8 short technique videos, each with a challenge players can repeat to measure their progress.
By Terry Barton, founder of The Coaching Manual and 15 years in coach education · Updated October 2026
When we teach ball mastery, we're helping children build the foundations of every football technique.
Ball mastery is a lifelong pursuit. Hopefully players develop a real passion for the ball, and these techniques are fun and easy to teach.
Watch the technique, teach the coaching points, then set the challenge.
A fundamental skill that teaches coordination, control, agility and familiarity with the ball. Children see rapid improvement with practice.
From George Best to Leo Messi, inside outside has been the core dribbling skill for generations. It teaches coordination, quick feet, ball control, movement and spatial awareness.
An easy activity to teach. It helps players learn ball control, coordination and agility, and get comfortable using the instep and controlling the weight of their contact.
Made famous by one of the greatest ever to play the game, this technique needs balance, agility, quick feet and spatial awareness. It looks great when you pull it off, too.
One of the great beat-the-player moves, used by everyone from Pelé to Ronaldo. It takes coordination, agility, spatial awareness and timing.
From Giggs to Mbappé, players have been shimmying past opponents with this technique for decades. It teaches coordination, agility, timing and acceleration.
Another simple activity that helps players use all surfaces of the foot. Encourage both feet, and ask players to scan behind them as they perform the skill.
Pair sole drags with sole pushes. This time the ball goes forwards, in a controlled way, with the sole. Go slow to learn the technique and speed up as players improve.
Every technique and challenge lives in The Coaching Manual app. Players record their scores, coaches see who is improving, and clubs get the whole programme alongside sessions and season plans.
