Drills / On your own

Close down and jockey

Sprint out to a ball, brake with short steps, arrive side-on an arm's length away, then back off slowly showing it to one side. The footwork for pressing and for defending one against one.

Players
Just you
Space
15 × 8 m
Kit
1 ball, 3 cones
Time
10 minutes
Age
All ages
You
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • Put a start cone, then a ball on the ground 12 m away. The ball is the attacker.
  • Put two cones 2 m behind the ball and 4 m apart, to mark the sides you can show it to.

How it works

  1. Sprint from the start cone towards the ball.
  2. About 3 m away, switch to short, quick steps to slow down.
  3. Stop an arm's length from the ball, side-on, knees bent, on the balls of your feet.
  4. Shuffle backwards 5 m, staying side-on, as if the attacker is coming at you. Walk back to the start. Eight runs, four showing each way.

What to work on

  • Fast out, slow in. Arriving at full speed lets an attacker go straight past you.
  • Side-on, not square: one foot in front of the other, so you can turn and run either way.
  • Stay on your feet. Do not dive in.
  • Your body angle decides which way the attacker can go. Choose it before you arrive.

Easier

Jog out, and walk the last few steps.

Harder

Ask a friend to shout "left" or "right" as you arrive, and show it that way. Or time the sprint and the stop.

Safety. Do it on grass or a soft surface, in boots or trainers that grip, so you do not slip when you brake.

Try next

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