Speed & Agility

Rotation Change of Direction Grid

Decelerate and re-accelerate safely

Speed & Agility
Football Fitness

Decelerate and re-accelerate safely. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Speed & Agility
Football Fitness
Technical Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Rotation

Age

Under 5 to Adults

Duration

14 min

Players

2-20

Area / pitch size

20 x 20 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Cones, Balls

Coaching focus

Decelerate and re-accelerate safely

Objective

  • -Decelerate and re-accelerate safely
  • -Turn off both feet with control
  • -Build agility that transfers to the game

Setup

  1. 1Five cones in a cross pattern in a 20 x 20 yards area.
  2. 2Number every station so players know exactly where they travel to next.
  3. 3Balls at the central cone.

How to play

  1. 1Player sprints to a called cone, plants and returns to the middle.
  2. 2Every third rep finishes with a pass off the central ball.
  3. 3Rest twice as long as each work rep.
  4. 4Play starts at station one and the ball works round the numbers in order.
  5. 5Every player must complete each role once before the round is scored.

Coaching points

  • -Lower the hips to decelerate
  • -Plant on the outside foot
  • -Push off hard on the way back
  • -Follow your pass — the movement is part of the practice

Progressions

  • +Reverse the rotation direction on the coach's call
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Hold roles for a full round before rotating
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Rotate only the two hardest roles to give them extra reps
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Rounding the turn instead of planting
  • -Working through fatigue
  • -Staying in a favourite role and avoiding the harder one

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