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.






