BALL CONTROL 4
Dribble the ball and change speed
“Look at the ball for coordination” • “Look up often when dribbling” • “Speed up to beat the defender”
Set up a 10 x 10 yards area with a 5 x 5 yards square in the middle. You need five players – one to defend the small square and four, each with a ball, who start by dribbling around the bigger square.
The aim is for the dribbling players to quickly get into and out of the centre square without being tackled by the defender.
To get through the small square, the dribbling players must go quickly, keeping the ball under control as they speed through the square.
Play this game for 30 seconds and see how many players can get through the small square without being tackled. Give players a point for getting through and give the defender a point if he can knock the ball away.
Look at the ball and the cone alternatively so neither direction nor technique suffers
Keep the ball close in front
This game uses five players but different numbers will work.
Players concentrate on accuracy of dribbling.
The tackling players must concentrate on stealing the ball.
Keep balls under control after getting through the small square.
in Ball Control and Footwork, Soccer dribbling drills
If you want your players to beat defenders with style, run this session. Getting young players to dribble and beat their opponent in 1v1 situations is vital to getting behind the opposition defence and creating goalscoring chances. MORE
in Ball Control and Footwork, Email newsletters, Soccer dribbling drills
Dribbling is the key to unlocking an opponents defence creating space to score goals either by crossing to a team mate or shooting themselves. Beating a man with a quick drop of the shoulder or with tight control is fantastic to watch not only with the top players but also with your own players – but the skill takes practice. MORE
