Fullback Receiving & Decision-Making | Winning High Balls and Driving Forward

Overview

• Fullbacks and outside backs
• Players who need to win a high ball and make a quick decision right after in a match
• Any age group looking to sharpen basic high-ball receiving and the reads that follow

Objectives

• Get your body set fast as the high ball drops
• Use your first touch to load up a drive forward
• Once you’re on the ball, scan your surroundings and pick out an accurate pass
• Build the composure to handle the high-ball moments that show up in real games

Setup

In this drill, players receive a ball dropped in high at the fullback spot, settle it, then drive forward and fire an accurate pass into one of two mini-goals.

1）Set up small goals (or cones) on both sides of the field

2）Have the player wait at the fullback position

3）The coach drops a ball in high (tosses it up into the air)

4）The player receives it and controls on the move

5）They drive forward a few touches while checking the mini-goals to their left and right

6）They play a sharp pass toward one of the goals (a left-side pass goes to the winger, a right-side pass goes to the central midfielder)