Football/Soccer Session (Beginner): U11/12 - Ball Mastery Session

Ball mastery (15 mins)

Each player with a ball in a square focusing on the following techniques.

Encourage players to keep eyes up off the ball.

Dribbling

• Dribbling with the laces 
• Dribbling with the outside of the foot 
• Dribbling with the inside of the feet (zig-zag) 
• Dribbling with the sole of the foot sideways - rolling

• Dribbling the ball forwards or backwards (with the sole of the foot)     

• Dribbling with the inside and then the outside of the same foot

• With the inside of the foot
• With the outside of the foot

   

   

• Pulling with the sole of the foot behind the back
• With the inside of the foot behind the standing foot (Cruyff)

• With the sole of the foot in front of the body 

• Step over the ball, then turn backwards with the other foot

Motor Skills Development (10 mins)

Bib Game 

Set Up

• 15m by 15m circle
• Square marked out by poles 30m by 30m

Explanation

• Players are  given two bibs of the same colour.
• Each player sticks two bibs into their shorts at the hip, ensuring the bibs are hanging out sufficient enough to grab.
• Players are to move around the area looking to grab the bibs out from an opponent. A player can only remove one bib at a time.
• Once a player loses both bibs they now have to collect a ball and dribble around the nearest pole and back to the area.
• Once a player does their dribble they put their bibs back in a re-join the game.

This drill explores player agility, coordination, and mobility in tight spaces.

Players automatically look for space to avoid having their bibs removed.