FineSoccer Drill 57

Stock exchange is an excellent drill to use for ball skills as well as a good way to set the tone for a training session with regards to movement and communications.

Assuming we have 16 players (it can be more or less) start with 8 players around a circle with balls and each of the other players behind a player with a ball (see diagram below)

The players with the ball start dribbling  toward the center of the circle and then toward a different player on the outside.  She then passes the ball to the player on the outside and calls for it back.  The player on the outside one touches the ball right back to the player and she the player in the middle then goes toward another player on the outside.  Do this for a minute and then switch roles.  The keys to this first step are for the person in the middle to dribble with her head up so that she doesn't dribble to the same player on the outside that another player is dribbling to.  Also, she must play a hard, accurate pass so that it doesn't hit anyone else.  The players on the outside should be keeping their feet moving as well as communicating to let the players know if they are available.

Next everything is the same but now instead the player on the outside should play the ball in front of the player in the middle instead of right back to her.  This is the difference between a 1-2 pass vs a wall pass.  The player on the outside should be the wall and play the ball off in the same angle that it came in.  Everything else is the same.

Next the player in the middle plays the ball and yells for the player on the outside to hold the ball.  While the player holds the ball, the player in the middle runs around the player on the outside and then receives the ball back.  This adds even more communication and conditioning.

Next we add them all together.  The player in the middle should tell the player on the outside what she wants.  If she says "1-2" then the ball gets played directly back to the player.  If she says "wall" then it is to be returned in a wall pass. If she says "hold" then it's a hold and overlap.  This is where you start to see the difference between talking and communicating because now, not only does the player in the middle have to say something but the player on the outside has to listen, understand and obey.

There are many other variations that can be added by using your creativity but this should give you a good start.

If you have used a drill like this or have some interesting variations, please feel free to share them at the FineSoccer Forum

Have a great day!

Lawrence