Exercises › Technique
Ball mastery for midfielders: first touch between mannequins
- 10 min
- 2–6 players
- 7v7
- 9v9
- 11v11
- Technique & Skills
A technical drill for individual skills that build the key qualities of a midfielder: clean first touches, good ball orientation and quick footwork to receive and return the ball in tight spaces. Place two mannequins 1 metre apart. One metre in front of them, place another two mannequins 2 metres apart to represent a defensive line. A player stands 1 metre behind the first set of mannequins. On the other side, 3 metres away, a second player or the coach stands with a ball. The action starts with the pass between the two mannequins that are 1 metre apart and into the receiver's feet. The receiver takes a touch out of their feet and to the side and returns the pass between the outer and inner mannequin. Continue the sequence. See the video. Source: FIFA Training Centre (Instagram).
What the coach should look for
- Clean first touch out of your feet and to the side.
- Look up and scan before the ball arrives.
- Quick feet: receive and return in tight spaces.
- Pass accurately between the mannequins.
The video belongs to its creator and plays at the source.
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