Distribution Drill

# of players 9-16

In this drill we want to serve an air ball to a forward whose back is to the goal. This does not have to be a long ball but rather can be a ten to fifteen yard air ball of moderate velocity. Keep the forward at the receiving spot for five minutes at a time and then rotate with another player. They will get almost a 50-60 touches in that five minutes and I guarantee you they will get better on their touch and get a full workout. Have the forward check to the ball for their first touch. You can set a cone a few yards back that they have to check around before the next ball is served.

As the forward receives the ball they will be trying to distribute the ball to supporting teammates on the first touch out of the air. This touch should start with the feet, laces, inside of foot, outside of foot at first and then can progress to thigh, chest and head as players get more comfortable.

The supporting players (3) should be on one side of the forward or the other and spread out in shape. You can have them marked by defenders to add difficulty. The forward receiving the air ball will need to look up to see where their support is on the field before they make the touch. The support should be checking to space between serves. When the ball is played to the supporting players they should collect the ball and take it to space and then return a pass back to the Pro Trainer where you have players shagging the balls for recycling.

If you use defenders they should be going at 70% instead of full tilt to win the ball. This way you give pressure to the attackers but you also give them opportunity for success. If they win the pass they should then return a pass to the machine.

If you have more players you can have 3 supporting players on either side of the forward and 3 defenders covering them. That way the forward plays one ball to their right and the next ball to the left side. Players in the supporting roles know that they will have a ball played to them every ten seconds in this configuration.

After five (5) minutes rotate everyone around so that you get a new player receiving the ball and the support players move to new positions.