Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): U9-10 (Dribble or Pass - Week 2)

Island Dribbling (10 mins)

Organization:

• 20x25 playing area marked with cones in the corners. Use three cones to make a triangle or island and create 8 islands in the grid. Each player will start with a ball.

Instructions:

• Players now need to perform a move in the center of the island.

• Coach can tell them the first few moves and then ask the players to come up with their own moves.

Player will have to perform a move to beat or escape a defender in the center of the island: such as outside/inside cut, scissor, step over, Cruyff, Mathews, and more.

Coaching Points:

• Main coaching objectives – develop confidence on the ball and quickness when performing moves.
• Coaching tips – the triangle/island encourages players to dribble in one side and out another side. Emphasize that players should accelerate after the move.
• Dribbling basics, Turning basics, Feints and dribble, Beating an opponent, Escaping an opponent.

2v1 Activity (15 mins)

Organization: 2v2

-8-10 players

-Set up a 30m x 30m grid

-see diagram for equipment and set-up

Instructions

The first two players on the red team will play a 2v1 against a yellow defender. To score the players must be in the attacking half. Have the Red team attack for 5 minutes and then switch and have them defend. The goal is for them to learn to draw the defender by dribbling and then decide to pass or go on their own.

To make this even more simple, you can make it a 3v1 to really help the player on the ball. No matter the defender's position, they can pass to either player left or right.

Emphasis

1. Decision making/awareness - when to dribble or when to pass
2. Use the pass as a decoy to create a dribbling opportunity
3. Dribble to draw the defender and then pass