First Touch

Tempo Aerial Control Zone

Control balls arriving out of the air

First Touch
Receiving

Control balls arriving out of the air. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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First Touch
Receiving
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Tempo

Age

Under 9 to Adults

Duration

12 min

Players

2-14

Area / pitch size

20 x 16 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones

Coaching focus

Control balls arriving out of the air

Objective

  • -Control balls arriving out of the air
  • -Choose the right surface for the height of the ball
  • -Play out cleanly after the control

Setup

  1. 1A control zone with a serving line ten yards away in a 20 x 16 yards area.
  2. 2Set a visible timer or have an assistant count aloud from the side of the area.
  3. 3A supply of balls at the serving line.

How to play

  1. 1Server throws or lofts the ball into the control zone.
  2. 2The receiver controls with thigh, chest or laces and sets the ball down.
  3. 3The receiver then plays a firm pass back to the next server.
  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.

Coaching points

  • -Get behind the flight early
  • -Relax the surface on contact
  • -Second touch is a purposeful pass
  • -Pass with pace and intent — under-hit passes cost the clock

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

  • -Reaching for the ball instead of moving feet
  • -Stiff surface bouncing the ball away
  • -Slow, sideways passing that burns the clock

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