Two-Touch Aerial Control Zone

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 18 x 14 yards area.
2. 2Place a marker at every receiving position so players know where to set the ball before it arrives.
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. 4Ball enters from the coach and the first receiver is on two touches from that moment.
5. 5Count completed sequences under the touch limit — best of three 3-minute rounds.

Progressions

• +Drop the central players to one touch
• +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

• -Allow three touches while the picture is being learned
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Two touches in your own half, free touches in the final third
• -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
• -Taking a settling touch that kills the tempo