1/2 Volley Cruyff Turn

Teaching Points:
  • Ball should land in the same spot every time if the player does the footwork early .... 'behind the standing heel' (not too far to the side or in front of of them), 
  • Tuck the knee in over top of the ball ("Cover the ball with the knee"),
  • Use the inside of the foot, not the sole of the foot,
  • Hop (take off and land on the same foot) as they control the ball ('be in the air on the touch'). In general the player will be on their way down when they make contact or just making contact with the ground...although they are not always in the air on their touch when controlling with the half volley, they remain balanced and fully in control of  their controlling foot. They should be able to land and still be standing on the foot that they hopped on - this is the balance that they need to develop. This hop takes the momentum from the ball and transfers it into their body if  they are still in the air; HOWEVER, the key is to remain on one foot while they have complete freedom to manipulate the ball with the other foot without having to worry about landing on the controlling leg,
  • This the point which is different:  It is easier to turn while in the air, so as you HOP, turn the body and make contact with the ball using the inside of the foot ... like a Cruyff Turn when the ball is on the ground,
  • Keep toe up and ankle locked,
  • Stay relaxed on contact ... do not kick down on the ball (in other words do not kick-start the ball back into the ground).




Progressions: 
  1. Player tosses the ball in the air only about face height ... control on the first bounce with the turn,
  2. Player tosses the ball in the air over head height ... control on the first bounce with the turn,
  3. Player tosses the ball out in front over head height ... control on the second bounce with the turn (forces players to be patient ... "wait for the bounce"),
  4. Player tosses the ball in behind over head height ... control on the second bounce with the turn (forces players to be patient and to work their feet to get close to the ball and balanced.
 Remember When Controlling the Ball From the Air

  1. Get behind the flight of the ball,
  2. The player may be able to get themselves slightly off of the ground in order to take momentum away from the ball,
  3. Relax on contact,
  4. If the first touch is not a 1/2 volley then attempt to make the second touch a ½ volley.