As we enter into our second week training WPS Champion Ali Riley, I thought it would be a great idea for young players and other soccer coaches/trainers to share what we have been doing.
Ali trains with Beast Mode Soccer 5 times a week, usually for about 2 1/2 hours a session, furthermore, she plays in two high level pick up games a week. It is this dedication during her off season that has lead to Ali to becoming a world class athlete.
The game that we do a lot is one that I call 'Messi Dribbling'. There are 6 progressions to this game. We will focus on the first part.
You need a bunch of tall cones spread out in an 8x8 area as seen in the photo above. The coach plays a ball into the player, who's first touch is an attacking one, taking them into the Messi Dribbling zone. The cones represent players feet trying to tap the ball away from you. The first round is done with a tennis ball (the tennis ball represents the street soccer played by countless of South American players when children which develops their amazing touch on the ball), Ali has to touch the ball 50 times using all parts of her feet, quickly, on the 50th touch you explode out of the Messi zone and take a shot on goal. The idea is fast footwork, trying to avoid the cones with touches at speed- it's very difficult. This is done three times, then moves on to a size 1, then a size 5.
This game not only develops your first touch, but your second and third, as well as making your feet insanely fast under pressure!
Ali trains with Beast Mode Soccer 5 times a week, usually for about 2 1/2 hours a session, furthermore, she plays in two high level pick up games a week. It is this dedication during her off season that has lead to Ali to becoming a world class athlete.
The game that we do a lot is one that I call 'Messi Dribbling'. There are 6 progressions to this game. We will focus on the first part.
You need a bunch of tall cones spread out in an 8x8 area as seen in the photo above. The coach plays a ball into the player, who's first touch is an attacking one, taking them into the Messi Dribbling zone. The cones represent players feet trying to tap the ball away from you. The first round is done with a tennis ball (the tennis ball represents the street soccer played by countless of South American players when children which develops their amazing touch on the ball), Ali has to touch the ball 50 times using all parts of her feet, quickly, on the 50th touch you explode out of the Messi zone and take a shot on goal. The idea is fast footwork, trying to avoid the cones with touches at speed- it's very difficult. This is done three times, then moves on to a size 1, then a size 5.
This game not only develops your first touch, but your second and third, as well as making your feet insanely fast under pressure!
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