The Ball Control Circle Drill

PLAYERS:

+14

TIME:

20 min.

FOCUS:

Warm-Up

AGE:

U8+

INTENSITY:

4/10

SETUP

Place one cone in the middle of your area to mark the centre of the circle.
Mark out a circle around it with 8 cones, roughly 5 meters from the centre cone, spacing the cones 2-3 meters apart along the circle.
Position one player at each of the 8 outer cones, each holding a ball.
Place the remaining 6 players inside the circle, gathered around the centre cone and facing outwards.
Adjust distances between cones based on the age and skill level of the players.

WHY USE THIS DRILL?

The Ball Control Circle packs a lot of repetitions into a short space of time, which makes it an ideal way to open a session. Every inside player gets a constant stream of served balls at different heights, so first touch, technique and body position are trained under light physical fatigue rather than in a static, unopposed setting. Because the players move between partners the whole time, they also work on coordination, awareness of space around them and the habit of arriving at the ball ready to play.

This drill particularly focuses on:

First Touch: Players learn to cushion and control served balls with the foot, thigh, chest or head before returning them.
Passing Accuracy: The return pass has to be firm and to hand or to feet, which forces clean contact every single time.
Coordination and Balance: Sprinting out, stopping and adjusting to a moving ball builds body control at speed.
Work Rate: The constant movement between stations turns a technical exercise into a genuine warm-up.

HOW IT WORKS

On the coach’s signal, the 6 inside players sprint out from the centre to a free player on the circle. The outside player serves the ball with their hands, and the inside player controls it and returns it with the technique being trained. After returning the ball, the inside player sprints back to the cone in the middle and then out again to a new free player on the line. With 8 outside stations and only 6 inside players, there is always a free partner available, so the drill runs continuously without queues. Set the technique before each block and let it run for a few minutes before changing it.

Start with foot control, where the ball is served low and returned with a controlling touch and a pass straight back into the server’s hands. Run this with the right foot only, then with the left. Move on to chest to foot, where the serve comes in at chest height and the inside player cushions it on the chest, lets it drop and plays it back with the foot. Then knee to foot, using the thigh to take the pace off the ball before returning it.

Finish with headers, where the ball is served to head height and headed straight back into the server’s hands. Rotate roles after 3-5 minutes so the outside players get their turn inside. Encourage players to stay on their toes, maintaining a state of readiness to receive the ball.

OTHER KEY POINTS

Ask for a soft, cushioned first touch rather than a stiff block, especially on the chest and thigh.
Keep the returns firm and accurate so the server never has to move off their cone.
Watch that inside players run all the way back to the centre cone before setting off again, as the tempo is what makes this a warm-up.
The drill should be seen as inspiration. So feel free to adapt the drill to suit your team’s specific needs or focus areas.