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Homework
(1) Receiving the ball (“first touch”) is probably the most important skill in soccer. If you can’t receive and control the ball properly, your 2nd touch is a tackle with an opponent or you lose the ball completely.
Here is a very simple way to dramatically improve receiving:
EVERY DAY complete 100 receptions. Have a partner throw a ball at you from various heights/distances. Receive the ball (before it hits the ground) 20 times on each of the following 5 surfaces:
- inside left foot
- inside right foot
- left thigh
- right thigh
- chest
and then pass it back to the thrower. 100 receptions a day won’t take very long and will dramatically improve your ability to receive and control the ball.
Coaching tip: withdraw the receiving surface as the ball makes contact to make it “stick” (much as you would with your hands when catching an egg).
(2) Juggling Challenge
Can you juggle the ball with all 14 surfaces before you drop it? The 14 surfaces are as follows:
- Left foot (4) – outside, inside, laces and heel
- Right foot (4) – outside, inside, laces and heel
- Left thigh
- Right thigh
- Chest
- Head
- Left shoulder
- Right shoulder
Surfaces can be used more than once but all 14 need to be used at least once to complete the challenge.
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