Wide Channel Sole Roll Grid

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 24 x 24 yards area.
2. 2Mark five-yard channels down both touchlines with flat cones.
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 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

• -Heavy touches that push the ball away
• -Eyes locked on the ball
• -Everything funnelling into a crowded middle