Drills / On your own

Keepy-uppy ladder

Climb a ladder of five stages, from one touch and a bounce to keeping it up with both feet and thighs. It builds the soft touch every other skill needs.

Players
Just you
Space
A 3 m circle of flat ground
Kit
1 ball
Time
10 minutes
Age
All ages
STAY INSIDE YOUR CIRCLEYou
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Set up

  • Find flat ground with nothing breakable nearby.
  • A slightly soft ball is easier to start with.

How it works

  1. Stage 1: drop the ball, let it bounce, kick it up once with your laces and catch it. Ten in a row moves you up.
  2. Stage 2: bounce, touch, bounce, touch. The ball may bounce between every touch.
  3. Stage 3: two touches before each bounce.
  4. Stage 4: no bounce. Keep it up with your stronger foot and count.
  5. Stage 5: alternate feet, and add a thigh touch when you can. Write down your best score each week.

What to work on

  • Toes pointed slightly up and ankle locked, so the ball comes straight back.
  • Strike the bottom of the ball with your laces, not your toes.
  • Small touches, no higher than your waist.
  • Stay on your toes and keep moving your feet to get under the ball.

Easier

Stay on Stage 2 and let it bounce as often as you need.

Harder

Weaker foot only, or call out a pattern such as "left, right, thigh" and stick to it.

Especially good for: goalkeeper, striker.

Try next

Drills that work the same skills.