| One of my most read blog pieces so far has been a | | | | At a recent futsal camp at Street Soccer Indoor in |
| little ditty I put together after I finally figured out | | | | metro Atlanta, former Atlante and Colorado Rapids |
| how to do an "around the world" with the soccer ball. | | | | defender Antonio de la Torre, almost exclusively |
| So that little taste of "how to" success got me | | | | used mini balls to work ball control, passing, and |
| thinking a bit about other ways to share what has | | | | shooting drills with his young attendees. The rationale |
| and has not worked for me over the years. | | | | is simple. According to de la Torre, "if you can master |
| With that sentiment, and with over a decade of | | | | the control of a ball this size [referring to the mini |
| coaching experience and a lifetime of playing | | | | ball], then playing with a regulation sized futsal or |
| experience to bear, this is a segment I have written | | | | outdoor ball will be that much easier." |
| to impart some of what has been helpful to me. | | | | With that background in mind, players - start by |
| The foundation of any great player is ball control. I | | | | practicing your juggling skills with a mini ball as well as |
| have considered and employed many different | | | | your regulation ball. As you would with your regular |
| techniques to build ball control skills. One such | | | | ball, use all surfaces of your boots, as well as thighs |
| technique is to incorporate the use of the mini ball, | | | | and head. |
| essentially a size 1 ball, in to your normal drills. | | | | Coaches - consider incorporating mini balls in to some |
| Because of the decreased surface area, the mini ball | | | | of your precision and ball control drills. Any passing |
| requires pin point accuracy of touch. Shooting, | | | | drills or shooting drills you currently employ will be |
| trapping, passing, heading - all become exercises on | | | | enhanced greatly by incorporating the mini ball as |
| precision. The tendency for most young players is to | | | | again, players will be forced in to accuracy over |
| substitute skill with power, but the mini ball doesn't | | | | power. I think you will find this addition to your |
| necessarily reward power - so the player has to stay | | | | coaching regime incredibly beneficial. |
| focused on touch. | | | | |