Off the Wall: Cushion & Play
A rebound wall serves unpredictable bounces; players cushion, set their body and play to whichever colour gate is called — first touch trained against chaos.
Theme
Technical
Difficulty
Intermediate
Duration
14 min
Players (min–rec–max)
2–6–10
Area
20 × 25 yards
Session phase
Main
Age groups
U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U18, Adult
Equipment
rebound wall or rebounder, cones (2 colours), balls
Objective
Train a first touch that survives unpredictable bounces — cushion, orient the body, and release to a target chosen after the ball is already travelling.
Set-up
Place a rebound wall (or angled rebounder) at one end. The working player stands 12–15 yards off it. Mark a red cone gate to the left and a blue gate to the right, each level with the player. A caller (teammate or coach) stands behind the working player.
How it runs
- The player strikes a firm pass into the wall — varying the angle and power so the rebound is never the same twice.
- As the rebound travels, the caller shouts a colour: red or blue.
- The player cushions the bounce with one touch, sets their body, and plays their second touch through the called gate.
- Six reps, then swap with the caller. Score a point for every clean two-touch sequence through the correct gate.
- Alternate feet each rep — the wall doesn't care which foot you favour.
Coaching points
- Get your feet to the bounce early — adjust before the ball arrives, not as it does.
- Cushion with a soft surface: take the pace off, don't let it ricochet.
- Touch and look up in one movement — the gate call comes while the ball is live.
- Open your hips towards the called gate on the first touch.
Common mistakes
- Players wait flat-footed for the rebound and the bounce beats them — small adjusting steps the whole time the ball travels.
- The first touch is pushed too far ahead, making the gate pass a lunge — cushion the ball within one stride of your body.
- Eyes stay glued to the ball so the colour call gets missed — touch, scan, play; the habit is the drill.
Progressions
- Caller delays the colour until after the first touch, forcing a touch that keeps both options open.
- Add a passive defender who closes the called gate, so the player must beat them with the second touch.
- Demand the cushion with thigh or chest by serving the wall ball higher.
Regressions
- Move closer and roll the serve into the wall for gentler rebounds.
- Call the colour before the serve so the player can plan.
- Allow three touches: cushion, set, pass.
Constraints
- Two touches maximum: one to cushion, one to play — a third touch scores zero.