Volley and half-volley with a side server
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.
Step 1Volea desde la derecha
1 / 3
El servidor 2 lanza a la cadera; el 1 volea de perfil con el empeine.
Objective
Master the laces volley and half-volley, side-on to the server, keeping the ball down and on target.
Organisation
One finisher on a cone 14 yards from goal, side-on to a server standing 5-6 m to his side with several balls. Keeper in goal. A second server on the opposite side to alternate feet. Groups of three or four rotating after each set.
Development
- 1Volley set: the server tosses underarm to the finisher's hip height.
- 2The finisher volleys with the laces, side-on to the server, non-kicking arm out for balance and eyes on the ball through contact.
- 3Five repetitions from the right side and five from the left, changing the striking foot.
- 4Half-volley set: the server drops or tosses the ball so it bounces once just in front of the finisher.
- 5The finisher strikes immediately after the bounce, knee over the ball to keep it down.
- 6Five repetitions per side; count shots on target against total attempts.
- 7Rotation: finisher to server, server to ball collector, next player to finish.
Coaching points4
- Side-on: you cannot volley well facing the server.
- Non-kicking arm out for balance and head still; eyes stay on the ball all the way through contact.
- Strike the top half of the ball with the laces, ankle locked and toes down, to keep it low.
- The follow-through decides the direction: the kicking foot ends up pointing at the target.
Common mistakes3
- Getting under the ball and sending it over the bar.
- Striking front-on without turning the hips.
- Getting ahead of the bounce on the half-volley and striking with the ball too high.
Variations3
- The finisher tosses the ball to himself, lets it bounce once and volleys, with no server (the Soccer Coach Weekly version).
- Servers left and right alternating without warning.
- 4v4 game on 30x20 m where only volleyed goals count: 2 points per goal and 1 per shot on target.
Progressions2
- The server tosses from behind the finisher, who must adjust and volley on the turn.
- Service with the foot from the wing, faster and less regular.
Regressions2
- Allow two bounces before striking.
- Shorten the distance to 8-10 m and remove the keeper until the technique is clean.
Tips
- Success indicator: the ball stays on frame and contact is clean; if it sails over, the body is leaning back.
- Keep a count of shots on target per set so every player sees his progress.