Become Better Players

From a football coaching point of view, the first thing football coaches should understand is what is a technique and how to coach a player on improving and developing their techniques. A technique, with regards to football coaching is an action that a player performs that is related to a requirement to be able to play football. For example, the Technique of Ball Control. To master the technique of ball control, the players must first learn to work on their techniques in unopposed training sessions. This allows the players to progress without the pressure of opposition and to work solely on improving their technique.

This is the complete session on Improving Ball Control, click on the links to access the Coaches Chalkboard sessions and the downloadable PDF.

To be able to pass first time, players will need to try and think one step ahead. They will have to visualise where they are going to pass, before they receive the ball. Other factors that will influence their decisions will be the weight, speed and accuracy of the pass they are receiving and the early support and communication of the receiving players.

In this video, players are encouraged to dribble round and past cones in tight areas, whilst keeping their heads up, the ball close to their feet. They also have to break out and run the ball between gates, which encourages changes of pace and direction.

It is important that young players get comfortable with the ball at their feet and know how to manipulate the ball, with different parts of their feet, whilst keeping control of the ball and their heads up. This is a short video that shows how players can achieve these basic techniques, using their big and little toes and keeping their head up, to be aware of other players and space.

One important football coaching skill is how to create space for yourself on the pitch. In this video, the football coach works with young players to show them some simple moves on how they can create space for themselves and lose their marker.