Ball Mastery
Colour Call Moves
React quickly to signals
Ball Mastery
Speed & Agility
React quickly to signals. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.
Back to drill libraryBall Mastery
Speed & Agility
Warm Up
Beginner
Intermediate
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Quick 10 Minutes
library-original
Age
Under 5 to Under 13
Duration
10 min
Players
8-24
Area / pitch size
20 x 20 yards
Difficulty
Beginner / Intermediate
Equipment
Balls, Cones, Bibs
Coaching focus
React quickly to signals
Objective
- -React quickly to signals
- -Use different ball moves on demand
- -Link movement and control
Setup
- 1Place four coloured cones around the outside of the area.
- 2Each player has a ball inside the square.
- 3Stand where all players can see and hear you clearly.
How to play
- 1Players dribble freely around the square.
- 2Call a colour and they must dribble to that cone as fast as they can.
- 3When they arrive, they perform a ball move before moving away.
- 4Mix in calls for stop, turn, sole roll or inside-outside touches.
- 5Keep the game fun and rapid so players stay alert.
Coaching points
- -React quickly to the call
- -Slow down to perform the move
- -Accelerate away after control
- -Keep the head up between touches
Progressions
- +Two-Touch Limit: drop to one touch in the central area
- +Weak Foot Only: add a defender to raise the pressure
- +Tempo Clock: cut the clock to four seconds
- +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round
Regressions
- -Two-Touch Limit: allow three touches while the picture is learned
- -Weak Foot Only: static, unopposed reps before adding movement
- -Tempo Clock: extend the clock to ten seconds
- -Simplify the area or the service until success returns
Variations
- -Two-Touch Limit — Players are limited to two touches — one to control, one to release.
- -Weak Foot Only — Every touch, pass and finish must be with the weaker foot.
- -Tempo Clock — The ball must reach the end action inside six seconds or the rep restarts.
- -Scan and Cue — The coach shows a colour or number and the receiver must call it before their first touch.
- -Shadow Pressure — A shadow defender applies half pressure and can win the ball only after the first touch.
- -Score Challenge — Run it as a timed competition — pairs or teams count successful reps and compare scores.
- -1-to-1 Session — Run as an individual session: coach serves, one player works through the reps with rest built in.
- -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch
Common mistakes
- -Missing the signal
- -Rushing the skill at the cone
- -Colliding with other players
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