Ball Mastery

Combination Sole Roll Grid

Build sole and inside-foot control in a busy space

Ball Mastery
Dribbling
First Touch
Premium

Build sole and inside-foot control in a busy space. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Ball Mastery
Dribbling
First Touch
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Combination Play

Age

Under 5 to Adults

Duration

12 min

Players

2-20

Area / pitch size

22 x 22 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones

Coaching focus

Build sole and inside-foot control in a busy space

Objective

  • -Build sole and inside-foot control in a busy space
  • -Grow confidence manipulating the ball with both feet
  • -Turn ball mastery reps into usable game actions

Setup

  1. 1A grid of cones two yards apart in a 22 x 22 yards area.
  2. 2Add a neutral bounce player on each side line inside a marked yard-wide channel.
  3. 3One ball per player, spare balls on the coach's cone.

How to play

  1. 1Players work through sole rolls, drag-backs and toe taps between the cones.
  2. 2On the coach's call they perform the move and accelerate into free space.
  3. 3Repeat with the weaker foot leading every second round.
  4. 4The first pass must go into the bounce player before the practice opens up.
  5. 5A sequence only scores when three different players have touched the ball.

Coaching points

  • -Light, quick contacts on top of the ball
  • -Head up between touches
  • -Both feet used equally
  • -Third player movement — the pass is set up by the run before it

Progressions

  • +Demand a one-touch set from the bounce player
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Allow the bounce player unlimited touches
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Bounce players can join the attack once per round
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Heavy touches that push the ball away
  • -Eyes locked on the ball
  • -Two players combining over and over while the third stands still

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