Touch And Travel

Objective

• -Use light ball touches to cool down
• -Keep players moving without strain
• -Finish with a simple control routine

Setup

1. 1Set up a 20 x 14 yards rectangle with cones.
2. 2Give each player a ball if possible.
3. 3Players start spread across the area facing the same direction.

How to play

1. 1Players take tiny touches and walk slowly forward.
2. 2On the coach's call, they stop the ball and do a simple stretch.
3. 3Then they turn and travel back the other way at the same easy pace.
4. 4After each turn, ask for a different touch, such as inside or sole.
5. 5Finish with the ball stopped and players walking to the edge.

Progressions

• +Progressive Tempo: add a fourth maximal round
• +Ball For Every Player: shrink the working area
• +Reaction Start: two cues, one a decoy
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Progressive Tempo: stay at the first two tempos only
• -Ball For Every Player: bigger area, share a ball between two
• -Reaction Start: coach counts players in
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Progressive Tempo — Three rounds: 60% pace, 80% pace, then match pace with full recovery between.
• -Ball For Every Player — Every player works with their own ball so no one waits in a queue.
• -Reaction Start — Every repetition begins from a visual or audio cue rather than a set count.
• -Partner Race — Players work in matched pairs and race each repetition, best of five.
• -Mobility Focus — Each round finishes with a controlled mobility hold for the hips, groin and ankles.
• -Change Of Direction — Add a 90 or 180 degree turn into every repetition before the finish.
• -Team Target — The whole group works to a shared score target and repeats the round if they miss it.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Too many touches
• -Running with the ball
• -Poor stopping control