The game of soccer is primarily one of movement. In a normal 90-minute match, field players are in contact with the ball an average of 2 to 4 minutes. The remaining amount of time is spent in actions around the soccer pitch - sprinting, turning, accelerating, decelerating, cutting, pivoting, jumping, backpedaling, and so on.

During the next few sessions, we will be working on the foundations of sprinting. As in soccer, success in sprinting consists of learning fundamentals and being able to execute at a subconscious level (without thinking). Because our primary focus of attention in the game is on the environment - the position and actions of the ball, teammates, and opponents - it is important that we are able to move quickly and efficiently.

There are three drills that we will be working on: toe-to-heel ankle walk, ankle dribbles, and A-skips. These are demonstrated in the videos linked below:

https://205sports.org/library/physical-development/coordination-and-movement/ankle-drill/

https://205sports.org/library/physical-development/coordination-and-movement/ankle-dribble/

https://205sports.org/library/physical-development/coordination-and-movement/a-skip/

An importance difference between the ankle walk and ankle dribbles is that in the ankle walk, the toes touch the ground first and we roll backward to the heel, whereas in ankle dribbles, the heel touches the ground first and we roll forward to the toes.

For all of these activities, it is helpful to have a mirror (if working in place) or video to perform the activity and then look at your form.