Directional control and first touch.
11 drills
11 drills
The classic Dutch square from the Ajax academy: pass to the next corner, wall pass back and a through ball for the teammate already running to the next line. Continuous tempo with one and two touches.
Finisher 12-13 m from goal receiving hand-served balls from a server standing to the side: first hip-height volleys, then half-volleys after one bounce, from both sides and against the keeper.
First-touch exercise from the Ajax methodology: two players inside a box receive from the outside lines, take an oriented touch and play forward through a gate. It progresses until the coach calls the colour of the gate the ball must go through.
Circuit from the FIFA Talent Coach Programme: the midfielder receives with his back to the opposition goal between two mannequins, moves off the cone, takes an oriented touch with the far foot and plays between the lines. Progress with a defender who forces the choice between turning or playing back.
Simeone's Atletico circuit in a 30x15 m rectangle: trios cross the area chaining diagonal passes into a teammate's run and finish with a long diagonal switch of play and a dribble to the opposite marker.
Four cones in a line 5-10 m apart. The two central players peel off their cones sideways in opposite directions to offer a passing line and the ball travels from one end to the other with three combinations: short pass, long pass with lay-off and one-two.
The Dutch school (KNVB) triangle: inside-of-the-foot pass, back-foot control pushing the ball behind the cone and pass to the third point. The advanced version adds a first-time return and an angled pass into the run.
Five cones forming a star. The ball is always passed to the player two cones away, drawing the star, and every passer follows their pass. A passing warm-up that ends with two or three balls circulating at once.
Six players on the corners of a 20-yard hexagon circulate two balls at once, receiving on the back foot and turning. At the top and bottom corners an extra player adds a wall pass.
Alternating waves from two sides: the player receives with their back to goal, takes a directional first touch past a mannequin and finishes from the edge of the box. High volume of shots with both feet.
12x12 m square passing circuit focused on taking the first touch towards the next pass. Ideal for automating control with the far foot and fast ball circulation.