Run with the ball (or boot it!)
Parents and Friends,
Running with the ball is a technique that we focus on in trainings with all our players. It’s a key skill that must be taught and major gains can only be made with proper instruction, corrections and repetitions.
Any youth player may be quick or a good athlete but that’s movement without the ball. Moving at speed with the ball at the feet is a completely different matter.
You can tell in a game situation when a player doesn’t have the confidence to carry the ball…
they treat it like a hot potato!
The player just kicks the ball first time (boots it!) when it comes to their feet or they kick the ball forward and run after it.
We are here to help and my top 3 tips for running with the ball are…
1) Start at a jogging speed… speed can be built up as technique improves.
2) Both the inside (‘big toe’) and outside (‘little toe’) of the foot should be used.
3) Run with the ball varying the length of stride and...
