Wide Channel 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 22 x 16 yards area.
2. 2Mark five-yard channels down both touchlines with flat cones.
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 practice is started by a pass into one of the wide channels.
5. 5End actions only count when the ball has travelled through a wide channel first.

Progressions

• +Defender allowed into the channel to make it live
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Channel is a free zone with no defender at all
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Switch the ball to the far channel before the end action
• -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -Slowing to a walk around the poles
• -Only using the strong foot
• -Everything funnelling into a crowded middle