1-to-1 Ball Mastery Clinic

Objectives

• -Master a bank of moves through repetition
• -Build both-footed comfort on the ball
• -Give the individual coach constant feedback

How to set it up

1. 1Mark out the working area at 8 x 8 yards. Put a cone on each corner so the boundary is obvious to the players.
2. 2Small square with four cones and one ball.
3. 3Coach or parent stands one yard away as the cue giver.
4. 4Water bottle break spot marked outside the square.
5. 5Kit for this practice: Balls, Cones. Keep a supply of spare balls beside the coach so a lost ball never stops the practice.
6. 6Work one-to-one: the coach or a partner serves while the working player takes every repetition.
7. 7Set the area up before the players arrive, then walk them through the shape once at a jog before the first live repetition.

How to run it, step by step

1. 1Get the players into position and walk the first repetition through slowly so everybody knows where they start and where they go.
2. 2Two minutes each of toe taps, sole rolls, inside-outside and drag backs.
3. 3Coach calls a move, player performs ten reps on each foot.
4. 4Finish with a 60-second personal best challenge.
5. 5The working player recovers back to the start position between repetitions while the server collects the ball.
6. 6The repetition ends when the ball reaches the final target or leaves the area. The next player starts straight away.
7. 7Freeze the practice once or twice per round, make one coaching point to the whole group, then restart immediately.

What each player does

Working player

Takes the repetition: receives, executes the ball mastery action and finishes the sequence at match pace.

Server

Delivers a consistent, firm ball on the coach's call, then collects a spare ball ready for the next repetition.

Waiting players

Stand behind the start cone with a ball ready, watch the repetition in front of them and step in the moment it finishes.

Coach

Stands where the whole picture is visible, serves or calls the start, and makes one clear point per freeze.

Timings and organisation

• -Run 4 rounds of roughly 4 minutes inside the 15 minute slot.
• -Give 45-60 seconds of rest between rounds so the quality of the work stays high, and use that gap for your coaching point.
• -Rotate roles at the end of every round so each player works, serves and defends across the practice.
• -If the practice is too easy, move to a progression rather than adding more repetitions. If players are struggling, drop to a regression for one round and then build back up.

Common mistakes

• -Rushing the move before it is grooved
• -Only using the strong foot
• -Ball drifting out of the working area
• -Standing still and watching instead of moving into the next position