Soccer Throw-in Drills to Keep Possession
Are you tired of losing possession during games and struggling to maintain control of the ball? If you want to improve your team’s possession and master the art of the soccer throw-in, our expertly curated throw-in drills can help.
Soccer is a sport where the slightest mistake can cost your team a whole match. Players across the works work on improving their standards for every part of the game, but one thing that most players don’t work on a lot is soccer throw-in drills.
It is one of the most occurring things in a soccer match, and if you don’t know how to use it to your advantage, the opponent team can significantly benefit from it.
Why are throw-ins important in a soccer game?
Throw-ins in soccer weren’t considered as important in earlier times. However, in the past decades, soccer strategists have recognized the importance of these throw-ins.
Throw-ins are critical in creating a transition in the game, including stopping potential attacks to creating counter-attacking opportunities. Planned throw-ins result in building successful attacks.
One of the biggest benefits is retaining possession, but it can only be learned through effective soccer coaching and drills. On average, in a 90-minute game, there could be anywhere between 60 to 40 throw-ins at least.
So, if these are utilized as opportunities to retain possession, your team can create a huge difference.
Top 3 soccer throw-in drills you must practice.
So, if you want to improve your throw-ins in real games, practice these 3 drills for all types of situations:
1. First-touch and throw-in technique
The first soccer drill for throw-ins requires 2 players. One focuses on their throwing angle, distance, and technique, while the other focuses on their first touch and the ball control.
During this drill, the players can practice different throw-in positions with variable distances. As the thrower throws the ball towards the receiver, they have to make a perfect first touch and then pass the ball towards the thrower.
Repeating this 5 times and switching roles after 5 repetitions will help players build muscle memory of this move. To mimic the real-game scenario, you may increase the distance or add some cones to simulate defender positions.
For the best practicing experience, consider getting 1 or 2 defenders marking each player, as it helps improve the mechanics and strategy. Remember that it is not essential for you to throw the ball into the receiver’s feet as they can receive the ball on:
- Chest
- Knee
- Belly
- Thigh
- Either of their foot
Practicing all these body parts helps the ball receive movement, first touch, and, most importantly, the pass back to the thrower.
2. One-touch switch
You need at least 3 players for the drill to practice the one-touch switch throw-in technique. In this drill, you practice confusing the opponent team by displaying a back pass while a third player is actually planning to get the ball and make a move.
That move can be for retaining possession of the ball or creating an attacking chance. To practice this drill, it is important to have a pre-arranged setup, and the thrower must be the pivot between the other two players, as his position matters the most.
This drill creates a triangle between 3 players, a very effective strategy to dodge the opposing defenders. For this drill, you need to focus on the first-touch drill, and in addition to that, you must work on your movement and running options.
The drill works by you throwing the ball to one player, and the receiver passes you the ball back. The opponents see this as a simple throw-in, whereas you have a third player ready to receive the ball.
Important: As you pass the ball to that third player, he can make a move but make sure to see for his offside position.
The third player can create fake runs before getting the ball to run in the planned direction. Practicing this drill with cones or defending players will be even more effective.
3. Utilizing the passing triangle
As you create a triangle in the previous drill. The receiver to receive the throw-in had no role. You can improve your throw-in by giving an additional role to that second player.
This drill comes with an additional focus on triangle positioning, sprinting with the ball, holding, dribbling, first-touch passing, and regular passing skills.
Note: Remember that your role will be the most critical one for this throw-in drill as you have to throw the ball, get at the right position to receive a pass, and pass the ball on to the second player again to make an attacking run.
Here you will create a triangle to mimic a situation where the throw receiver has a defender behind him. As you throw the ball, the receiver will give you a first-touch pass and go past the defender.
You will pass the ball to the third player and take another pass-receiving position. Now you get the ball back and dribble it to create a passing line toward the second player.
Things to be careful about during throw-ins.
It is crucial to remember that throw-ins cannot be offside in a soccer game according to the rules. So, even if one of your players is standing past the opposing team’s defense line, you can directly throw the ball toward them, and that won’t cause any offense against the rules.
However, it is only about the throw and not in the case where you first throw the ball towards an onside player, and he passes it on to an offside player. In that case, it would be a regular pass marked as offside.
With this difference in the offside rule, you can create goal-scoring opportunities easily. So, instead of waiting for everyone to be onside, look for an opportunity and throw toward the player who may end up scoring a goal.
Also, remember that the ball must come right from behind the head with both hands. You cannot lift a foot or jump while throwing the ball in. Such mistakes make the throw-ins illegal.
Conclusion
Soccer throw-in drills are essential for you if you want to excel as a player in modern-day soccer. There are roughly 50 throw-ins for each team, meaning there are around 50 chances where you can use planned set pieces during a game to create attacking opportunities and maintain possession during the game.
With the above drills, you can prepare for different offensive situations and deal with opposing players without losing possession.
