Walk The Boxes

Objective

• -Cool down through light ball work
• -Improve control at a low tempo
• -Keep players spread and safe

Setup

1. 1Create six small boxes inside a 24 x 18 yards area.
2. 2Place a cone at each corner of the boxes.
3. 3Players each begin in a different box with one ball between two if numbers are high.

How to play

1. 1Players dribble or walk the ball slowly around the edge of their box.
2. 2On the coach's call, they stop, put a foot on the ball and breathe.
3. 3They then move to the next box at walking pace.
4. 4When they reach a new box, they repeat the same calm routine.
5. 5Finish by leaving the balls still and walking to the middle.

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

• -Taking too many touches
• -Turning into a dribble race
• -Leaving the ball loose