery exercise. With the ball in front of you, extend the leg and bring the ball back with the sole of the foot. Touch the ball with the inside of the foot pushing it behind the standing foot.Touch the ball forward in front with your laces. Repeat up the pitch.
Inside outside roll
Ball Mastery exercise focusing on quick touches. Roll the ball into the inside of the opposite foot. Perform a quick inside and outside moving the ball away and then roll across again. Repeat up the pitch on with quick touches and rhythm.
Jump Backs
With the ball in front of you at a slight angle, bring the furthest foot from the ball across the body. Pull the ball back, rotate and push the ball out with the inside of the other foot in a V shape. Key is the rotation of the hips and the ball should work in a "V" shape up the pitch.
Dribbling Basics
Learn the 1st basic dribbling technique. Dribble with your laces keeping the ball close to your foot and try to keep you head up. Move in a straight line up the pitch and return working on the other foot.
Push and roll
Dribble towards the defender. Make a big fake to pass inside the defender and open up your body. Roll the ball up your foot and flick with your toe past the defender and explode away.
In and out
This exercise is all about quick touches. Drive towards the defender with a laces dribble. As you approach the defender. Make a move to go on the inside touching the ball in and then immediately push the ball out with your laces. The foot should not touch the ground in this motion and be sure to explode away.
Giggsy
Trademark Giggsy jinks and feints. Drive towards the defender with a laces dribble. Perform a step shifting your balance right across and then step the other way shifting your balance again. Explode out with outside of the foot. Ensure the ball the is rolling closely in front of while performing the steps
Neymar
Coming at an angle towards the defender, roll the ball across the front of the body, step over with the same foot and take take the ball with the outside of the opposite foot. Explode away.
Ronaldinho
Take small touches across the body approaching the defender.Step over with the same foot faking to defender down the line and explode away. Ensure you are close enough to the defender to give your fake the best chance to succeed.
Inside cuts
Work in a line between 2 cones. Tap the ball to the side, head up and fake to kick. Cut the ball with inside of the foot rolling the ball across your body. Repeat again with the other foot. Accentuate the fake by using your arms,
Double outside cuts – Hazard turn
Set up 2 cones in a line and start 1 meter behind in the center. Tap the ball towards one of the cones. As you reach the cone cut the ball with the outside of your foot to stop it and quickly cut again forward and diagonally. Work off both feet and make the cuts sharp and explode away!
Zidane turn
A turn made famous by Zinedine Zidane. Roll the ball across the front of your body. Touch the ball with inside of your other foot diagonally under your body. Work off both feet and try with a moving ball also.
Zig zag practice inside rolls
Set up 6 cones in a zig zag formation. Starting at the base, drive in to the first cone, roll the ball across your body and plant your foot driving with the outside of the opposite foot to the next cone on the other side. Continue working up the zig zag.
Zig zag practice double outside cuts
Set up 7 cones in a zig zag formation. Starting at the base, drive into the first cone and first outside cut to stop the ball. Very quickly touch again with the outside exploding to the next cone on the other side. Try to make the touch at least 1 metre and continue working up the zig zag.
Zig zag practice inside cuts
Set up 6 cones in a zig zag formation. Starting at the base, drive in to the first cone, cut the ball across your body and plant your foot driving with the outside of the opposite foot to the next cone on the other side. Continue working up the zig zag.
Zig zag practice double cuts
Set up 7 cones in a zig zag formation. Starting at the base, drive into the first cone, roll back and touch out exploding to the next cone on the other side. Try to make the touch at least 1 metre and continue working up the zig zag.
Outside cuts receiving off the wall
Set up 2 cones about 5 yards from the wall. From the center pass into the wall and fake before receive. Open your body and touch the ball square towards the cone. Cut the ball sharply backwards with the outside of the foot and explode away to the center. Repeat again using the other foot and moving towards the other cone.
Outside cuts, Ronaldo – pass
Playing unopposed with a partner, receive the ball and touch it square sucking the defender in. Outside cut keeping the ball safe side and roll inside the defender. Drive at pace towards the mannequin, doing a Ronaldo around and then pick your pass. Work off both feet.
Running with ball, 1v1 to cross
Drive at the defenders feet at an angle with a laces dribble. Fake inside and then explode out an deliver a cross. Key element is the fake and exploding out giving you the time to whip in that cross.
Inside Outside on a Straight Line
Working between 2 cones in a straight line. Work side to side, inside on one foot and outside of the other. Ensure toes are pointing down and move your feet quickly. Challenge is to remain on the line and get into a good rhythm.
Opener to Outside
The ball mastery practice works around one cone in a "V" shape. Bring your foot across your body on top of the the ball moving it towards you. Touch out with the outside of the same foot and repeat with the other foot. Work both sides equally and don't forget to rotate your body.
Double Step Over Turn
Roll the ball ahead of you. Make a big fake to kick but step over the ball. Turn your body 180 degrees and step over with the other foot. Tap the ball and explode away.
One and a half Step Overs
A practice which does not involve touching the ball but a combination of a fake and body movements to lose the opposing player. Roll the ball ahead of yourself. Perform a big fake and step over the ball. Step the same foot back over the ball immediately and explode out in the same direction.
Roll and Cut
A quick fire movement of the feet to lose the opposing player. Roll foot over the top of the ball, cut with outside of the same foot and explode away. Ensure to practice on the weaker foot.
Step Over Touch
A dribbling ball mastery practice requiring a fake, deft touch and turn. Step over the ball touching it with the trailing foot. Cut with the outside foot and explode away.
Explosive First Touch 2
Work on your first touch by moving the ball and exploding performing various turns, big touches before shooting on goal. Repeat on weaker foot.
Garrincha
Drive towards the defender and when close take a big step across the ball and explode with the outside of the other foot in the other direction. Most effective when coming in at an angle making the disguise as big as possible.
Wing Wizardy Like Draxler & Robben
The practice is focused on 2 specific skills which have been mastered by both players. Draxler loves the step over to bamboozle the defender where as Robben's trademark is a drop of the shoulder and cut inside at speed.
Top Five Skills Ball Mastery Skills
The top 5 ball mastery skills to improve your game, improve your touch and make you a better player. Watch the video.
Coaching players to turn effectively
Master 3 core skills/turns. The Cruyff, StepOver Turn and the Outside cut. Its important that we get players on the ball and experiment with different turns but we are also there if necessary to support them and help correct body movements that maybe making them less efficient with their movement.
