Since 2016, the Techne App has been providing players with weekly guided training sessions. A brand new session goes live every Sunday. While the training in the App provides a lot of variety to keep things fun and interesting, there's also a big emphasis on always cycling back to the basics. We won't play favorites and say there's a best drill or best session, but here are 5 of the most popular drills in the App and how they can help you improve:
1. Free Juggling
Whether you're new to juggling and aiming to get your first 10, or can keep the ball up for hours, this is always a great way to train. There are so many ways to practice juggling, but sometimes it's nice not to think so much, and just try to keep the ball in the air. Free juggling can incorporate either foot, any surface, and any style you want.
2. Inside Outside
One of the most classic dribbling footwork patterns is also a player favorite. Footwork patterns are great for training movement and touch repetitions to make them second nature. You can make this dribbling move as explosive and game-realistic as you want by taking longer touches and picking your head up, or you can use it in small spaces to practice foot speed and stamina. A one-minute interval dribbling like this will be exhausting (positive hard work!) if you do it correctly. In the App, we recommend 30 seconds at a slow pace and then 30 seconds as fast as you can. If you are training on your edge and really pushing yourself, it’s normal to make a few mistakes, at least as you challenge your speed with footwork patterns.
3. Outside Circles
One of the most common types of Techne training is an entire series of sessions that you can do in the convenience of your living room. You can do these while watching games or even right before bed to get in some extra work without having to go to the field; no need even to put on shoes. Every minute counts, and the App lets you track the time to see it add up. These drills can even be done barefoot and will help you develop your balance, foot and leg muscles, and general comfort with the ball at your feet. Bottom line, you can't spend enough time with the ball at your feet!
4. 2-Touch Balance
Using a wall to train is a fundamental component of the Techne system. This particular drill is used in a lot of sessions because it encompasses many important elements of technique - strength, balance, first touch, and passing accuracy. Similar to the dribbling drills, you can make passing against the wall as game-realistic as you'd like. By backing up and passing the ball harder, you will challenge your strength, technique, and touch, all of which will make you a better player on the field.
5. Scoop & Cushion
Another wall drill makes the top 5. This is a great way to practice receiving the ball out of the air if you don't have a training partner to throw or kick you the ball. If you aren't comfortable scooping the ball consistently, you can throw the ball against the wall each time. See if you can bring it down without it bouncing at all. It's a fun challenge and will help you prepare for receiving the ball out of the air in a game.
These classic drills are game-changers for any player, at any level. They are at the core of meaningful improvement and a key to soccer mastery. And the benefit of using the Techne App is that everything is mapped out for you, and tracked. It’s great to feel empowered by “doing your own thing,” and that’s what these drills, and the App, are all about! Use code BLOG for 10% off your first purchase!
