| One very simple yet effective tool for improving | | | | imagination to come up with an infinite supply of drills |
| soccer footwork is sticks. Whether you purchase | | | | and activities that will improve the player's speed and |
| some, use kindling, or use fallen twigs (make sure they | | | | precision |
| are straight) you can create a great training course | | | | Here's another easy way to improve footwork soccer |
| with them. | | | | skills: |
| Have sticks that are 4-5 feet long and 1x1 inch and lay | | | | ZigZag (speedwork) |
| them down so they look like the rungs of a ladder. You | | | | Set up a series of five to seven cones, flags, or other |
| can then have the players do running, hopping, and ball | | | | objects as markers in a zigzag and mark the beginning |
| work. | | | | and end of the course with two pylons at each end. |
| Running - running drills can includes stepping once or | | | | Step1: There should be five yards between the |
| twice between each stick, shuffling sideways between | | | | beginning of the course and the first zigzag marker, |
| them (they can change direction at each turn), or | | | | between each of the zigzag markers, and between |
| running between the sticks lengthwise. | | | | the final zigzag marker and the end of the course. |
| Hopping - players can hop on one foot or two feet, | | | | Step2: Have two players run the course together. |
| they can hop forward and backward, they can hop | | | | Step3: When they start, they sprint to the each marker |
| sideways, they can alternate feet. | | | | and they must touch beside the marker with their near |
| Ball Practice - dribbling around the sticks, passing the | | | | foot (the left foot for P1 and the right foot for P2). |
| ball through and sprinting after it, shuffling between the | | | | You can change the angle of the turn the players |
| sticks and pushing the ball from the end of one stick to | | | | make by widening out the markers, so you can have |
| the next stick (position balls at both ends of each stick | | | | them practice turning at more acute angles. |
| for this one), passing exercise through the channels | | | | The ability of a player to change directions quickly is |
| between the sticks. | | | | fundamental to the game of soccer and this will help |
| Goalkeeper Practice - goalkeepers can practice | | | | them learn to adjust their stride to compensate for |
| catching and saving balls while shuffling through | | | | foot placement and turning. In this drill, they need to see |
| channels or sprinting through them | | | | every marker as a ball. |
| The possibilities are endless. You can use your | | | | Hope this helps improving soccer footwork skills. |