5 drills in 2024 that will improve your football skills!

Level up your game: Becoming one of the best footballers demands a lot of dedication and hard work. Consistent and effective training is the key to this journey. Setting yourself apart from your opponents and optimizing your training requires drills that are both effective and closely aligned with match situations. In this blog, we'll explore five innovative training drills, that you should know in 2024, designed to enhance your football skills, providing you with the tools to outperform your opponents.

1. Y-Drill Indicator:

The Y-Drill Indicator is designed for those who want to improve their scanning skills. For this drill, the player needs 4 Rebounder Pros, each equipped with 1 Ignite Light.

The player begins the drill by passing the ball to the rebounder with the flashing white light. Afterward, both a blue and red light will start flashing. The blue light indicates the destination for your pass, and the red light indicates the following blue light. Based on this, you will have to pass the ball to the rebounder with the blue flashing light, while also being attentive to the red flashing light, as it indicates the target for your next pass. This way, players must constantly orient themselves, which will significantly improve their scanning skills.

This drill also trains passings across various distances, focusing on short and slightly longer passes. This requires the player to consistently position themselves accurately according to the rebounder that needs to be hit.

This exercise will improve the players scanning skills, turns, passes, and dribbles. The drill can be performed with either one or two players. Do it with two players to enhance their coordination skills further. Coordinating in training is crucial for better performance with teammates in matches. Connecting and coordinating, as demonstrated by Guardiola and Manchester City with their emphasis on coordination, movements, ball touches, and possession, is vital in modern football.

2. Turn n´ Pass:

The Turn n´ Pass drill is designed for those who want to improve their short passings. For this drill, the player needs 3 Rebounder Pros, each equipped with 1 Ignite Light.

Here, one of the rebounders will act as the player's base and the two other rebounders as their targets. The player always has the same base, but the two other passing targets will vary, which forces the players to orientate themselves quickly to find the right rebounder and passing opportunity after hitting the base. The target only flashes when the player has hit the base, which is why the player must always “go home to the base” after passing to the target.

The player begins the drill by passing the ball to the rebounder with the flashing white light (this rebounder will be the player's base). Now, pass the ball to the rebounder with a flashing blue light (this will be the player's target). Then, pass the ball to the base, which at this step and beyond, flashes green. Repeat the sequence.

This exercise will improve the players scanning skills, turns, and passings. Compared to a match, it enables the player to make quick decisions, play faster, and create more opportunities. It could involve a defender receiving the ball from the goalkeeper, turns, and needs to make a quick decision in the build-up play. Additionally, it could be a midfielder, winger or striker moving down the pitch, receiving the ball, and turns to find a space where they can deliver a passing to a teammate.

3. 360 XL:

The 360 XL drill is designed for those who want to improve their scanning skills. For this drill, the player needs 4 Rebounder Pros, each equipped with 1 Ignite Light.

The player begins the drill by passing the ball to the rebounder with the flashing white light. After that, the player must consistently pass the ball to the rebounder with the flashing blue light. In the exercise, two lights will be flashing continuously – one red and one blue. The blue light indicates the passing target, while the red light indicates the target for the next pass. Therefore, the players are supposed to keep a constant eye on the field, which will significantly improve their scanning abilities.

In this drill, the player who scans the field well and passes the ball accurately won't need to cover a lot of distance. However, if the attempt is unsuccessful, the player may end up running unnecessary distances.

This exercise will improve the players' scanning skills, turns, and short passes - ideal for the central midfielder who needs to scan and see what is around them. Through scanning, midfielders can observe their options before receiving the pass. This skill is crucial in the decision-making process, where the midfielder needs to assess whether they can turn and identify any playing opportunities – a skill Luka Modric is a master of.

4. C-Drill:

The C-Drill is designed for those who want to improve their short passings. For this drill, the player needs 3 Rebounder Pros, each equipped with 1 Ignite Light.

The player begins the drill by passing the ball to the rebounder with the flashing white light. Now, the player must consistently pass the ball to the rebounder with the flashing blue light. The light that turns on may vary, and the same light can turn on multiple times in a row, so the players must keep their eyes open.

In this drill, the player knows that the lights are in front of them, so the emphasis is on making short and quick passes. Precision in passing is very important in this exercise. If the pass isn't accurate, the ball will come back poorly, and then making the angle for the next pass more challenging. Therefore, this drill is perfect for practicing forward passing.

This exercise will improve the player's ability to make first-touch passes with both legs. By being proficient with both feet, the player gains numerous advantages over their direct opponent. The capability to use both feet in the game allows the player to become unpredictable and create more playing opportunities for themselves – an advantage every player can benefit from. This is especially advantageous for central players and offensive players, such as Kevin De Bruyne, who strive to be unpredictable and create chances, as well as for defenders/fullbacks who aim to make quick decisions in the build-up play.

5. Open Up 90:

The Open Up 90-drill is designed for those who want to improve their short passings. For this drill, the player needs 2 Rebounder Pros, each equipped with 1 Ignite Light, positioned at a 90-degree angle, with a preferred passing distance of 7.2 meters to each rebounder.

The player begins the drill by passing the ball to the rebounder with the flashing white light. Now, as the drill has started, the player must always pass the ball to the rebounder with the blue flashing light. The same light can turn on multiple times in a row, so the players must keep their eyes open to observe whether they should make a first-touch pass back to the same rebounder or make a turn to the other rebounder.

This exercise will improve the player's turns and short first-touch passes with both legs - a perfect drill for the offensive players aiming to create chances and outplay their direct opponents with a directional first touch. It is also beneficial for defensive players, like Trent Alexander Arnold, who want to contribute to the offensive play by bringing the ball forward in the build-up play.

Compare the results in the Goal Station app

To challenge yourself to the fullest, the player/coach can adjust the level of difficulty in the Goal Station app. Here, the app is connected to the lights on the rebounders. Before each exercise, the player/coach needs to select the number of repetitions they want and choose the difficulty of the level. There are a total of 8 levels, ranging from beginner to ultimate - so everyone can perform these exercises, regardless of their current level.

After each exercise, the player is assigned a score in the app. This score indicates how well they have performed based on time and successful passings. In the app, they can constantly track their progress and compete with themself and their friends. This way, the players get the most effective training, as they are constantly pushed to perform better.

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