Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Dribbling

Description

Organisation (Practice Layout & Transition)

Set up an overall are of 35m x 25m using white cones as the perimeter.  Split the area into 4 even boxes (ensuring some safe spacing between boxes) using blue cones for the external markers with yellow cones underneath for later and red flat discs for the internal markers.

The drill requires 12 players from start to finish separated into 2 even teams.

ensure that goals are set back from the lines on both sides ready for the small sided game.

For the technical drill- (10 mins)

Using only the 2 diagonal boxes, start session with 6 red bibs in one box and in the diagonally opposite box 6 blue bibs

One ball per per each player. Players start by dribbling balls around in their starting box ensuring to keep head up to avoid other team mates.  Ensure that all players use the whole box and encourage not to avoid 'heavy traffic' areas.  The aim is to ensure small touches on the ball using all surfaces of the foot.  (see progressions/regressions/challenges etc)

For the skill drill: (10 mins)

Using 3 of the 4 boxes remove the yellow cones from under the blue cones and return the blue cone.  Place the yellow cones as gates as marked in the diagram to 2 of the outer perimeters.

Split each coloured teams into pairs and set them up in the 3 squares in an opposition cone (as seen in the diagram)  Red team starts with the ball playing a pass to the blue who controls the ball and starts to dribble.  The red presses blue player for the blue player to look to dribble passed the oncoming blue player and try and dribble through one of the two yellow gates.  The drill ends if the once the player exits the grid (successfully by going through the gate or being successfully defended in a tackle of forced out of the grid).  

Each player then rotates and joins the back of the (opposite gate to their orignal starting point to have a go at attacking/defending)

**If attacking players ends up in close situation with back to defender encourage attacking player to step away and regain facing the defender. 

The coach can rotate players in grids to ensure different competition.

For the small sided game (10 mins)

remove the blue and yellow cones and move the red flat discs and use as a 'half way line'

use 2 players as opposing goalkeepers and start lining up a 2 v 1 scenario (2 reds & 1 blue).  coach plays ball to one of the reds who are encouraged to dribble passed the red markers before passing is allowed.  The blue player is allowed to press/tackle.  the objective is for the reds to score a goal and blue player to defend.

(see diagram for how remaining players line up for a smooth transition and ensure the drill remains ongoing)

If a goal is scored 2 blue players quickly enter the game to become 3 v 2 in the reds enter and the drill continues ensuring the reds quickly react to become the defending team.  

The drill re-starts if the ball goes dead.

If the defending team wins possession encourage a counter attack 

Ensure all players rotate to play in all positions.