DRIBBLING Encouraging words for your players: I am proud of the way you worked today I knew you could do it This is the second week of practice and the important practice tips for the entire season are listed for you again: Arrive 15 minutes prior to practice to setup. Cone off an area 20X30 yards for your practice. Do not practice in the goal area or penalty box if possible. Make sure the field is safe for practice. Setup your first drill. Practice no longer then 70 minutes. No goal keepers. (check with your club) #3 soccer ball. End every practice with the team getting together for hands in. GOAL Learn how to dribble the soccer ball & learn 2 basic skills-sole of the foot stop and toe touches. The games planned for this week are geared towards dribbling. The players will be touching the ball with their feet while moving in different directions in designated areas of the field. Most of the players will kick the ball as hard as they can and run after it. Keeping the ball close to them is an important part of dribbling. Coaching points: Teach the players two skills prior to starting the games. Sole of the foot stop: have the players line up in a line across the field so you can see all of the players. With the ball in front of them have them rest their favorite foot on the top of the ball. Their weight is on their plant foot & their favorite foot (sole of the cleat) is gently placed on top of the ball. Call this soccer ready and have the players get in this position when you are trying to talk to them on the field. Toe touches: with the players lined up across the field have them gently alternate feet as they touch the ball with their cleats. The ball should barely move. These are light touches. Video Clip 1 Copyright 2009 Metro Strategy Group LLC
GAME #1 FREEZE OBJECTIVE: Dribble and stop the ball. Players dribble inside the practice field area. When the coach says freeze they must stop the ball with the sole of their foot and wait for the dribble command. The next variation of the drill the coach will say freeze toe touches and the players must stop the ball and lightly tap their toes on the top of the ball 5 times. The final variation the coach says chicken and the players must stop the ball with their foot and sit on the ball and cluck like a chicken. Drill time 10-15 min. Dribble in different directions. C Listen for the coaches directions Make sure the players stay in the field area marked by outside cones. The players should be dribbling in all directions. Use another command pillow have them stop the ball & use the ball as a pillow. Keep things silly and fun! 20X30 yards Each player with a ball. 4 cones for the field perimeter. 2 Copyright 2009 Metro Strategy Group LLC
GAME #2 BALL PILE OBJECTIVE: Dribble to a designated spot. Each player stands in front of a cone in the circle. All the soccer balls are in the middle of the circle in a pile. The coach will blow the whistle & the players will run to the middle of the circle to retrieve a ball and dribble back to their cone. Drill time 10-15 min. C The players should stop the ball completely next to their cone. Dribble slowly under control. When stopping the ball use the sole of the cleat. Have them race each other back to the cone. The ball needs to be completely stopped next to their cone. Make the circle larger to make it more challenging. Put a cone in the middle of the circle. Have the players dribble their ball back to the middle of the circle on the coaches whistle. Each players 'ball in the middle of the circle. One cone for every player. Enlarge the circle depending on the # of players. 10 yard circle 3 Copyright 2009 Metro Strategy Group LLC
GAME #3 RED LIGHT-GREEN LIGHT OBJECTIVE: Dribble straight ahead & keep control of the ball. The players line up on the end line of the field, with a ball at their feet. The coach calls out green light and the players dribble the ball forward. (slowly) The coach calls out red light and the players must stop the ball and put their foot on the top of the ball. The players wait for the next command. This sequence continues down the field. Drill time 10-15 min. Coach calls out red light or green light. C Players dribble forward on green light. Players stop the dribble on red light. Dribble slowly under control. When stopping the ball use the sole of the cleat. The ball should be close to the player. Make the calls quickly. Trick the players with the calls. (red-red-green-red) Every player with a ball. 4 cones for the field perimeter. 20X30 yards 4 Copyright 2009 Metro Strategy Group LLC
SCRIMMAGE GAMES WEEK #2 OBJECTIVE: Dribbling with other players around them. Scrimmage points: Divide the teams up as evenly as possible. Play with small pop-up goals or goals made with cones. Stay within the objective of each practice. Play 4 V 4 or 3 V 3 which give all the players opportunities to touch the ball. Add another field depending on the number of kids you have at practice. Please remember: No goalies, no throw-ins, kick-ins only. Drill time 10-15 min. Dribbling week #2-scrimmage variations 1. The players must dribble the ball over the end line (end zone) to score a goal. (remove the goals) 2. Set up four goals, two at each end (near the corners). There are now two goals for each team to dribble through to score. 3. Remove the goals and have the coaches chase the players as they dribble their balls in the practice area. Try to knock their ball away. Change the variations every 5 minutes Field Size 20X30 yards 4 v 4 5 Copyright 2009 Metro Strategy Group LLC
Wrap up Week #2 The first skill, dribbling, has been introduced and the players are off and running. As the season progresses, players will get better at this important skill. Coaches should keep reinforcing to the players to try to keep the ball close to them while dribbling. Changing direction should also become more evident as they improve on their dribbling. Everyone should be encouraged to dribble in the games. Never discourage players to stop dribbling (at this age). The more touches they have on the ball the more they will learn. CHECK LIST Players were introduced to dribbling the soccer ball. Players dribble in all directions. Players tried to use both feet while dribbling. We ended practice with hands in lets go team. Practice was fun Next week PASSING View the drills in motion HERE 6 Copyright 2009 Metro Strategy Group LLC