PREPARING TO JOIN A FOOTBALL ACADEMY: SOLO DRILLS TO PRACTIcE AT HOME

In one of our earlier blogs about getting prepared to join a football academy, we mentioned that you can improve your basic skills by practicing by yourself using solo drills.

Solo drills are a great way for footballers to improve their skills and fitness. Here are some solo drills that footballers can practice on their own:

1.      Dribbling - Set up a course with cones or other markers and practice dribbling the ball around the course using different parts of your feet. Try to keep the ball close to your feet and vary your speed and direction.

2.      Passing - Find a wall or rebounder and practice passing the ball against it using both feet. Vary the distance and angle of your passes and focus on accuracy and control. You can also add a cone to one side of you and vary it’s position, through trying to hit this cone by rebounding the ball off a wall, you will start to familiarise yourself with more situational awareness for short passing drills with the team.

3.      Shooting - Set up a goal or target and practice shooting the ball using different techniques, such as laces, inside of the foot, and volleys. Focus on technique and accuracy.

4.      Juggling - Practice juggling the ball using your feet, thighs, and head. Try to increase the number of touches without letting the ball hit the ground.

5.      Agility - Set up a series of cones or markers and practice agility drills, such as shuttle runs, zig-zag runs, and figure-eight drills. Focus on quick feet and changing direction quickly.

6.      Fitness - Practice running drills, such as sprints, high knees, and butt kicks, to improve your fitness and endurance.

7.      Ball control - Set up a small space and practice controlling the ball using different parts of your body, such as your feet, thighs, chest, and head. Vary the speed and direction of the ball and focus on control and technique.

By practicing these solo drills, footballers can improve their skills, fitness, and confidence on the ball before joining a football academy. In combination with a steadily increasing daily fitness routine, this is a powerful way to refine your abilities and hit the ground running.

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