INTERMEDIATE PASSING – HALF-VOLLEY
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The half-volley in soccer is the act of kicking an airborne ball momentarily after it strikes the ground, without controlling it first. A half-volley can be utilized as a pass to a teammate, a shot on offense, or a clearance on defense. The half-volley is generally used when quick action is required and the kicker is only able to get to the ball just after it bounces. There are two types of basic half-volleys, the inside-of-the-foot half-volley and the instep half-volley. As the names imply, the skill of basic half-volleying builds upon a player’s ability to understand and properly perform the inside-of-the-foot pass, the instep drive, and the full volley. The inside-of-the-foot half-volley offers the most control, while the instep half-volley offers the most power. As a result, in game situations the inside-of-the-foot half-volley is most often used to pass, both the inside-of-the-foot half-volley and the instep half-volley are most often used to shoot, and the instep half-volley is most often used to clear the ball.
In order to half-volley the ball, players must first determine where they want the ball to go after it is half-volleyed. This will determine which half-volley to use, based on the availability of a teammate, proximity to the attacking goal, or the need to get the ball out of immediate danger near the defending goal. Virtually simultaneously, players will need to get into the proper position to intersect the flight of the ball, by anticipating where the ball would be expected to land, and then by moving toward the ball ahead of that location. The body is then set properly according to which half-volley is being used and then the skill is performed. For young players, a lot of this information can be overwhelming and they should be allowed to just work on their own (against a wall, in pairs, or into a goal with a net on it) to try to properly contact the ball. As with any ball skill of this nature, emphasis should always be placed on the importance of proper technique, before adding power. Similarly, coaches are reminded that both legs and feet must be trained equally.
The recommended progression for introducing the half-volley is:
Demonstration
Players Try Half-Volleys on Their Own
Coaches as Servers
Pairs with Ball
Pairs with Ball, Teammates as Servers
Threes with Ball, Triangle
Threes with Ball, Over “Defender”
Threes with Ball, For Distance
Game Situations
Demonstration
The coach should announce that he is going to introduce “the half-volley” and show the techniques for both “the inside-of-the-foot half-volley” and “the instep half-volley.” This is best done with an assistant coach as the server where both the coach and the assistant have practiced the demonstration in advance. The demonstration should be shown from the front, back and side views. For both half-volleys, the standing leg will have the knee bent slightly and the plant foot kept in contact with the ground. In addition, the initial body position will be directly in the path of the ball with the hips and shoulders initially squared to the path of the ball and the arms out for balance. The half-volley should be returned directly to the waist of the server. Players are to be told that they should move directly and quickly to the ball, reacting to the way it is served.
For the inside-of-the-foot half-volley, the contacting foot slightly off the ground and the whole leg turned outside approximately 45-degrees at the hip. The foot is also turned out so that it is perpendicular to the flight of the ball with the toe up, the heel down, and the ankle locked. The plant foot is pointed in the direction that the ball is intended to go. Contact with the ball is made in the center, slightly below the midline. Good balance over the plant foot is maintained so that the contacting foot may swing freely. The foot should contact the ball immediately after the bounce and the body kept essentially vertical (i.e., don’t lean back). Players may simply be told that they are, “…doing an ‘inside-of-the-foot pass’ after a bounce.” The techniques are exactly the same, but with the foot higher off the ground and little follow-through with the kicking leg.
For the instep half-volley, the ankle and foot are positioned just like the instep drive with the toe down, the foot extended and the ankle locked. Good balance is established with a slight body lean to the opposite side of the contacting leg in order to allow for extension of foot. Again, the technique is just like “doing an instep drive after a bounce,” and the kicking leg should be able to be swung freely. In order to keep the kick low; the ball is to be struck dead center or slightly below the midline and a good follow-through should be used.
Players should be reminded that the hardest part of half-volleying is getting to the ball quickly. Similarly, a slight adjustment of the position of the kicking leg and foot may be required at the last second to ensure a proper result. As with all ball skills, players should also be reminded to “keep their eye on the ball,” seeing their foot actually make contact.
Players Try Half-Volleys on Their Own
At the coach’s discretion, players may be allowed to first try half-volleys on their own by gently dropping a low, straight ball to the ground and then kicking it immediately upon the bounce, with the inside-of-the-foot or the instep, to the waist of a teammate, who is approximately five yards away. This could also be done alone into a brick wall (without windows) or into a goal with a net.
Coaches as Servers
Coaches should demonstrate the proper technique to be used by servers, sending an underhand throw using both hands, and with very little arc, directly to a spot on the ground in front where the players should half-volley the ball. For young players, coaches may wish to serve the balls themselves to each player first, and offer individual instruction, before asking teammates to take over as servers.
Pairs with Ball
Set up two players with one ball approximately five yards apart. Players are to hold the ball, drop it, and then kick it with the inside-of-the-foot half-volley to the teammate. The teammate catches the ball and then returns it the same way. The players are to then do the same thing using the other foot. Players are to then hold the ball, drop it, and kick it with the instep half-volley to the teammate. Players may start by kicking with their dominant leg, but then they must be asked to switch legs in order to train both legs equally. Ten to twenty repetitions should be used for each half-volley for both feet.
Pairs with Ball, Teammates as Servers
Set up two players with one ball approximately five yards apart. Teammates are to serve the ball, using the proper serving technique demonstrated, so that their partner can return it with the inside-of-the-foot half-volley. After ten to twenty reps, the partner then does the same. The players are to then do the same using the other foot. Players are to then serve and return the ball using the instep half-volley, again switching feet.
Threes with Ball, Triangle
Coaches demonstrate, then set three players with one ball in a triangle formation with the players approximately five yards apart. The first player serves the ball to the second player, who must half-volley it to the third player. The third player catches the ball and then becomes the next server. Again, both legs and both types of half-volleys are to be used. The ball should be sent around in the direction that best serves the kicking leg being used. The kickers must alter their body position properly in order to perform this skill.
Threes with Ball, over “Defender”
Coaches demonstrate, then set three players in a row, where the middle player acts as the server and the kicking player is to send the half-volley over his head to the third player. The third player passes to ball back to the man in the middle and the exercise is repeated. Again, both legs and both half-volleys need to be used. The players rotate to all positions.
Threes with Ball, For Distance
Coaches demonstrate that, with players still in groups of three, a player with a number of balls may serve to a kicker who will send the ball, using an instep half-volley, to a target man thirty or more yards away. Again, both legs should be used and the players rotated.
Game Situations
Coaches demonstrate and then may set up any of the drills above, in close proximity to a goal, in order to practice defensive clearances or offensive shooting using both types of half-volleys. Both types of half-volleys should be used and both legs should be trained equally.
Soccer Coaching Tips:
– Proper half-volley technique requires lots of repetitions using correct form. In order to do so, players can make very effective use of a wall or a bangboard.
– Beginning players tend to want to bring their legs up too high to half-volley. Leaning back and/or not getting to the ball fast enough are the two most frequent reasons for kicking a half-volley higher than is intended.
– Coaches may emphasize that half-volleys may be made in two forms, as subtle redirection of the ball, or by using a powerful kick. In either case, the flight of the ball should be as low as possible to get the job done and go to an intended target.
– A half- volley challenge is to do a juggling pick-up, juggle the ball a couple of times, then half-volley to a teammate who receives and repeats. An individual could also do this using a wall.
– The follow-on to the half-volley is the side volley.
© Copyright, John C. Harves