Fast Footwork Drills
At every age group it is important that we make ours players familiar with the ball. The foot skill activities enable us to help the player become comfortable and confident with the ball at their feet. The activities are geared towards using different surfaces of the feet, increasing foot speed, coordination and balance. They also require minimal space, which makes them perfect for the player to practice at home.
Coaching Points,
• Insist on correct technique before speed.
• Once mastered, can they perform task without looking at the ball.
***To see a demo click on the name of the drill.***
1 -Toe-taps • The player stands behind a stationary ball. • The player “taps” his/her “toes” on top of the ball. Right/left foot first and then switches to the other foot and repeats.
2 -Tick-tacks • The player uses the inside of his/her feet and passes the ball between his/her right and left foot.
3 -Tick-tack - slide • The player tick-tacks the ball once and then slides the ball using the sole of his/her foot, rolling the ball across his/her body to the other foot and repeats.
4 -The triangle • The player starts with the right or left foot on top of the ball in front of them. • Using the sole of the foot they role the ball towards them. • The player then uses the inside of the same foot and passes it to the inside of the other foot. • The other foot then passes the ball back to its original position. The ball should have traveled to make a triangle.
5 -The box • The player tick-tacks the ball once. • The player will then drag the ball back using the sole of his/her foot and he/she will be facing 90 degrees to the right/left to where they started. • The player then repeats and finds himself/herself 180 degrees from where they started. • The player then repeats and finds himself/herself 270 degrees from where they started. • The player then repeats and finds himself/herself back to where they started. • The player then goes in the opposite direction.
6 -Outside-inside • The player kicks the ball with the outside of the right foot, then the inside of the right foot. • The ball then travels across the body to the left foot where the player kicks the ball with the outside of the left foot and then the inside of the left foot.
7 – Push-pull • The ball starts with the right or left foot on top of the ball. • The player drags the ball back towards their body using the sole of the foot. • The player then uses the same foot and kicks the ball using the instep (laces) towards the outside of the no-kicking foot. • The player then places the no-kicking foot on the ball and repeats.
8 -The “squeeze” • The player starts with either right or left foot on the ball. • He/she then roles the ball using the inside of his/her foot out to the side of his/her body. • The player then uses the inside of the same foot and kicks it to the left foot. • The player then repeats using the opposite foot
9 -Tick-tack – slide – turn • The player tick-tacks the ball once and then slides the ball using the bottom of his/her foot, rolling the ball. • Once the ball is rolling to the “other foot” the player steps over the ball with the “other foot” and spins on the “other foot” counter clockwise. • The ball will arrive on the inside of the foot that originally rolled the ball.
10 – The “V” • The ball starts with the right or left foot on top of the ball. • The player drags the ball back behind the non-kicking foot, using the sole of the foot. • The player then uses the same foot and kicks the ball using the instep (laces) towards the outside of the no-kicking foot all in one motion • The player then places the no-kicking foot on the ball and repeats.
Coaching Points,
• Insist on correct technique before speed.
• Once mastered, can they perform task without looking at the ball.
***To see a demo click on the name of the drill.***
1 -Toe-taps • The player stands behind a stationary ball. • The player “taps” his/her “toes” on top of the ball. Right/left foot first and then switches to the other foot and repeats.
2 -Tick-tacks • The player uses the inside of his/her feet and passes the ball between his/her right and left foot.
3 -Tick-tack - slide • The player tick-tacks the ball once and then slides the ball using the sole of his/her foot, rolling the ball across his/her body to the other foot and repeats.
4 -The triangle • The player starts with the right or left foot on top of the ball in front of them. • Using the sole of the foot they role the ball towards them. • The player then uses the inside of the same foot and passes it to the inside of the other foot. • The other foot then passes the ball back to its original position. The ball should have traveled to make a triangle.
5 -The box • The player tick-tacks the ball once. • The player will then drag the ball back using the sole of his/her foot and he/she will be facing 90 degrees to the right/left to where they started. • The player then repeats and finds himself/herself 180 degrees from where they started. • The player then repeats and finds himself/herself 270 degrees from where they started. • The player then repeats and finds himself/herself back to where they started. • The player then goes in the opposite direction.
6 -Outside-inside • The player kicks the ball with the outside of the right foot, then the inside of the right foot. • The ball then travels across the body to the left foot where the player kicks the ball with the outside of the left foot and then the inside of the left foot.
7 – Push-pull • The ball starts with the right or left foot on top of the ball. • The player drags the ball back towards their body using the sole of the foot. • The player then uses the same foot and kicks the ball using the instep (laces) towards the outside of the no-kicking foot. • The player then places the no-kicking foot on the ball and repeats.
8 -The “squeeze” • The player starts with either right or left foot on the ball. • He/she then roles the ball using the inside of his/her foot out to the side of his/her body. • The player then uses the inside of the same foot and kicks it to the left foot. • The player then repeats using the opposite foot
9 -Tick-tack – slide – turn • The player tick-tacks the ball once and then slides the ball using the bottom of his/her foot, rolling the ball. • Once the ball is rolling to the “other foot” the player steps over the ball with the “other foot” and spins on the “other foot” counter clockwise. • The ball will arrive on the inside of the foot that originally rolled the ball.
10 – The “V” • The ball starts with the right or left foot on top of the ball. • The player drags the ball back behind the non-kicking foot, using the sole of the foot. • The player then uses the same foot and kicks the ball using the instep (laces) towards the outside of the no-kicking foot all in one motion • The player then places the no-kicking foot on the ball and repeats.
