Positional Ball Mastery

BALL MASTERY FOR ALL JANUARY 2019

BALL MASTERY FOR DEFENDERS

Plus...

Strength & Conditioning, Training footage and Player Development

POSITIONAL BALL MASTERY

MIDFIELDERS

ATTACKERS

Contents Page 3 - Welcome Page 6 - Positional Ball Mastery Page 7 - Ball Mastery for Defenders Page 9 - Ball Mastery for Midfielders Page 11 - Ball Mastery for Attackers Page 16 - Our Latest Ball Mastery Session Page 17 - Take them on...

Page 19 - 15 One on One Skills Page 21 - Product Review: SKLZ Star Kick Trainer Page 23 - Our Top Training Videos Page 24 - Strength and Conditioning Page 26 - #1 for Ball Mastery Video Page 27 - Find us on

Welcome Happy New Year to you all! We hope that you had a lovely festive period and are now raring to go again as football returns for many grassroots players, coaches and teams.

We return after our first year of magazine releases and are growing from strength to strength. Our aim is to provide opinion, insight, and our knowledge on Ball Mastery and technical development, giving players, and coaches, new ideas to take their, or their players' games to the next level.

This month we take a look at Ball Mastery and how we can tailor the training for each individual, regardless of their position.

Attackers may need to move the ball with greater speed and more sharper movements, whereas a defender will need more close control. We look at how attackers, midfielders, and defenders can benefit from differing Ball Mastery exercises.

In addition to this we have Strength and Conditioning from our coach, George Lyons, and plenty of training drills and videos to help you grow as a player, and coach.

We hope you enjoy!

Elliott Everson, Owner, OpportunityElite

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Positional Ball Mastery Ball Mastery is for everyone. Some may think that it's best for attackers, purely because of the focus on skill and fast feet. It is, however, highly important for players in all positions. Our belief is that everyone should be comfortable on the ball, no matter what position.

You just never know when you may need to use a quick drag back and change of direction to get out of trouble, or to beat an opponent.

Ball Mastery is great for a technical warm up, or as a technical activity. There are many exercises that are perfect for general development, giving players the skill, co-ordination, balance, and agility with the ball.

Work on the fundamentals of Ball Mastery will provide the co-ordination and confidence on the ball. Once they have become comfortable in Ball Mastery practices and how they work then the next progression is more specific positional training, giving players the skills, practices, and exercises to use which help them develop most within their position.

We've categorised outfield players into three groups: defenders, midfielders, and attackers. In the demonstrations on the following pages we look at the key position specific skills players can use to take their Ball Mastery training to the next level.

Ball Mastery for Defenders Categorising the playing positions into three areas gives us a chance to work with our players in the specifics of their technical development. For defenders the first requirement should be safety first.

Defenders should be able to read the situations around them, snuffing out danger when it is around.

The first priority is safety first. At times that may mean a clearance away from trouble, or a calm, composed, pass forwards into midfield. We, as coaches, need to make sure that the defensive players are comfortable on the ball, ready to get it out of the feet and play forwards, positively.

Close control is very important for defenders, especially in today's modern game. Some of the best defenders can quite comfortably play in midfield.

Key Areas First Touch Close Control Moving the ball out of the feet Opening out on to the left and right feet Confident drag backs Confident rolling the ball on the studs Moving the ball with the outside of the foot Changing direction of the play

The key areas above can all be worked on with close control ball mastery exercises. More confident defenders who are able to get the ball out of their feet, and maintain possession, are vital for teams.

In many teams, the centre backs actually control the game with the pace, intensity and quality of their first touch and passing.

Watch Ball Mastery Exercises for Defenders, Below

Ball Mastery for Midfielders For the midfielder the priority should be to keep possession, looking to pass forwards when the opportunities arise. Patience and sound technical confidence on the ball are very important.

It can be the most congested area of the pitch and players will need quick feet and great balance on their left and right feet.

Can our midfielders receive the ball quickly, change direction when required, use a quick drop of the shoulder and beat their opponent?

Ultimately, control of the ball is essential. Midfielders who possess a turn of pace while keeping control of the ball are great players to have in the team.

Ball Mastery for the midfielder can improve decision making and possession, giving players greater control of the game.

Key Areas First Touch Change of direction One v One Skills Balance on left and right feet Opening up the play

Watch Ball Mastery for Midfielders

Ball Mastery for Attackers Attackers need quite different Ball Mastery exercises compared to the defenders and midfielders. It's very important for the defenders and midfielders to keep possession, maintaining control of the ball at all times. For attackers there is more of an opportunity to take risks, therefore, the attackers can be more skilful and explosive with their Ball Mastery practice.

When coaching attackers we want to ensure that they are comfortable using their left and right feet. In one on one situations the attacking player needs to be unpredictable. If a player always looks to move the ball to their right foot then it is much easier for a defender to read.

Therefore, we aim to make our Ball Mastery techniques explosive and very sharp, giving players the confidence to beat their opponent in all manner of situations.

Developing balance, coordination on the ball, and speed of feet are incredibly important within these exercises.

As a progression we aim to build in body movements to the exercises. Players need to move their feet and have control on the ball when executing the skill, however, the movement of the body, and dropping of the shoulders are key to beating an opponent.

Can we provide players with the technical skill to beat a player, initially to get their opponent off balance with a quick drop of the shoulder or body movement?

Combining these two areas will give players a much greater chance of winning their one on one duels.

The skills and Ball Mastery techniques provide the player with the confidence to manipulate and position the ball wherever they want. Body movements allow for deception.

Sharp movements, dropping the shoulder and feinting, deceive the opponent. Ideally, the opponent would lose their balance by this deception. Combining skills with body movement offers the attacking player the ability to dictate the one on one situation.

Most defenders will aim to dictate the situation through their defensive stance and body positioning. Ball Mastery skills for attacking players can allow the player to dictate the one on one and have control of the duel, due to their speed of thought, movement, and technical skill.

Key Areas for Attackers

Confidence in one v ones Skill Quick Feet Co-ordination Balance Either footed Explosive Change of direction Body Movement (dropping the shoulder) Change of pace Ability to dribble

Ball Mastery Attacker Exercises

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Our Latest Ball Mastery Training Session

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Take them on...

One on one situations are one of the harder aspects of the game. Beating a player and dribbling past them can be incredibly difficult and take a range of skills. So how do we coach it, and how do we, as players, master it?

The first thing is to make sure that the player is facing the defender; this increases the levels of unpredictability. If the player is more to one side or the other when approaching the opponent then it can be more easily read by the defender. Be direct, coach players to impose themselves by making themselves intimidating. No defenders enjoy a player running at them directly with pace, and skill. Moving directly at the opponent will most likely cause them to take a step back. If the opponent does this, the attacking player then has the upper hand. Keep the attacker's chest facing the defending player. This gives the attacker the option to dribble past their opponent on the left side, or the right. The best players are comfortable dribbling past their opponent on either side.

Once your player is moving forward with the chest facing directly at their opponent then the intent has been shown. Opponents will be expecting the attacker to make the first move, but what should we encourage?

I've seen many players just push the ball past the defender and run to the side of them. This may work now and again, however, talented defenders will position their body to stop this happening.

What we must coach is deception, trying to trick the defender into thinking that the attacker is going one way, then the other.

Skill is incredibly important in helping with this, aiming to get the defender out of their defensive shape. The next part that players need to do is incredibly important.

Moving the body.

Short, sharp, movements, body feints, dropping of the shoulder: all key to creating space by getting the defender off balance. As the attacker sees their opponent over-commit, they can then explode into the space and dribble past.

The key is both elements: skill if need be, then a quick change of direction to get the opponent off balance.

Develop this within the player and you will see huge improvement.

15 One v One Skills

Watch on YouTube

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Product Review: SKLZ Star Kick Trainer This month we take a look at the SKLZ Star Kick Trainer. The trainer is designed to help players practise their striking technique without having to chase after the ball numerous times.

Perfect for gardens and smaller areas, the SKLZ Trainer gives a great opportunity to constantly repeat your striking technique. We used the trainer to work on using our weaker foot. One of the issues with practising on your weaker foot is that you may feel that you just aren't good enough. This lack of confidence can lead to a number of players not continuing with their practice, when in reality that is the worst thing that they can do.

Repetition is the key.

The more times you can strike the ball, the better you will become.

The trainer is a very useful tool for player development, although it is more based around individual training. It isn't without its flaws, such as the ball bouncing back to you very quickly, but that can only improve the first touch!

We've put together a weak foot training session showing you how you can use the SKLZ trainer to your benefit.

Check it out on the next page...

View our YouTube video using the SKLZ Trainer

Buy the SKLZ Trainer here, through Amazon

Our Top Training Videos

Five Skill Dribble

Ball Mastery on the Move

The Both Footed Player

Strength and Conditioning Our Strength and Conditioning Coach, George Lyons talks us through a single leg landing exercise, designed to improve balance and stability strength.

Single leg landing is something that can be included within your preparation work, along with stretching and mobility drills. Exercises such as the one below are low in their intensity and can be performed with minimal equipment. Perform the single leg landing exercise to improve deceleration, balance, and stability strength.

Step 1

Using a box that is slightly below knee height, step forward and land on one foot, holding the position upon landing.

Step 2

The next step is to step laterally from the box, landing as before. Hold the position for a short space of time to improve your balance.

Final Step The final step is to step laterally off the box. As you step turn your body 90 degrees, facing the direction shown in the diagram.

This provides stability through a range of motion, similar to what we will experience within football.

Plenty of Ball Mastery drills, all in one YouTube video

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