5 Bizarre training techniques in football

Over the years, we’ve seen the best drilled teams come out on top in various competitions – be it international or club football. Gone are the days where players are made to just warm-up and start kicking a ball about in training sessions. The modern game has seen a steep rise in the number of various training methods adopted by sides around the world. Some teams have even hired special trainers to conduct training sessions to develop individual motor skills and teamwork.But at the other end of the spectrum, there are the bizarre training methods which are either considered sheer brilliance or downright idiotic. We take a look at five of these methods.

#5 Pep Guardiola: Bucket-ball

Pep Guardiola, the man behind Barcelona’s tiki-taka years which held the world in thrall for almost a decade, is known for his innovative training methods which improve ball control. 

The bucket-ball training drill he devised as part of Bayern Munich’s pre-season preparations very recently, is the latest training video to have drawn admiration and attempts at emulation in many training grounds all over the world.

In this drill, three players juggle the ball between themselves, and move towards a bucket without letting it drop to the ground. The aim is that one of the three put the ball into the bucket with some part of the upper body. 

This drill can be imagined to be very effective when Bayern break on counter-attacks in the upcoming season, apart from being an exercise in ball control. Defence can turn intoattack in seconds, with three players breaking forward, without letting the opposition get a single touch of the ball. 

A perfect recipe for the clinical machine that can be Bayern Munich! And still bring a smile to the players doing it.