3 outside 1 inside
This exercise is all about quick touches! Take 3 touches with the outside of the foot and then 1 with the inside of the other foot. Make sure the touches are close together and work in a zig zag pattern up the pitch.
Shuffle
A standing practice to get those feet moving. Tap the ball with the toes of each foot moving to the side of the ball slightly in front. Then tap the ball with the foot furthest away behind the standing leg. Then work your way back across repeating the motion. Try to keep the ball still and just move the body building up speed and rhythm.
Double Ronaldo
Drive straight towards the middle of the defender dribbling with your laces. Circle one foot around the front of the ball and then circle the other foot at speed. Touch the ball way and explode at pace. Key thing here to accentuate the fakes and be explosive!
Maradona
Drive at the defender with a laces dribble keeping your head up. As you get close to the defender, drag the ball backwards, pivot and then drag the ball forwards to an angle. Remember, the ball goes backwards first and then forwards and use your studs to grip the ball.
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.
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.
Cuts, Ronaldo, 1/2 and finish
Working in a pair set up a square with a defender in the middle away from the goal. Start at the base of the square closest to the goal. Receive a pass from the center pushing the ball towards the corner. Perform a sharp outside cut on the safe side. Drive towards the center defender and perform a Ronaldo to the top of the square. A sharp Cryuff to turn back towards goal doing a 1-2 with the your playing partner around the central defender. Finish first time.
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.
In, Out Touch
Set up 2 cones 10 yards apart 2 yards away from a wall. At the top of the first cone, perform an inside then outside with the same foot bouncing against the wall at an angle to receive on the other side of the cone. Receive 1 touch behind the standing foot into space exploding towards the other cone. Drive at pace between the cones.
Two Outside & Double Touch
This ball mastery exercise involves working in a straight line between 2 cones. Take two touches with the outside of the foot, then a double touch with a big final touch. Can you fake to kick before the double touch?
In Out Step Over
This ball mastery drill has three elements and involves working on a straight line between 2 cones. Inside then outside of the foot with quick touches followed by a step over over turn. Touch away with the other foot and quickly get your body square with the ball and repeat. Remember the foot does not touch the ground during the in/out touch and ensure there is a big fake in the step over turn.
Roll Cut Bang Bang
This ball mastery skill involves quick feet and coordination. Roll your foot over the top of the ball and cut to the other foot. Immediately bang ball off both feet.Try and get a rhythm going and the key is positive big touches.
Ball Mastery Combination
This ball mastery skill combination brings together 7 core skills and effective drill. Make sure you work on the individual techniques first. Heal Toe, Outside Cut, Step Over Turn, Opener, Jump Back, Maradona, Double Ronaldo.
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.
Reverse Rolling Cruyff
One of the more advanced ball mastery practices. Roll the ball and turn. Catch the ball with the other foot and roll out exploding towards it and accelerating away.
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.
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.
