Smother and chase

Setup

1. Groups of four: a feeder with the balls, a kicker 5 m in front, and a target 20 m further on.
2. The smotherer starts on a cone 5 m to the kicker's side.

How it runs

1. The feeder handballs to the kicker, who takes two steps and kicks to the target.
2. The smotherer runs in from the side, hands up, and tries to smother the ball off the boot.
3. Smothered or not, the smotherer turns and chases the target, who has three seconds to kick back to the feeder.
4. Rotate all four roles after four goes.

Coaching points

• Come in from the side, never straight at the kicking leg.
• Hands up and together, eyes on the ball, body side-on.
• Smother the ball, not the player: no contact with the kicker's leg.
• Back on your feet straight away and chase hard.

Common mistakes

• Running square into the kicker's leg.
• Turning the head away or shutting the eyes as the ball comes off the boot.
• Stopping after a missed smother instead of chasing.