Receiving
Aerial Control Practice
Control a bouncing or lofted ball cleanly
Control a bouncing or lofted ball cleanly. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryAge
Under 5 to Adults
Duration
12 min
Players
4-16
Area / pitch size
15 x 10 yards
Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced
Equipment
Balls, Cones
Coaching focus
Control a bouncing or lofted ball cleanly
Build a full 60-minute session around this drill
Warm-up to match, ready to print. Free — no card needed.
Drill diagram
Two pairs shown in a 15 x 10 area, eight yards apart. Cones mark each receiver's control zone; no heading is shown.
- 1.Server throws or lofts the ball eight yards to the receiver; the dashed arrow shows the service direction.
- 2.Receiver cushions the ball into the control zone (short arrow shows the settling touch). Use thigh, chest and instep: ten repetitions per surface, then swap roles.
Objective
- -Control a bouncing or lofted ball cleanly
- -Cushion with thigh, chest and instep
- -Bring the ball under control in one or two touches
Setup
- 1Players in pairs 8 yards apart.
- 2One ball per pair.
- 3Cones mark a small control zone for each receiver.
How to play
- 1Server throws or lofts the ball for the receiver to control.
- 2Rotate through thigh, chest and instep control.
- 3Ten reps each surface, then swap roles.
Coaching points
- -Get in line with the flight early
- -Relax the controlling surface on contact
- -Cushion the ball into space, not straight down
- -Second touch sets the pass
Progressions
- +Add pressure from behind
- +Control and turn in one touch
Regressions
- -Underarm throws only
- -Allow three touches
Variations
- -Control then volley to a partner
- -Compete for points on clean controls
Common mistakes
- -Rigid surface making the ball bounce away
- -Waiting for the ball instead of moving to it
- -No plan for the second touch
Related Football Drills & Sessions
- More football receiving drills
- More football first touch drills
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- Football drills for U7s
- Football drills for U8s
- Football drills for U9s
- Football drills for U10s
- Football drills for U11s
- Football drills for U12s
- Football drills for U13s
- Football drills for U14s
- Football drills for U15s
- Football drills for U16s
- Football drills for 4 players
- Football drills by age, topic and squad size
- Football session plans built around this theme
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