Clip for the Volley

Groove a bounce combination that ends with a clipped third-man feed and a first-time volley or half-volley from the edge of the box — training the weight of the clip and the late arrival as much as the strike.

Goal and GK at the top of a 40x45 area. Two mannequins mark the defensive presence at the edge of the box. Stations: a start line 35 yards out with the balls, a target player on the mannequin line, a bounce player ten yards off to the side, and the volley runner starting wide right of the 'D'. Rotate one station clockwise after each rep.

1. The starter drives a pass into the target's feet against the mannequin line.
2. The target sets first time to the bounce player at an angle.
3. The bounce player opens up and CLIPS a lofted ball to the edge of the box, dropping over the mannequins.
4. The volley runner arrives late from the blind side and strikes first time on the volley or half-volley.
5. Rotate starter → target → bounce → runner; 8 reps then mirror the pattern to the left side.
6. Keep score per group of four: on-target volleys score one, goals score three.

• Clip it with backspin so it drops and sits up — not a driven cross.
• Runner: arrive as the ball drops; waiting underneath it kills the strike.
• Get over the volley — knee and chest above the ball at contact.
• The set must be soft and angled, one touch, into the clipper's stride.

• The clip is driven flat and arrives at shin height — emphasise a lofted, backspun trajectory that drops into the zone.
• The runner arrives early and has to wait under the dropping ball — start the run as the clipper opens up, not before.
• Players lean back and balloon the volley — head and chest over the ball, strike through the laces, follow low.

• Replace the mannequins with two live defenders who can block the strike zone.
• The clipper chooses edge-of-box volley or a dropped ball to the penalty spot — the runner reads the flight.
• Weak-foot volleys only for the final set.

• Allow the volley off one bounce (half-volley) every rep.
• Hand-serve the clip while the runner grooves the arrival.
• Shorten the clip to 12 yards from the strike zone.

• The finish is first time — any controlling touch scores zero.
• The clip must travel above head height and drop inside the strike zone marked by the 'D'.