If you're a soccer fan, player or coach you must be like us here at Beast Mode Soccer and love it when Messi goes on one of his mazey runs!
I found this video on YouTube that shows his close control, and just watch as he puts his body between the defender and the ball, changes speed, switches direction on a dime, amazing! Every young player should be encouraged to dribble dribble dribble! We know that Barca has an INCREDIBLE tiki taka passing style, but guess what... to be able to knock the ball around like that you have to be confident with the ball at your feet to begin with!
Too many coaches get their young teams to try and play Barca and Arsenal styles when their players do not have the confidence to dribble already. Take a look at the video, the drill is below:
I found this video on YouTube that shows his close control, and just watch as he puts his body between the defender and the ball, changes speed, switches direction on a dime, amazing! Every young player should be encouraged to dribble dribble dribble! We know that Barca has an INCREDIBLE tiki taka passing style, but guess what... to be able to knock the ball around like that you have to be confident with the ball at your feet to begin with!
Too many coaches get their young teams to try and play Barca and Arsenal styles when their players do not have the confidence to dribble already. Take a look at the video, the drill is below:
Here is a drill that we use at Beast Mode Soccer. Barca also use it in La Masia, and Manchester United's coaches use a very similar drill with Nani
Place about 20 cones randomly about 20 yards from goal. Have the player perform 50 touches at speed. Make sure the player uses ALL parts of their feet, perform quick change of directions, step overs, scissors, bests, matthews etc etc. On the 50th touch, have the player burst out of the grid at top speed and slot the ball into one of the corners of the goal.
At Beast Mode Soccer we start the series with a tennis ball, then move to a size 1, then a size 5, having 3 reps on each ball. Focus on good quality touches, using peripheral vision. Have the player imagine that the cones are defenders feet, if they touch them with the ball they have been tackled.
This a simple variation on the old 'cones in a line' drill, but we have added a goal, 50 touches and encouragement to try new things, players seem to love it!
At Beast Mode Soccer we start the series with a tennis ball, then move to a size 1, then a size 5, having 3 reps on each ball. Focus on good quality touches, using peripheral vision. Have the player imagine that the cones are defenders feet, if they touch them with the ball they have been tackled.
This a simple variation on the old 'cones in a line' drill, but we have added a goal, 50 touches and encouragement to try new things, players seem to love it!