Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): Academy Dribbling With the Ball

Arrival Activity (10 mins)

Arrival Activity - Small Sided games (1v1,2v2,3v3,4v4,5v5)

Organization:

1. 20 x 20 yard grid for each field (depending on numbers)

2. 2 small goals or use cones as gates for goals.

3. Coach has extra balls.

Instructions:

1. Separate players as they arrive and get them into small sided games.

2. Create 1v2 , 2v1, 2v2, etc.

3. This is your opportunity as a coach to start identifying positive dribbling and running with the ball behavior,

praising good play over the top.

Coaching points :

1. When to run with the ball

2. When to dribble

3. Big touch vs small touch

4. Which part of the foot (Pinky toe/laces, scanning)

Dribble and Pass (10 mins)

1. Use open space

2. 2 cones for each pair of players

3. Set cones about 10 - 15 yards a part

4.Have 1 player start on the cone and the other across also on the other cone.

5. When coach says GO, player with the ball must use proper dribbling techniques to dribble all the way to their partner.

6. Dribble around your partner and then dribble back to where you started from.

7. Once the player completes their lap, they pass the ball to the other side and the other player goes.

8. Repeat for (X) amount of time or until the players have the proper technique down.

1. Now players must Run with the ball instead of dribbling

2. Once players reach their partner, players leave the ball and have to run back to their cone as fast as they can while their partner tries to catch them with the ball at their feet.

3. Player with the ball does a 1-2 around the player without the ball and continues around on the other side.

Scrimmage (15 mins)

Organization:

1. 35x35 yard grid

2. Separate players into 2 teams.

3. 2  Mini goals or large goals

4. Separate field into 1/3's (as shown with cones)(defender/midfielder/attackers)

Instructions:

1. Players will play 5v5 or 6v6 or 7v7.

2. Have each team play in a 1-2-3-1 formation and make it known that players must stay in their third at all times

(ex: midfield must stay in middle third.)

3. This is done to promote spreading out and proper shape while playing.

PROGRESSION:

1. Give the ability for one midfielder on each team being able to join the defending third, as well as one midfielder joining the attacking third.

2. Give the ability for one defender to be able to join the midfield third, as well as one attacker to drop into the midfield third.

Coaching points:

1. Dribbling - Technical

2. Tactical: Knowing when to dribble and when to pass, knowing when to run with the ball vs dribbling the ball.