Staying on the ball

WHY USE IT

Develops players’ confidence and competence at retaining the ball as an individual.

 

SET-UP

Mark out an area appropriate to the number of players, their age and ability. The set up needs to ensure lots of contact and interference from others. This encourages players to keep close control of the ball and be aware of what is around them at all times. Incorporate pitch markings if possible as this can help players to understand the playing area.

 

HOW TO PLAY

Start with half of the players in possession of a ball each. They try to retain it while those not in possession attempt to win a ball cleanly from any of the players who have one. If a player kicks or dribbles the ball out of the area, the other player gets possession and dribbles back into the area. 

This is a high-intensity activity, so it is important to encourage players to re-enter the area as fast as they can and not deliberately block others from doing so. 

Pause the activity at the end of each round. Whoever has possession of the ball at that moment earns a point. Play then resumes.

Vary the amount of time for each round from 10 seconds to a maximum of one minute. Short rounds encourage intensity; longer rounds can challenge players to keep possession for longer.

 

ADAPTATIONS & PROGRESSIONS

Alter the size of the playing area to vary the level of difficulty; make the area a circle, so players are less likely to get trapped in a corner; make the area a triangle, so players are more likely to get trapped in a corner.

Mark out an inner area so players can challenge themselves to retain the ball in a smaller space for extra points; add cones that players must either dribble through or go around. Vary the number of balls in play. Pair players together, so they can only be tackled by one other player, swapping opponents periodically.

 

COACHING POINTS

Encourage players to: scan for available space and how they can avoid opponents; use their body to shield the ball and to feel for opponents; change speed and direction to lose their opponent; 

Can players disguise their intention to trick their opponent and evade and ‘eliminate’ them? They should focus on the ‘immediate now’ rather than on what has just happened.