Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): S4 Dribbling and beating a defender

Dribbling technical1

Drill Instructions

1. Attacking players dribble from the top of the area to the bottom

2. The defending player moves sideways on defensive position as they move back, but do not attempt to win the ball

3. The defending player must always stay ahead of the ball

4. The defending player must change their body shape as the attacking player moves the ball left and right

5. Once the players reach the bottom of the area they switch roles and repeat in the opposite direction

Organisation:

10ydx10yd grid 

Pairs

1 ball per pair

Key Coaching Points

• Keep the ball close to your feet
• Practise with the inside, outside of the foot and with rolling the foot over the ball, using the sole.
• Use both the left and right foot
• Shift your body weight to throw the defender off balance, use fakes to create space for yourself.
• Tricks and skills can add great variety to your dribbling and be effective in tight spaces
• Strength and technique to hold off defenders and shield the ball when dribbling when required. Use an arm to shield yourself from the defender.
• Change of pace and direction to beat a player
• Decision making - when to dribble (not always the right decision) and where to dribble.
• Awareness of what's around you? Where are your team mates / opponents / the space?

Progression/ Regression

Allow 'defender' to tackle

Add in a trick when whistle is blown

Add in competitive element - How many cones can you dribble through in 30 seconds?

Remove defender

Increase space

Dribbling Skill Game1 - Phase1

Drill Explanation

Dribble through the coned 'gates', changing direction and focusing on spatial awareness.  Dribbling players is shadowed by defender, but they cannot tackle.

Dribbler Key Coaching Points

• Keep the ball close to your feet
• Practise with the inside, outside of the foot and with rolling the foot over the ball, using the sole.
• Use both the left and right foot
• Shift your body weight to throw the defender off balance, use fakes to create space for yourself.
• Tricks and skills can add great variety to your dribbling and be effective in tight spaces
• Strength and technique to hold off defenders and shield the ball when dribbling when required. Use an arm to shield yourself from the defender.
• Change of pace and direction to beat a player
• Decision making - when to dribble (not always the right decision) and where to dribble.
• Awareness of what's around you? Where are your team mates / opponents / the space?

Defender Key Coaching Points

Low stance

Good balance

Quick transition from right to left and vice versa dependent on the dribbler.

Organisation

• 1 ball per pair
• Bibs

Progression

Increase/decrease size of gate

Add in a trick when whistle is blown

Add in competitive element - How many cones can you dribble through in 30 seconds?