THE SOLO

Key Points

• Hold the ball firmly with both hands.
• Head down, eyes on the ball.
• Step forward with the non-kicking foot.
• Keep the torso upright.
• Release the ball into the hand at the kicking side.
• Extend the wrist and drop the ball onto the kicking foot.
• When the foot impacts the ball, flick the toe upwards towards  the body
• Straighten the leg.
• Extend the arms forward to catch the ball.

Practice the Technique

Drill 1 – Basic – Standing Toe Tap

• Mark out a grid 20m X 20m using cones
• Each player in the grid has a ball
• Each player toe taps the ball while in a standing position
• After a set time, each player walks around the grid toe tapping the ball 

Drill 2 – Intermediate – Toe Tap & Fist Pass

• Mark out a distance of 10m using cones
• Divide the players into groups of 5, one ball per group.
• The players line up behind one of the cones.
• The first player solos out and around the far cone.
• On the way back players fist pass for the next player.
• Each player in turn repeats the drill and returns to the back of the line.
• Continue the drill for a set time.
• Increase the speed of the drill as the players become more proficient.
• Repeat the drill and get the players to use the opposite foot.

Drill 3 Intermediate - Toe Tap Relay

• Divide the players into groups of 5, one ball per group.
• Mark a starting point with a cone
• From the starting point place 4 poles or cones at equal intervals over a distance of 12m
• Alternatively, 4 of the players may act as the obstacles.
• The players line up behind the first cone.
• Each player in turn solos the ball out and back between the poles, or their team mates.
• When soloing to the left the players should use their left leg and when soloing to the right the players should use their right leg
• The first team to complete the drill wins.

Drill 4 Intermediate – Crazy Solo

• Mark out a grid using cones as shown.
• Place a further cone in the centre of the grid.
• Divide the players into groups of 3, one ball per group.
• Each group of 3 line up at a corner cone.
• The first player in each group solos with the ball in an anti-clockwise direction around the next cone, then the centre cone, and back to their corner.
• Each player in turn repeats the drill.
• The players must be aware of each other’s movements as they round the centre cone.

Develop the Technique

Fun Game – Solo Tag Game 1

• This is a fun game to develop the Solo technique
• Mark out a grid 15m x 15m.
• One player with a ball must solo around and attempt to tag the other players.
• The player must solo at least once every four steps. 
• Once a player has been tagged, they must leave the game.
• Change the player with the ball when all the players have been tagged.