Dribbling Session #1

The following session includes exercises to aid players dribbling abilities. The session helps to improve basic close control, change of pace and change of direction; progressing into using these skills in 1v1 and 2v1 situations

Technical Warm Up

 

Set up and instruction: Set up a square area with 2 gates on each side of the square. Use 4 defenders (1 defender to guard 2 gates.) Both defenders and attackers have a ball, the aim of the warm up is for attackers to dribble the ball through as many gates as possible (1 point for every gate you get through), the defenders get points for tagging attackers, but loose a point every time an attacker gets through one of their gates.

Progressions: Make the gates smaller and remove the defenders ball so they can now tackle the attackers

Drill 1

Set up and Instruction: Create a 3x3 square, with attackers lined up in the corners (with a ball) and the defenders in the middle squares (without a ball). The attackers work anti-clockwise around the area going 1 v 1 against the defenders, if the defender wins the ball they swap with the attacker. Progression: Two attackers are now going to attack the defenders square, creating a 2 v 1 situation

Coaching Points for 1 v 1:

• First touch must be forward
• Attack the defender and perform a skill to go past the defender, for the move to be successful it must be made up of three things
• Close Control, Change of Direction, Change of Pace
• Coach should give clear demonstrations and explanations of going past a defender 1 v 1

Coaching Points for 2 v 1:

Use the numbers advantage, to go past the attackers must perform either a Penetrating Dribble, Penetrating Run or a Penetrating Pass;

• Penetrating Dribble- player off the ball moves away (diversion) to creating a 1 v 1, see coaching points above
• Penetrating Run - player off the ball makes a cleaver run into space which will either set them free for the pass or act as a diversion for the player on the ball to dribble
• Penetrating Pass - player on the ball makes a pass around the defender for the player off the ball to run onto
• Decision making is key!

Conditioned Game

 

 

Set up and Instruction: Set up as above with two Goalkeepers added. Teams play 5 v 5, the aim of the conditioned game is to get through one of the gates and have an attempt on goal, players can dribble or pass to a teammate through the gates, once a player enters the end zone no defenders can follow him/her.

Progressions:

• Add neutral players to allow more 2 v 1 situations
• 2 touch finish inside the end zone
• Defenders can come into end zone and put pressure on the attacker





 

 

Movement off the Ball

Age Group: Various Ability Level: Intermediate Gender: Boys

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Warm Up

Set up an area made up of 5 boxes, 4 boxes on the outside and one in the center. The drill is done with 5 players, have a player in each box. Looking at the red box - the player with the ball passes to another red player and after making the pass he changes box with another red player. The blue team are doing the same in their area.

Coach:

 

• Be aware and ready to move off the ball 
• Receive the pass across your body in order to see the entire playing area
• Regardless of movement, players should always be looking towards the center of the area and be able to see the ball 
• Communicate

Drill 1

Instruction: Now put both the blue and red team in the same area (5 boxes). Each team has their own ball and they are not trying to steal the other teams ball. The drill starts the same as above, but movement and finding space is now key, play the ball to a teammate and move into a new area, switching with the player in that area.




Progression:

Players may now move even if they are off the ball and not making a pass, communication here will be key to keep the ball moving quickly and freely. If a player makes a pass he must always switch areas.

Play 3 touch maximum 

Drill 2

Instruction: See the warm up exercise for the set up of this drill. In the diagram the blue team have the ball and are continuing with drill 1. Passing the ball and changing areas, the progression here is that 2 players from the red team will come into the area in an attempt to win possession of the ball. This is a 5 v 2 situation. The blue player who makes the pass must change position with any other blue player; always maintaining the balance of only one player in an area. Once the red team win possession they play across to their area and two blue players come across to defend.






Coaching Points:

• When maintaining possession always stay open to the field. Receive the ball across your body as much as possible
• As you move into another area always be able to see the ball
• This drill helps with mental recognition to always move after you pass

Conditioned Game

 

 



Instruction: The game is 5v2 in the playing area with the red team keeping possession. Once they successfully make 5 passes, the 2 blue players must stop pressuring the ball and the red players attack the 3 blue defenders outside the area and try and score. At any point if the blue team win possession, the red team must retreat and the teams switch roles, play first to 5 goals.

Coaching Points:

• It is 5 v 3 to goal, passing and moving with create the gaps to have a shot on goal!

Combination Play Session #1

Age Group: Various Ability Level: Intermediate Gender: Boys

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: Fast, accurate combination play to split the defence.

Technical Warm Up

Have players in groups of 3 in an area of 25x30 with one ball per group. Players pass and move, creating 2 touch combinations and overlaps.

Coach:

• Play the ball quickly 
• One or two touch 
• Movement off the ball is essential, always be open and in a position to receive the ball
• Receive the ball side on
• Vary distance and types of pass
• Communicate

 

Combination Drill

Instruction: With the same set up as above, set up two attacking players (red) and one defender (blue) in each zone. Play a possession game. Players must stay in there zone and try and keep the ball away from the defenders while playing through the zones. Rotate the defending team.

Coaches Points:

Look at the movement and support in each zone 

Focus on passing and support angles

Work on mixed passing, long, short, direct etc

Progression:

Play two touch maximum

Combination  Conditioned Game

Instruction: Same set up as before including two goals and two goalkeepers. Players play the same as before but combine to shoot on goal.






Progression:

• Attacking players can now switch zones, but there must be 2 players from the attacking team in each zone, meaning they must be aware of the player movement around them and make off the ball runs to get into the zone that they must be in. This is an excellent progression to help support play, for example, if one red dribbles or makes a support run into another box, a player from that box must drop to support him.

Finish with a 4 v 4 game and 1 neutral player, no restrictions but encourage support play

Transition Session #1

Age Group: 12-13 Years Old Ability Level: Beginner Gender: Boys/Girls

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: Encouraging quick transition play from defense to attack and building confidence in young players to do so.

 

Technical Warm Up 

Set up a 40x20 area, with players divided between the 4 outside cones. In this exercise the red players starts to dribble the ball, on his/her first touch, the blue player comes to put pressure on his/her dribble. Once the dribbling player passes halfway they play a diagonal pass into the other red team. The process continues. Encourage players to join the line diagonal from where the start to keep a smooth rotation and after 5 minutes swap the red and blue teams.

Coach:

• Be Positive 
• With first touch forward and into space 
• Attack the ball as it approaches you
• Correct weight of pass

Progression:

• Dribbling player must cut across the oncoming defender, again coach a positive attitude towards dribbling and passing forward.

Transition Drill

Instruction: Split an area of 60x40 into two halves. Play 7 v 7 in one half, there is a neutral goalkeeper in each half (represented in the diagram as 'R'). The team in possession must make 5 passes then play the ball into the goalkeeper on the opposite side of the field, at which point every player must transfer into that half. On a turnover the ball must go into the opposite goalkeeper.

Coaches Points:

Timing/type of pass and run 

Speed of transition, support early 

Movement off the ball is essential from all players to give options

Progression:

To transfer, you must play a teammate into the other half before it goes to the goalkeeper

You must dribble into the other half before it goes to the goalkeeper

Play 2 touch

Transition Conditioned Game

Instruction: Split a 60x40 area into thirds with a goalkeeper occupying a goal at either end. There is no tackling allowed in the middle zone and there should only be one player there at a time. The red team start with the ball and release a player into the middle third, this player plays into the final third and supports to create a 4 v 4 situation and the team aim to score. On the turnover the blue team release a player into the middle zone and make advantage of a 4 v 3, the sequence continues, play first to 5 goals.

Coaching Points:

Speed of play, fast!

Timing of pass and runs, movement off the ball to be available

Use the extra attacker for give and go's or diversion runs

Mindset - ready to change quickly from defense to attack when your team wins the ball

Progression:

• Attacker can drop into the middle zone to receive the ball, defender can go with him

Fun Warm Up (dribbling)

Explanation: This is a fun introductory activity for young kids learning to dribble the ball. Set up a 30x30 square (depending on numbers) have all players lined up on the end line with a ball and two defenders in the center of the square.

The key to this exercise is to get past the defenders and to the other side, the main focus is on close control, change of direction and teaching young players to get their head up and see the field when running with a soccer ball.

On the coaches command players attempt to get from one side of the square to the other without the defenders kicking your ball outside the square. If an attacker is tackled they become defenders for the next round. The person tackled must sit down where they lost the ball and attempt to tackle players without standing up. The last player left wins.

Coaching Points:

• Change direction and pace to avoid tacklers
• Get your head up to see the defenders and 'sitters'
• Avoid the players on the ground

Possession v Goal Scoring

Set Up: This exercise takes place in a 30x 25 area, the red team is made up of 2 goalkeepers, 2 outfield players and 4 outside players. The blue team is made up of 4 players in the middle area.

Instruction: The red team is the possession team and they simply aim to keep the ball, it is a good idea to make this team up of midfielders and defenders. Have the 4 on the outside as defenders and limit them to 2 touch, which will teach the defense to get rid of the ball quickly. In the centre have the 2 red players as central midfielders who must be comfortable on the ball and be able to keep possession by making sensible passes. This drill is also good for working on your goalkeepers footwork. The blue team should be made up of 2 strikers and 2 wingers, there aim is to shut down the play, win the ball and quickly go for goal. They can score at either end,  encouraging change of pace and direction.

Coaching Points:

Possession Team:

• Keep the ball
• Outside players move up and down the line to support player on the ball
• Use the goalkeepers
• Firm and accurate passing

Attacking Team:

• Defend from the front - chase down the ball
• When you win the ball find the quickest way to goal
• Don't force the play, find a pass when needed
• Powerful and accurate shooting
• Strikers look for rebounds

Switch Player Roles When Neccessary

Organising the Defense

Age Group: 13-14 Years Old Ability Level: Beginner Gender: Boys

Equipment Required: Bibs, balls, cones

Aim of Session: Working with the defense both individually and as a team. This session mainly focuses on the defensive players but the attackers can work on trying to pull the defense out of the shape they are being taught.

Overview: It is important to teach defenders individually that tackling is becoming a thing of the past, if defenders dive into tackles and miss the ball the attackers will be past them. Individual defending is all about containing and if possible intercepting. The session will then look at basic defensive shape as a team and touch on the offside trap.

Learning Outcomes:

Defending as an individual:

• Do not dive into the tackle unless it is a last resort
• Contain
• Intercept

Defending as a team:

• Communicate
• Cover each other
• Deny attackers time and space
• Move up the field as a group

Set Up/Warm Up

Split the playing surface into thirds as shown below, with the middle third slightly smaller than those to the side. Depending on the ability and age of your players you must judge the size of the areas, here I have used the following dimensions: Middle area 20x10 and the side areas 20x15.

 Instruction: In the centre area one player works as attacker and one as the defender. On the outside one player has the ball and plays it into the attackers feet. The defender in the middle must contain the attacker. The attacker aims to turn the defender and pass/dribble to the player in the box at the other end. The coach may wish to introduce a rotation so all players work in different roles or simply keep attackers trying to move the ball and the defender trying to contain.

Defensive coaching points:

• Deny the player time and space the second he gets the ball
• Don't over commit
• Get side on and show the striker where you want him to go (to your strong side or away from goal)
• Don't dive into a tackle... CONTAIN
• If possible intercept the ball before the attacker receives it but again, don't over commit!

Drill 2 - Defense Working as a Unit

Instruction: Using the same set up, have your 4 defensive players line up in the middle area with a right defender, two central and one left defender. Split the attacking players evenly on each side of the defense. The aim of this exercise is for the attackers to pass the ball through the defense to the attackers on the other side. To do this they must pass the ball quickly up and down their own side to stretch the defense and create space to pass through to the other side. Defenders must stay inside the box.

Coaches Instructions:

This exercise is good for explaining to young defenders how to work as a unit. In the diagram above we have the ball with the right midfielder of the attacking team. Therefor the left defender should pressure the ball (denying time and space) the left central defender should move across to cover the left defender if he is beaten and the right central defender and right defender move across to cover the two striker. It is important to show the defenders that although they must keep an eye on the left midfielder he can be partially unmarked, as if the ball is switched to him the defense can move across.

Attacker: pass the ball quickly to stretch defense out of possession.

 If the ball is passed to the other side, defense must move across quickly to cover each other, communication and quick movement is massive to ensure efficiency.

Ball in the Center

Coaching points: When the ball is in the center, it is important that the closest defender shuts down the ball and the other central defender drops back to cover, if the ball is passed to the other center attacker then roles switch. See below.

 Progression: Once the coach has worked on the defense moving across and communicating as a unit, make the following progression. Allow striker the opportunity to dribble through the defense. This means if a defender is beaten there must be someone to cover. If the striker goes past the defender he must recover into the position of the defender covering him.

Possible Progressions:

Introduce Gk's at each side, when the ball goes through the defense the attacker must turn and quickly score, defense can chase them to pressure the attackers, but point out to the defense it is easier to stop the ball going through in the first place than to have to recover once it is past you.

Conditioned Game:

Simply line up attack v defense with a goalkeeper, attackers must score and the defense must clear the ball and move up the field - taking the attackers away from their goal (discuss offside and move onto this in more detail in next session)