Speed & Agility

Combination Reaction Sprint Pairs

Sharpen reaction speed off a cue

Speed & Agility
Football Fitness
Transition
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Sharpen reaction speed off a cue. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Speed & Agility
Football Fitness
Transition
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Quick 10 Minutes
Combination Play

Age

Under 5 to Adults

Duration

10 min

Players

2-20

Area / pitch size

26 x 14 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Cones, Balls

Coaching focus

Sharpen reaction speed off a cue

Objective

  • -Sharpen reaction speed off a cue
  • -Develop the first three steps
  • -Add a football action after the sprint

Setup

  1. 1Pairs facing each other over a start line with a target 15 yards away in a 26 x 14 yards area.
  2. 2Add a neutral bounce player on each side line inside a marked yard-wide channel.
  3. 3Balls on the target line.

How to play

  1. 1Coach cue releases one player to sprint and the other to chase.
  2. 2The winner takes a touch and finishes at the target.
  3. 3Alternate who starts as the chaser.
  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

  • -Low first steps out of the start
  • -Drive the arms
  • -Stay relaxed at top speed
  • -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

  • -Standing tall on the first step
  • -Too many reps without rest
  • -Two players combining over and over while the third stands still

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