Nov, 2007

TRAINING DRIBBLING TECHNIQUE

Building the Base. Before a player is going to succeed consistently in a 2v2 situation, for instance, a player will need to progress logically through the underlying, more fundamental situations. This includes mastery of 2v1s, 1v2s, 1v1s, 2v0s, and most fundamental of all one player alone dribbling the ball without direct pressure from a defender. The base of a player is built upon solid Individual Technical Ability with the ball.

Here is a training session that creates an excellent environment for young players to develop their technical capacity to dribble the ball with soccer objectives in mind. This is an example of a sequence of dribbling games with enough variety to compose an enjoyable training session for young players while covering the most important elements of individual dribbling, including:

-choosing the correct technique/surface of foot for the task
-change of speed
-change of direction
-awareness/looking up while dribbling
-feinting or selling a change of speed/direction
-setting up a pass or shot correctly and efficiently
-receiving touch

Zig-zag Dribbling
Directions:
• Set up the zigzag course, dividing the field with lines. Have the players first practice their running and turning techniques on the field without a ball, then play with a ball. Players run from the starting line to the second line and back. Next, they run to the third line and back to the second line before going all the way to the finish line.
Variations:
• Organize a competition by splitting players into two or more performance levels where upon winning or losing the race, players are promoted or relegated to the closest neighboring level. Through this process, players will automatically sort themselves by ability, and find motivating the balanced difficulty level.
• Ask players to practice with the weaker foot or use one particular turn.
Questions:
• Which turning technique is the fastest and most reliable?
• Which surface of the foot is best to dribble with when the ball is stopped underneath the player’s feet, and when the ball is on the run ahead of the player?

Drag Races
Directions:
• On visual cue from trainer (such as ball dropping to ground), two players race to reach the shooting zone and finish into the goal first.
Questions:
• Can players measure their touch for both speed and control, setting up a successful shot?
Variations:
• Set up a passing sequence of some sort to start the race so that the player has to work on receiving also, for instance receiving a pass from the side.

Stay in Line
Directions:
• In a 10 yard square, two attacking players who remain at least 5 yards apart, try not to let a third player (defender) stay in line between the two. Try first without a ball, and then each player with.
Questions:
• Can the players read the visual cues correctly?
• When is the right time for the two outside players to make their move?
• How does the inside player stay aware of the position of the two outside players?
• Do they know when to move the ball versus when to shift body position?
• What techniques/surfaces when?

Figure 8 Slaloms
Directions:
• After the trainer gives a visual cue, two players race around each player’s own figure 8 course of two cones about 6 yards apart. The first to finish 5 figure 8s is the winner, and then the two resting players compete.
Questions:
• Can the players choose the correct surface and technique to navigate efficiently?
• When does the player need to switch feet?

1v1 Dribble and Fake
Directions:
• One attacking player dribbles to middle, while a player from the opposite side approaches without a ball. The player with the ball tries to control the ball through either goal to the left or right before the other player can reach the goal. First try without a ball, and then the attacking player with.
Questions:
• Can players with the help of a fake if needed make a controlled change of speed and direction to get through either goal first?
• What fakes are the most successful? What does a good fake look like?
• How should a player play the ball to successfully explode to the goal of choice?

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