In the past we've all felt sorry for subs sitting on the bench or standing around wishing they were on the pitch.

Lately I've found a few useful roles for them, constructively using their time on the sidelines. It keeps them warmed up and develops technique.


1. Tap taps.

Have a player standing on the side of the pitch moving slightly backwards and forwards going right, left, right, left, etc, with the inside of the foot to the inside of the foot.

There is a better name for this in an American coaching book, but I can't rememeber it.

Try to get them to watch play at the same time. Being so far under the head, unless moving forward it is harder to do this with the head up.


2. Matthews Cuts.

Standing in a stationary position, but stepping from side to side, have players touch the ball with the inside of the preferred foot, then outside of the preferred foot - inside, outside, inside, outside, etc. If they keep the head up even better. Then ask them to do it with the left foot.
A basic wrong footing move.


3. Sole of the foot dribbling.

This is easier to do with the head up.

Move the ball with the sole of the preferred foot forwards and backwards, then side to side.


There are a lot of other variations to add to 1, 2 and 3.


4a. Have two players pass the ball one touch with the inside, outside and even instep of the foot from about 2-3metres apart to accrue hundreds of passes.

4b. Have two player pass the ball with the inside of the foot alternating feet, right, left, right, left, etc, from about 2-3 metres apart.

4c. Have three players in a triangle passing the ball with the inside and outside of the foot one and two touch.


5. Have them juggling a ball individually whilst watching the play. I've never found anybody able to do it yet, even kids who can juggle about 500 times or more.


6. We had cricket nets behind the subs area the other day, so I also incorporated kids shooting.



All this is particularly useful for kids who don't play much at school or practise at home. It also stops time being wasted for subs.



Edited by Decentric: 26/6/2012 11:18:48 PM

Hi Decentric

Dont know the rules everywhere but in Newcastle Womens Premier League the players must remain seated during the game unless specifically warming up to go on the field. They can stand and stretch and go for a couple of short warm up runs down the sideline but that it.

You no how it goes, refs rule the game not the players or coaches

In most leagues you will find that subs are not allowed to kick balls around in the subs area... jogging and stretching is about all they can do.

I bought a "clicker counter" from ebay to count the number of passes made during a game..... I flip this to the bench players. One of them will be clicking and the others arguing with them about whether it was a successful pass or not. I don't get much value from the actual number of clicks but it keeps the bench tuned in to the game.

The comments about refs stopping the use of balls may be true.

In some of the leagues for younger players, the refs are often parents. I'm going to push to see how much players from our club can get away with. Even sending them to another area to use the ball.

I've just completed a Sports Trainers Level 1 course today - the fourth FFA course I've done in 2012. The ball work keeps subs warmed up in some of the cooler climates in Australia, like Tasmania and Victoria. Many injuries occur with sprinting too early without adequately warming up.