Problems With Inside Of Foot Receiving

Diagnosing & Solving Problems
With Inside-Of-Foot Receiving
(U-8 & up)

See Dribble Around Cone & Pass Relay Race No Lines Drill.

1.  Problem:

The receiver isn't getting in front of the pass

     Solution:

Check the following:

Is the receiver just standing still & trying to stick his leg out to stop the ball? Any time the receiver is in passing range he should stay on his toes & start moving as soon as he can tell which way the pass is going (i.e., as soon as he can tell whether he needs to go left, right up or back). He must get in front of the ball , stop it, & control it.

Is the receiver not getting to passes that are to his left or right? Teach your players to start moving as soon as they can tell which direction the ball is going in.

2.  Problem:

The receiver doesn't stop a bad pass

     Solution:

Teach your players that their number one job is to stop the ball. This is very important in order to prevent turnovers. Again, this means they must start running as soon as the pass is made & get to it if at all possible.

3.  Problem:

The pass bounces over the receiver's foot

     Solution:

Check the following:

Is the receiver's foot too low? It should be about 5" off the ground (i.e., halfway up the back of the ball). If a player has difficulty remembering to raise his foot, have him practice by raising his foot higher than the ball & then bringing it down in front of the ball to stop it. This seems to help players remember.

Is he receiving the ball toward the front of his foot? If so, it is more likely the ball will bounce over his foot than if he is receiving it with the arch under the anklebone. If the ball takes a hop, the leg will stop it if it is being received near the anklebone.

Are the toes pulled up so the foot is parallel to the ground? (If the foot is pointing downward it is more likely the ball will bounce over it).

4.  Problem:

The ball bounces too far away from the receiver

     Solution:

The ankle is too firm. Tell the player to relax his foot & let it move backward on contact if the ball is coming fast. Remember, for consistency the toes should always be pulled up so the foot is parallel to the ground.

5.  Problem:

The player can't control the ball to make it stop where he wants it to

     Solution:

Teach players that they must loosen or stiffen their ankle, or move the receiving foot backward or forward on contact, or angle the foot & contact the ball more in front or behind, depending on where they want the ball to stop (e.g., if they want the ball to stop one step away, or at the foot, or to the left or the right).

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1. Problem:	The receiver isn't getting in front of the pass
Solution:	Check the following:
	Is the receiver just standing still & trying to stick his leg out to stop the ball? Any time the receiver is in passing range he should stay on his toes & start moving as soon as he can tell which way the pass is going (i.e., as soon as he can tell whether he needs to go left, right up or back). He must get in front of the ball , stop it, & control it. Is the receiver not getting to passes that are to his left or right? Teach your players to start moving as soon as they can tell which direction the ball is going in.
2. Problem:	The receiver doesn't stop a bad pass
Solution:	Teach your players that their number one job is to stop* the ball.* This is very important in order to prevent turnovers. Again, this means they must start running as soon as the pass is made & get to it if at all possible.
3. Problem:	The pass bounces over the receiver's foot
Solution:	Check the following:
	Is the receiver's foot too low? It should be about 5" off the ground (i.e., halfway up the back of the ball). If a player has difficulty remembering to raise his foot, have him practice by raising his foot higher than the ball & then bringing it down in front of the ball to stop it. This seems to help players remember. Is he receiving the ball toward the front of his foot? If so, it is more likely the ball will bounce over his foot than if he is receiving it with the arch under the anklebone. If the ball takes a hop, the leg will stop it if it is being received near the anklebone. Are the toes pulled up so the foot is parallel to the ground? (If the foot is pointing downward it is more likely the ball will bounce over it).
4. Problem:	The ball bounces too far away from the receiver
Solution:	The ankle is too firm. Tell the player to relax his foot & let it move backward on contact if the ball is coming fast. Remember, for consistency the toes should always be pulled up so the foot is parallel to the ground.
5. Problem:	The player can't control the ball to make it stop where he wants it to
Solution:	Teach players that they must loosen or stiffen their ankle, or move the receiving foot backward or forward on contact, or angle the foot & contact the ball more in front or behind, depending on where they want the ball to stop (e.g., if they want the ball to stop one step away, or at the foot, or to the left or the right).