Building confidence with the ball

Featuring expert insight from Henrik Kuchno, Athletic Coach at Hertha Berlin.

Technical quality is built through repetition. From your first touch to your final pass, the fundamentals of football should be practised every session so they become instinctive on matchday. We spoke to Henrik Kuchno, Athletic Coach at Hertha Berlin, about how professional players sharpen their technical game during pre-season, and how you can do the same.

Technical work shouldn't wait until the main session begins. Bringing the ball into your warm-up helps sharpen your touch, improve coordination and prepare your body for the movements you'll make throughout training. The earlier you start working with the ball, the quicker you switch into a football mindset.

"We bring the ball into training relatively quickly and often integrate high-speed dribbling into the warm-up already."
- Henrik Kuchno, Athletic Coach at Hertha Berlin

Every great player relies on the fundamentals. Accurate passing, a clean first touch and good ball control create the foundation for everything else. Spending time perfecting these basics builds confidence and allows you to perform consistently when the pace of the game increases.

Technical quality should remain high as the demands of training increase. Start with controlled passing and possession drills before progressing into more competitive exercises. By gradually increasing the pace, you'll learn to execute the same skills under pressure.

"We move from passing drills and possession exercises into transition play. The pace increases with every stage of training before finishing with game situations."
- Henrik Kuchno

The best technical sessions mirror the situations you'll experience in a game. Practising under pressure, making quick decisions and executing passes at speed prepares you for the moments that matter most. The closer training feels to a real match, the easier those actions become on game day.

As training intensity builds, don't allow your standards to drop. Focus on the quality of every pass, touch and movement throughout the session. Consistently executing the basics under fatigue is what helps players perform with confidence during competitive matches.

"By the time we reach game situations, it is important that the passes are reaching their target as intended."
- Henrik Kuchno