5 Soccer ball handling activities

5 Soccer ball handling activities

1. SPRINT

Sprinting with the ball is a simple ball handling activity. Use cones to create a 20 yard area. Sprint with your ball from one cone to the other. Be sure to use both feet. Practice using large touches to gain separation from defenders and play the ball into open space. It is also important to practice using small touches when you are in traffic to maintain possession. Soft touch on the ball while being able to see the field are key to ball handling.

2. WEAVE

Another soccer ball handling activity is the weave. Set up 6 cones about 2 yards apart in a straight line. Weave thru the cones, at the last cone turn and sprint back. This activity will use both feet and multiple surfaces of each foot. Be sure to use the inside and the outside of both feet. Being able to change directions is a key to ball handling. Weaving requires quick change of direction. Remember to keep your head up in order to see the field. A variation to the forward weave is the side weave. This is the same set up, but you would go thru the cones sideways.

3. GATES

Gates are a good soccer ball handling activity. In a 15x15 area set up 6 sets of 2 cones 1 yard apart. This should give you 6 different gates that are 1 yard wide. This activity will allow you to use your moves in the open spaces, change direction and change speed. Be aware and see the field and attack and dribble thru the gates. Remember to use different moves to change direction. When you use moves like the L turn or V's during this activity, you will become more comfortable using them in game situations. A variation to dribbling thru the gate is to use the gate as a defender you have to beat.

4. SLALOM

Set up 6 cones 5 yards wide and 5 yards apart making zig-zag or slalom. This is easy soccer ball handling activity. Dribble thru the cones sprinting, changing directions and accelerating to the next cone. This activity will help you get away from defenders and find space. It will also help in attacking open spaces. Be alert by keeping your head up and seeing the field. It is important to have soft touch in order to maintain possession of the ball. Remember to use the inside and outside of both feet.

5. 4 CONES

A light soccer ball handling activity is the 4 cone box. Set up 4 cones 1 yard apart in the shape of a box and a single cone 10 yards away. While facing in one direction dribble around the box: forward, across the top, back down the side and across the back then sprint to the cone 10 yards away. This activity will help with ball control while having open body to the field. It will allow you to change direction forward, backward, right and left. Be sure to use the inside, outside and the sole of both feet. Remember the keys to ball handling are to use soft touch, see the field, change direction and change speed.