Advanced Receiving, Controlling and Chipping Drill

Receiving/Controlling/Chipping Technical Session for Advanced Soccer Players

CoachingAmericanSoccer.com^®

This session is all about ball control, progressing from juggling to a “three-touch drill.” The three-touch drill gives players a method to work on: 1.) their first-touch receiving an airborne ball with the chest, thigh, or foot (instep, inside); 2.) their ball set-up with their foot (sole, inside, outside); and, 3.) their chipping.

A frequent comment after a player botches a ball control effort is “His first touch let him down.” This drill is an attempt to minimize this problem by improving the receiving and controlling touches, at the same time as it develops chipping skill.

In a game situation, If an airborne ball skitters away after trying to receive it with the chest, thigh or foot, there is clearly a problem where an opposing player has a chance to easily intercept it. Therefore, this drill allows only two touches before the chip – no more.

If players lose control during the drill, they must quickly move to the position where they can chip the ball and keep the drill going. Distances between players as the move around receiving and chipping can be set anywhere between 25- and 45-yards.

Advanced players should be able to keep up a rhythm – for example: chest, settle, chip; chest, settle, chip – with the ball going back and forth for at least 10 minutes without an error. Receivers then move on to the thigh and the foot, utilizing both legs.

See: CoachingAmericanSoccer.com, Intermediate Passing – Chipping. The follow-through of the chip does not have to be long and may be modified slightly to continue, after the kick, around the placement foot only in a small arc, remaining as close to the ground as possible. There will also be minor adjustments in the placement of the non-kicking (plant) foot as the location of the receiving partner changes while the drill proceeds.

The full session consists of the following:

1. Juggling, individually, each player with a ball, then in pairs – total of 15 minutes. Emphasis on chest, thigh, instep, and inside of the foot (both legs/feet).

1. Two-players, two-touch, reinforcement drill using an inside-of-foot push pass and receive, for 15 minutes; then an outside-of-foot pass and receive, for 10 minutes. Emphasis on properly using the receiving/controlling touch to set up the ball in the correct location for the ensuing pass (approximately two steps in front and slightly to kicking side); use both feet.

1. Instep reinforcement drill for 20-25 minutes. See: Instep Drive Technique Reinforcement Drill

1. Three-touch drill for 45 minutes. Directions: Two players about 40-yards apart, using one ball. One player chips the ball directly to the other player, who receives the ball with the chest, thigh, or foot, then simultaneously settles and sets up the ball immediately as it hits the ground, using the sole, inside, or outside of the foot. This player then chips the ball back to their partner. The three touches consist of controlling the ball, setting the ball up for the chip, and then chipping it back.

1. As a hint to get time to control the ball on the ground, players may be instructed to push the ball upward slightly with the chest, thigh, or foot upon the initial reception.

1. Because players are only allowed two touches when receiving/controlling and setting up the ball before chipping it back, they may be advised to use the “magic hop.”

1. The three-touch progression is chest, settle/set-up, chip; thigh, settle/set-up, chip; foot (instep or inside), settle/set-up, chip. Players are not to use four touches. Players must exercise each leg/foot equally.

Deepest appreciation to Coach Rick Sewall for contributing this article.