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By Santosh Kashyap Published on: Fri Apr 1, 2022
Start by getting a feel of juggling the ball. Switch to using your feet and thighs to control the ball. Try playing the ball in the air, cushioning the descent, and resuming the juggling. The coach sends a high ball towards you. You have to control the ball in one touch, and then quickly dribble past the defender to take a shot at goal.
Former Indian Footballer and Mahindra United player with over 36 years of experience, Santosh Kashyap is a FIFA and AFC Instructor. He has acquired an AFC Pro Diploma, the highest level of coaching accreditation issued by the Asian Football Confederation.
In football, it is crucial that you learn to control the ball while it is in the air, so you can easily manoeuvre it in the direction that you want to take it. In this post, you will read about a series of simple exercises that you can practise individually as well as in a group, to improve this skill.
Start this drill by getting a feel of juggling the ball. It may sound simple but as you get better at this, your confidence will improve, which is of utmost importance to become a better football player. Now switch to using your thighs to control the ball.
You may have hits and misses at first, but learn to steady yourself, concentrate and keep your eye on the ball. Once you are comfortable with this activity, alternate between using your feet and thighs to juggle the ball. This builds dynamism into your play and helps you become a more versatile player on the field.
Next, control the ball by heading it upwards continuously. Once you get the hang of this, try playing the ball in the air (kicking it high), cushioning/controlling the descent, and resuming the juggling. This is not easy and takes some practice. Just keep at it until it feels less effortful and more natural in terms of technique. Progress from using your foot to control it first, to the thigh, the chest, and the head.
The final part of learning to control the ball is of course a game situation. The coach sends a high ball towards you. You have to control the ball in one touch, taking care not to get too close to the defender in front, and then quickly dribble past the defender to take a shot at goal. Accelerating soon after gaining control of the ball is crucial if you want to beat the defender.
As an attacker you need to leverage a combination of perfect control and timely burst of speed to get your shot at goal. Read through the drills, practise on the field and get up to speed in no time. In the next post, we explore the all-important technique of shooting at goal with accuracy. Keep reading, learning and advancing your football skills.
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