The backheel technique - is to make contact with the heel dead-on to the ball, that is, with the middle of the heel striking the centre of the ball. The non-kicking foot is kept close to the ball for support. As well as using the heel, the ball can also be played behind us by using the sole (underside) of the foot. Use as large an area of the sole as possible, dragging over the ball from around the toes to the heel. This technique is generally more accurate than using the heel, but has less power.
The side volley pass - is the technique to use when the ball arrives at a height above the knee, but below the waist. Using the side volley skill the ball can be passed first time to a teammate, anywhere on the field. Both the inside and outside of the foot can be used to direct the ball over a wide angle. The side volley pass requires getting sideways on to the ball, and lifting yourself up high on your non-kicking foot. The ball is punched away using the inside of the foot. Timing is important as for all volleys, so you should be careful not to snatch at the ball.
Control Skills
Improving close control and dribbling skills in football is vital for a player to be able to create space, keep possession, and beat defenders. Close control is essential for every player on the field, except perhaps the goalkeeper. Close control generally refers to running with the ball, and dribbling skills, but it can also include the first touch, and control with different parts of the foot, thigh, chest and head. Close control is a vital part of football coaching. The best players are able to dribble as if the ball is attached to the boot! Running with the ball is the first stage of close control. The two aims are to keep the ball within 30-50 cm of your foot, and to avoid breaking stride. Here are a few control skills:
Foot control skills - in football, include the first touch and close control using the inside, outside, top and bottom of the foot. A skilful first touch gives a player time and space in which to move with the ball or find the best pass. Players who let the ball run away from them are always under pressure, because they allow time for opponents to close them down, or even lose the ball completely. Control with the foot when receiving the ball requires a soft touch in which the foot is withdrawn or "cushions" on contact. The amount of cushion depends on how quickly the ball is coming. Players should move to the ball, not wait for it to come to them, get into position early, and watch the ball carefully. The inside of the foot is the safest technique for receiving the ball and allows the ball to be taken on the move, whereas the old fashioned method of trapping the ball with the sole (underneath) of the foot involves stopping the ball dead. Receiving the ball with the top of the foot and outside of the foot are more difficult skills, but the principles of relaxing and withdrawing the foot on impact are the same.
Chest control skills - in football are often required to bring the football under control from awkward heights. Chest control is quite varied, because the chest can be used to pass the ball, drop the ball to feet, and to deflect the football through all angles, even behind. In all chest control skills, the best technique is to present the whole of the chest to the ball, rather than attempting to take the ball sideways on. The ball can be deflected to the side by turning the upper body on contact. When passing the ball, the chest is kept rigid, but to stop the ball, the upper body should be relaxed, and the legs are used to drop the chest on impact like dropping a platform. When the ball is bouncing upwards from the ground, the best method is to get over the ball, and deflect it into the ground. If the ball is arriving on the full, point the chest upwards at an angle to the ball. Deflecting the ball behind, and ducking underneath the ball as it passes achieve the 180-degree turn.
Tackling Methods
In football one of your main aims is to win the ball, which you can do through tackling. If you cannot tackle you are left relying on intercepting passes when your opponents make a mistake. Tackling allows you to compete for the ball, and take the initiative. It's not just defenders, who need to be able to tackle. Even forwards should be able to make a sliding tackle. The football team that can tackle well can take much of the initiative away from the opposition, denying them space, and putting them under pressure. It's best to tackle with the foot that is furthest from the ball. This gives you extra reach, and reduces the chances of giving away a foul. Here are a two talking challenges:
The sliding tackle - is best made from a square position with your leg going out to the side rather than straight in front of you. Timing is vital, and takes plenty of exercise to get right. The key factors for any player are to watch the ball carefully, try to anticipate your opponents move without being distracted, and to always go for the ball. If you get a foot on the ball first, there is no foul, but if you miss the ball, you will give away a free kick or be "left for dead".
The block tackle - starts by planting the non-tackling foot firmly on the ground to provide a firm anchor. The inside of the foot is used for tackling, not the toe, and it's important to put the full weight of the body behind the football, and to get the head down over the ball. Keeping good balance is vital and as with any tackling skill, timing is crucial. Try to tackle when your opponent is off balance, or lets the football go too far in front of him. This is often called "showing too much of the ball". Another good time to tackle is when your opponent looks down at the ball.
Kicking Techniques
Football kicking techniques range from basic shooting and passing skills up to advanced techniques, such as bending the ball around a wall or overhead kicks. The real skill is being able to kick accurately whilst under pressure, and is far more important to consistently excel at this basic skill than to be able to perform fancy tricks. Here are a few kicking methods:
Volleys - Volley technique is a difficult soccer skill to master, but volleys have produced many spectacular goals. As well as goal scoring, volleys can be used for passing, and kicking the ball away from danger in your own area. In tight situations, it is often better for a defender to volley the ball away than to try to control the ball at a difficult height. The kicking techniques used for the full volley is different from the half volley, and the side volley pass. One of the secrets of great volleys is the swivel motion. Start from a square position with both feet a comfortable distance apart. Then, without moving your feet twist your upper body to the right until your left shoulder is facing directly in front of you. Next, twist back to the right until your right shoulder is facing in front of you. This is the swivel motion that can improve your volleying technique, and it can be practised without a ball.
The overhead kick - is a great football technique, and requires a lot of skill to perform well. We see players who attempt an overhead kick that is sliced or a completely missed, but sometimes it produces spectacular goals. A recommended soccer drill for beginners is to kick a football hung from the cross bar. Both feet must leave the ground for the overhead kick to be performed properly. The method is to jump off the kicking foot, and to throw the head back so that the body follows. At the point of contact with the ball, the upper body should be almost horizontal to the ground. On landing, try to keep the arms flat on the ground, and arch the back. Several players, including professional ones, have injured themselves attempting an overhead kick, so the landing is important, especially on hard pitches.
The chip - is a football kicking technique used to quickly lift the ball over short distances, for example, to pass the ball over an opponent to one of your team players, or to lift the ball into the penalty area from a few metres away. The disadvantage of the chip over the lofted kicking technique is that it lacks power. The advantages are that lift can be produced quickly, and that the backspin generated from this method causes the ball to slow down on hitting the ground. This is especially useful when the ball is passed into a confined area, such as near the touchline. The chip uses a stabbing or chopping motion in which the lower part of the foot, but not the toe, makes contact low down on the ball. The knee of the kicking foot is bent, and high at the end of the follow-through. As for the lofted kick, it is best to lean back slightly, but with the head down looking at the ball. A useful tip is to place the non-kicking foot slightly behind the ball.
Practices and Drills
Progression
By increasing the level and complexity of practices and drills in order to improve a players level of skill is known as a progression. Below are two football drills/practices and underneath them Adaptations and variations on the tasks which are ways of progressing:
Task 1:
Four attackers versus two defenders (progress to 4 v 3). Attackers start with the ball from a safe exclusion zone near their own goal. They attempt to score in one of three goals. Defenders can score in one large goal, shooting from outside the exclusion zone. After each goal the attackers restart from the exclusion zone.
Task 2:
Three attackers versus three defenders (progress to four defenders). Attackers start with the ball in their own third of the pitch and try to score in the defenders' goal. The defenders attempt to 'gain' possession and score in one of two goals, wide on the wings of the pitch.
How To Progress:
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Ensure the investigation is in different invasion games, e.g. water polo, hockey, netball, and football.
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Play on differently sized pitches or courts, e.g. short and wide, long and thin, across a diamond (corner to corner).
- Play with more than one goal at each end.
- Play with goals on the field of play and score from any direction.
- Play with adjusted equipment.
- Play the game so that the ball must pass through a number of zones, before attempting to score.
- Change the size and nature of the goals.
- Score from either inside or outside a zone in front of a target.
- Add rules like, one touch per player