Mass Youth Soccer Academy - Dribbling
Main Coaching Points: keep ball within 1 giant step, use arms for balance and to find out where opponents are, try to keep head up, bend knees, stay low, after a move need a burst of speed, need to perform moves at maximum pace with success, use outside of foot for speed dribbling, balance and body control are of great importance.
1) Free Dribble---use entire space, everyone with a ball, use inside, outside, and sole of the foot. Practice two or three moves, coach calls out moves or changes in direction and sets the pace as the manipulator of the session, kids carry the ball towards someone and try a move. (14 minutes)
2) Shield-Steal---use entire space, half of players in the group have a ball and half do not. If you do not have a ball you need to steal one from someone who does. If ball goes out of bounds, person who touched it last does not get possession. When coach yells freeze, those who do not have balls must do star jumps or donkey kicks. Go over technical points as a group at start of activity show technique with body sideways, arm providing protection, ball on outside foot, knees bent, turning as defender attacks, using feel to understand where defender is going. Fix technical shielding errors throughout this activity and make sure entire group knows how to properly shield. (14 minutes)
1 minute water break
3) 2v2 to Four Goals---Teams defend one goal and have the opportunity to score on the other three, you must dribble through a goal to score a point. The goals are on the ends of a large cross in a square grid roughly 10yd X 10yd. Have one team of 2 on deck, they come on when a team gets scored on twice. Game is continuous, they must run on immediately. Stress finding open space and attacking it with speed. (14 minutes)
1 minute water break
4) Endzone Dribbling Game ---Teams comprised of 4-6 players depending on numbers and space. To score you must dribble into the opponent’s endzone while under control (created with discs). Passing in will not count. Stress recognizing opportunities and bursting into space while under control of ball. (14 minutes)
5) Review---Ask players to teach you the technical coaching points to insure complete understanding in the group.
