Focus: Dribbling / Passing Drill
Number of Players: +2
Age: +U5
Level: Easy
Setup:
- Make a square of 4 cones with a distance of 2-5 meters between each.
- Place 3 small goals 5-10 meters from the square in three different direction from the square.
- Position one player (Midfielder) in the square and position a coach or another player a few meters away from the square ready to deliver passes.
- Adjust distances between cones based on the age and skill level of the players.
Why Use This Drill?
The “Xavi” Midfielder Drill is inspired by Xavi and his playing style, both as a player and as a coach. It helps players understand the importance of the midfielder’s role in maintaining possession with controlled first touches and directing the ball safely from side to side.
How It Works
The coach or another player passes the ball into the player inside the square. The player then takes a directional first touch towards one of the goals and passes the ball into the goal using only 2 touches in total. The player chooses which goal to aim for. Depending on the variation of the drill, the player inside the square either needs to keep the ball inside or outside the square.
In the third variation, a defender can be added inside the square to apply pressure on the midfielder while taking the first touch and passing to the goal. This variation simulates real-game situations and helps players in-game understanding.
To make the drill more challenging, the coach or passing player can make different and unpredictable passes inside the square, such as long passes, loop passes, or throw-ins. This adds realism to the drill and prepares players for real-game scenarios.
Other Key Points:
- It is essential for the player to stay alert and ready to receive the ball.
- The drill should be seen as inspiration. So feel free to adapt the drill to suit your team’s specific needs or focus areas.
