Feigned Disposal and Sidestep

Focus

Skills under pressure.

Skills

Kick Short.

Purpose

Too many players have their kick smothered by the opposition when they could avoid it by fooling the opposition and using a sidestep. This drill practices starting the kicking motion, then changing the action to avoid the smother.

Groups of

Ages

13⁺

Balls/grp

Cones

Distance (max)

25m

Setup
Setup cones for each group of 8-10 as per diagram, with extra number at stations (A) and (C) if necessary. Stations (A) and (C) are 25m apart, the smotherers at (B) and (D) stand about 10m wide of the line.
Step 1
Player (A) starts running towards (C). Player (B) acts as an opposition player who runs to confront (A).
Step 2
(A) motions like they're about to kick to (C). (B) sees that (A) is about to kick and attempts to smother. (A) avoids the smother by stopping the kicking motion and sidestepping behind (B) who flies past, having over-committed.

If (A) feigns the kick too early or late, (B) will realise their intention and tackle (A), so timing is critical.
Step 3
Once (A) has sidestepped around (B), they should take a few more steps to straighten, steady and kick short to (C).

(C) stays on the cone and does NOT lead.
Step 4
The exercise repeats with (C) feigning a kick which (D) motions to smother. (C) then sidesteps, straightens and kicks to (A) on the cone.
Step 5
After several minutes, rotate the kickers and smotherers.
Step 6
After a few more minutes, move cones (B) and (D) slightly so that now (B) smothers (C), and (D) smothers (A).

This change means players will need to sidestep in the other direction.
Step 7
Perform a final rotation of the kickers and smotherers.