Alright so yesterday I grabbed my size 4 football – the one my nephew uses, you know? – and thought I’d work on some basic drills myself. Gotta stay sharp, right? Honestly, I figured it’d be easy with the smaller ball, but man, it turned out trickier than I expected! Here’s exactly how it went down.
Getting Started & Warm-up
First things first, I dragged my tired self out back where there’s a bit of flat grass. Didn’t feel like driving anywhere, just wanted a quick session. Found a good spot away from the flowerbeds – learned that lesson last time! I laid out my water bottle and a few cones I keep in the shed. Kicked off my slides, pulled on some old trainers, and just started juggling lightly. Kept it simple: thigh, foot, thigh, foot. Aimed for 20 reps each foot without dropping it. Dropped it a bunch at first, felt super clumsy! Took me a few minutes to find the sweet spot with the smaller ball, less margin for error.
Drill 1: Cone Weaving Dribble
Set up four cones about a yard apart in a straight line. Plan was simple: dribble through ’em using only the inside of my right foot going down, then only the outside coming back. Sounds straightforward? Yeah, no. That little size 4 ball just zipped away from me every time I tried using the outside of my foot! Ended up chasing it towards the fence more times than I care to admit. Figured out I was hitting it way too hard. Dialed it way back, focused on tiny little taps just to guide it around the cone. Used the very tip of my toes for the outside touch. Got smoother after maybe ten attempts each way. Still messed up, but less spectacularly.
Drill 2: Wall Pass Accuracy
Moved over to the side of the garage – my trusty wall target. Used a piece of chalk to mark a spot about knee-high right in the middle of one brick. Stood maybe 8 feet back. Goal: hit that exact spot consistently, right foot only. First few kicks? Bang! Off target, either skimming the brick below or sailing way over. Was putting way too much power behind it, thinking I needed force for accuracy. Tried relaxing my ankle, pointing my toe down, and just gently pushing the ball with the inside of my foot. Aimed through the spot, not at it. World of difference. Started connecting much more often, the ball bouncing back mostly where I wanted it. Did about 50 passes like that, counting my hits. Got maybe 35 decent ones.
Drill 3: First Touch Control
Finished up wanting to work on my first touch – always feels like it needs work. This was the messiest one. Faced away from the garage wall, bounced the size 4 ball hard off the wall behind me with my hands, turned quickly, and tried to control it dead on the first touch before it bounced a second time. Oh boy. The ball bounced all over the place! Sometimes it rocketed off at crazy angles, sometimes it just died right under me. Realized I was trying to kill the momentum completely every time, which is basically impossible. Changed tactics: instead of stomping on it, tried cushioning it down with the inside of my foot, almost like a gentle trap. Didn’t need to stop it dead cold; just keeping it close enough to play immediately was the win. Took maybe 15 tries before I got one feel somewhat controlled. Kept at it for another 20 reps, just focusing on getting my foot in the right position underneath it quickly. It was ugly, but I felt like the last few tries were slightly less chaotic.
Wrapping It Up
Finished feeling sweaty and a bit annoyed at how rusty I felt, but also kinda satisfied. That smaller size 4 ball really makes you pay attention to touch. Packed up the cones, stretched my calves against the shed wall for a minute (felt super tight!), and gulped down the water. Took maybe 45 minutes all in.
Key things I learned?
- Power isn’t everything. Especially with the size 4, gentle touches work way better for close control. Less is more.
- Focus on your contact point. Using a very specific part of your foot makes a huge difference with accuracy.
- First touch is about cushioning and direction, not always stopping it dead. Setting yourself up for the next move is enough.
- Persistence pays. It felt sloppy most of the time, but the small improvements towards the end felt good.
Honestly, it was fun even when frustrating. That little ball keeps you honest! Definitely gonna do these regularly, maybe try adding different moves each time.
