Abolishing the 2-touch rule in training…

The “two touch rule” is an exercise technique used in football training where players are only allowed to touch the ball two times before passing it to a teammate. This technique is designed to improve ball control, decision making speed, teamwork and passing accuracy. It’s a popular drill that is often used in training sessions and can be modified to accommodate different skill levels and positions. Though does it work…

Let's look at the Benefits first.

This rule has been brought into several possession or game type exercises. Some benefits of using the two-touch rule in football training include:

  1. Improving ball control: The two-touch rule can help players improve their ball control and accuracy as they are forced to focus on their touches when they receive and pass the ball.
  2. Speeds up decision-making skills: The rule encourages players to make quick decisions on where to pass the ball, helping to improve their decision-making skills in game situations.
  3. Improving teamwork: The two-touch rule can promote teamwork as players learn to move the ball quickly and work together to create scoring opportunities.
  4. Enhancing fitness levels: The two-touch rule requires players to move quickly and make quick decisions, which can help improve their fitness levels over time.

Overall, the two-touch rule is a great technique to incorporate in football training as it can help players develop key skills needed to succeed on the field.

Now the negatives.

The “two touch rule” is a drill used in football training to improve players’ ball control and first touch. However, there are some negatives to using this drill, such as:

  1. Unrealistic game simulation: In a football game, players do not have the luxury of taking two touches on the ball to get it under control. In fact, the game often requires players to react quickly and make decisions on the fly.
  2. Limited practice for certain skills: The two-touch rule drill focuses mainly on first touch and ball control, neglecting other essential skills such as dribbling, passing, and shooting.
  3. Repetitive and boring: The drill can become monotonous for players as it is repeated over and over again, leading to a loss of engagement and enthusiasm.
  4. Limited application to real game situations: While the drill can improve a player’s touch, it may not necessarily translate well to actual game scenarios where players are under pressure and have limited time to make decisions.

What's the players point of view.

Speaking with Ex-England, Man City and Aston Villa striker Darius Vassell he expressed a frustration to the 2 touch rule, as he explained that “what if a play can move their feet fast enough to use 3, or even 4 in the time it takes for you to do it in 2, why can’t I have more.”

Darius later went on to say “It limits decisions, options, and stops players thinking about more options or a change in option as they may only have one touch left.”

Our Recommendations.

We would strongly recommend you don’t limit players touches as it doesn’t make the session realistic. Limiting them to one or two only limits options of what a player can and can’t do. 

Challenge you players with the following;

  • “Play on limited touches and love the ball quickly”
  • “Be creative with your touches though don’t slow down the play”

 

Author: S. Noakes

Further Reading

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