How to Play as Fast as Xavi and Iniesta

Key Points:

1. Check your shoulders! Most players are constantly staring at the ball. The best players know how to look behind them prior to receiving the ball to see their options.

2. Look for defenders, passing options, spacing, etc. When you check your shoulders take a mental picture of the field and decide what your options are.

3. Check both shoulders, not just one, so you get a 360 degree view. The order that I like to check my shoulders is my back shoulder first and then my forward shoulder which is looking up the field. When I check my back shoulder I will see if defenders are sneaking up on me. When I check my forward shoulder I will see the majority of the field. 

4. Keep your body angled up the field. You do not want your back to the attacking part of the field. I want to stand with my body angled up the field when I can so I can more easily check my shoulders and see behind me. 

5. Check your shoulders early! DO NOT wait for when the ball is on top of you. As soon as you see your teammate lifting their leg back to pass, start the process of checking your shoulders.

6. Do what the game shows you. If a defender is coming and your best option is to pass it back, pass it back. If there is space and you can turn, turn and dribble forward. If you can turn and make a pass to a teammate, do it.

Exercise Player Can Do:

An exercise we can do to practice. Set up a cone where your partner will stand. Then set up a cone where you will stand at an angle 10-15 yards forward. Set up two cone goals 15 yards ahead of that. 

Your partner will pass you the ball and say man on or turn. If they say man on, check both shoulders and pass it back. If they say turn, check both shoulders and take a touch forward, then pass the ball through either cone goal. You decide. 

Go for two minutes or until you run out of balls. Then switch with your partner. Repeat until you get tired.

Things to note: 

If your partner forgets to say man on or turn what do you do? That's when you make the choice because you make the choice in the game! You will know what to do because you checked your shoulders.

Your teammate passing the ball should not pass it to hard. We want the player receiving the ball to have a chance to check their shoulders because that is what we are working on, we are not working on controlling 100 mile per hour passes.

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong:

Some things that could be going wrong. If you are getting dizzy and feel like you are looking and not seeing anything then you are turning your head to fast. Take a quick look but give yourself a second to see something when you look. Imagine you are taking a mental picture.

If the ball keeps hitting you and you aren't looking at it when you receive it then you are checking your shoulders to late. Right when you teammate brings their leg back to pass it that is when you should start the process of checking your shoulders. Even pros need to look at the ball when they receive it. 

Bonus Tip!

Be confident and be patient! It's hard and it takes confidence and courage to take your eye off the ball when it's coming towards you but the more you practice the better you will be. Adding this to your game will greatly increase your quality on the field.

This Video Covers:
Soccer Speed of Play Skills- Soccer Speed of Play Drills - Soccer Drills for Kids - Soccer Training Drills - Youth Soccer Drills - Soccer Practice Drills- Drills for Soccer