Tempo Figure Eight Mastery

Objective

• -Develop close control through continuous direction change
• -Link ball manipulation to a change of pace
• -Repeat quality touches with both feet

Setup

1. 1Two poles eight yards apart with a figure-eight route marked around them in a 18 x 12 yards area.
2. 2Set a visible timer or have an assistant count aloud from the side of the area.
3. 3A ball each and a rest cone at the start of the route.

How to play

1. 1Players dribble the figure-eight using inside and outside of the foot only.
2. 2Each lap finishes with an explosive three-yard burst out of the last turn.
3. 3Swap the leading foot every lap.
4. 4The clock starts the moment the first pass is played in.
5. 5The sequence must reach the end action inside eight seconds or the rep is void.

Progressions

• +Cut the clock to six seconds
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Stretch the clock to twelve seconds
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Reps finished inside five seconds score double
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Slowing to a walk around the poles
• -Only using the strong foot
• -Slow, sideways passing that burns the clock