How to coach players on moving with the ball

Designing your training sessions to work on moving with the ball

Ready to coach your players on moving with the ball? Try these strategies:

Increase time on the ball

To develop the skill, players need plenty of practice. Avoid yelling “pass” from the sidelines and encourage them to stay on the ball instead. Small-sided 2v2 or 3v3 games are great for giving players more time on the ball. Try an arrival activity where players are challenged to move with the ball from one area to another.

Build body mastery

Moving with the ball starts with mastering the body. Get players to explore the weight of their touches, what part of the foot to use and changing direction. For younger players, tag games are a fun way to build agility, balance and coordination. Encourage them to keep their heads up when the ball is at their feet by asking them to ‘play like meerkats’.

Encourage risks

Moving with the ball can feel risky. That’s why it’s more common in attacking areas where there’s less at stake from losing possession. Create an environment where players feel confident taking risks. Praise intention, not just outcome. Embrace mistakes. And be sure to react the same way on matchday as you would in training.

Adapt games

In training, modify games to encourage moving with the ball. Have end zones and award three points for dribbling the ball in and one for passing. Use flat discs to divide the pitch, and award points for dribbling over lines or extra points for goals that follow a dribble through multiple zones.

Provide variety

Remember, players face a different situation every time they move with the ball. Prepare them with game-realistic variety. Use both opposed and unopposed practices. Vary starting points, distances, movement types, defender approach angles and decision-making challenges to reflect real match scenarios.

Adapting to the age and stage of your team

Moving with the ball in football doesn’t look the same for everyone. Age and stage make a big difference. It’s all about meeting players where they’re at.

With younger or less experienced players, don’t discourage them from being selfish with the ball. It’s all too easy to coach the skill out of them. Games like ‘foxes and hounds’, where players are chased as they dribble, are perfect for building confidence. Just keep the number of defenders low, so they can actually stay on the ball.

Looking at the senior game, centre forwards in the WSL have three times more carries and take-ons now than compared to 21/22 season. So, moving with the ball is happening more often. So, as players get older and more experienced, add decision-making. Should they pass or move with the ball? Up the pressure by increasing the number of defenders. But always factor in players’ individual needs. Varying the space, task, equipment and players (STEP) is a great way to cater to different abilities.