Dribbling Skill - The Roll & Scissor Move

A very nice dribbling move that makes a player look one footed, but then burns the defender going the other way. Please note that the players don't stop moving in the drill shown.

4v4 With Gatekeepers

This coach uses players as his gatekeepers, when I do this drill I use parents. That allows more players to actually be involved in the play - as parents like to be involved. This is normally an Under 8 drill, but I've used late in the season for Under 6 and early in the season for Under 10.

This is a great game to get the players to keep their heads up and looking around for the opening.

Dribbling With The Laces (Top of the Foot)

Dribbling at high speed requires the use of the "laces" or the top of the foot. A natural running style exposes the top of the foot to the ball as the player is running, therefore this should be a natural dribbling style when at speed.

We want players that can dribble at high speed because that can attack the defenders and get them off balanced quickly. Below is a video with Mia Hamm explaining the technique.

Under 6 Lesson Plan - Dribbling With Knock Out Games

This may be a good opening lesson for Under 8 teams. It will allow coaches to assess their players' dribbling skills while keeping it fun. If an Under 8 player can not dribble well, other skills such as passing, receiving, and shooting will suffer.

Several of these games are "knock-out" games where the losers are knocked out and the last player left is the winner. Since the first ones out are often the ones who need the most practice, the ones knocked out should be required to do something to either get back into the game (juggling or toe taps) or to keep them working on their ball skills until the game is over.

Activity One: Simon Says

Purpose of the Game: To encourage children to run with the ball, keeping it close to their feet.

Area Needed: 20m x 20m.

Story: Simon is the King of Knotty Ash. In Knotty Ash all of the people are children. When King Simon says, “foot, knee, sit, elbow, head on the ball,” you must do it immediately. The coach can integrate commands such as “change direction,” “go faster,” and so on into the game. If King Simon does not issue the command or a child responds slowly, he or she receives a “Gotcha.” However, children should not be eliminated from the game.

Equipment: Eight cones to mark the area and one ball per child.

Organization: Mark out a 20m x 20m area using the cones. Ask each child to dribble around Knotty Ash (the area) with the ball remaining close to the foot (tell the children to imagine that the ball is connected to their feet by a short piece of elastic). The coach calls out a command to which the child should follow only when preceded by “Simon Says…”

The drill/game encourages children to move with the ball under close control. They now have begun the process of dribbling. The next progression would be to encourage the children to use their peripheral vision. The following game, Tigers in the Jungle, will create an environment to enhance this process.

Activity Two: Tigers in the Jungle

Purpose of the Game: To encourage children to look up while dribbling.

Area Needed: 20m x 20m.

Story: Each child chooses to be a type of animal that lives in the jungle and makes the sound of that animal. Only tigers are not allowed. The tiger is the most feared animal in the jungle and is going to attempt to kick the other animals’ soccer balls into the surrounding alligator-infested swamp. If the tiger kicks the ball into the swamp, the child can dodge the alligators and bring the ball back into the jungle again. The child then stands with legs apart and the ball in the air making the animal’s noise. When another animal/child dribbles the ball through this child’s legs, they are free to continue the game. Beware of the Tiger!

Equipment: Eight cones and one ball per child, except the “tiger.”

Organization: Mark out a 20m x 20m area using the cones. Ask the animals to dribble around the jungle without dribbling into each other or the swamp (the area outside the grid). The tiger (a child without the ball) will prowl around the grid and, on the coach’s command, will enter the jungle and attempt to kick as many balls as possible into the swamp. Remind the children of safety points regarding challenging for the ball. All players may re-enter the grid once they have retrieved their ball from the swamp.

A drill such as Tigers in the Jungle encourages children to dribble the ball at speed while using their peripheral vision in a controlled, pressurized and fun situation.

Activity Three: Crabs on the Beach

Purpose of the Game: To encourage children to dribble with the ball and change speed and direction to beat an opponent. The art of feinting a dummy can be introduced at this stage.

Area Needed: 30m x 20m grid.

Story: Each child assumes the name of a sea creature except the crab. Each creature has to run from the beach to the sea with a ball, avoiding the crabs who are trying to “pinch” the balls. A child whose ball is pinched then becomes a crab.

Equipment: Ten cones to mark the area and one ball per child except the “crab.”

Organization: Mark out a 20m x 30m area using the cones. Make on 30m line the sea and the other 30m line the beach. Ask the children (sea creatures) to stand on the beach line, each with a foot on the ball. Place a child (the crab) in the middle of the area in a crab-like position (on all fours with tummy upwards). On your command tell the creatures to dribble their ball from the beach to the sea while avoiding the crab. When they reach the sea line, they must wait with a foot on the ball until all players have crossed the beach. The crab must aim to kick each child’s ball out of the grid via the 20m side lines. Any creatures losing their balls become crabs. The game continues on the coach’s command with players now returning from the sea back to the beach. The last three children dribbling with their soccer balls become “Sea Champs.”

Activity Four: Scrimmage

Purpose of the Game: To finish practice with a normal soccer game.

Under 6 Drill - "Red Light, Green Light"

Organization:
All players gather on a line. The object is to dribble their ball from one line to the other line. The coach calls out either green light or red light. Players dribble their ball and go when green light is called and stop when red light is called. If a ball is not stopped and controlled immediately, the player is sent back even with the last player, but not all of the way back. Progress to the coach holding either a green or red cone, or t-shirt. The coach now doesn’t say anything, simply holds up a color and the players have to look up and react.

Using The Outside Part of the Foot

The outside part of the foot is probably the most overlooked part of the foot. Many youth players focus on the inside part and don't realize that by using the outside part of the foot they will create more opportunities to beat a defender. Mia Hamm demonstrates in the video below.

Under 8 Drill - "Leave It!"

This is one of the bread and butter warm up drills for Under 8. It get them moving, dribbling the ball, and looking around (everything that you want in a warm up). Even at older ages, you can integrate the principles of this drill into more complex drills for older players.

Under 6 Drill - "School of Fish"

This is a great drill for Under 6 and even Under 8. It also allows parents to get involved. The video shows the coach using himself and three other parents, but I have used this drill with up to 8 adults. Sometimes we refer to this drill as "Finding Nemo".

Under 12 Drill - "Multi Goal End Line Game"

Organization:
Divide players into two equal team on a 30 x 40 yard fields. Place three goals on each end of the training area. Players score by dribbling through one of the multiple goals on the opponent’s end line.

Inside Part of the Foot Drill

Using the Inside Part of the Foot is a critical skill that players must develop to be successful. Below Mia Hamm demonstrates the key points of using the inside part of the foot and shows and excellent drill that coaches can use up a warm up in their practices to get players thinking about this aspect of their game.

Dribbling Skill - "The Fake Kick"

A fairly simple move where you fake an instep drive kick, but you cut the ball across your body instead. Make sure you use your upper body to make it more believable. This trick usually works when the defending player is coming in at speed. Another good time to use this trick is when the ball is coming into the player, they fake a quick kick back into play, but control the ball and dribble away.

Dribbling: Fakes Vs. Feints

From US Youth Soccer -

Coaches will try to teach and players will try to learn ‘moves’ for dribbling through the use of fakes and feints. Yet what is the distinction between a fake and feint? A fake is a move that is done with the ball; actually moving the ball. A feint (body swerve) is done only with the body, no contact with the ball until the player in possession finally plays the ball. A fake is done with the feet. A feint could be done with almost any part of the body. The goal of either a fake or a feint is to get the opponent off balance (wrong 20 footed) or going in the direction opposite of where the player in possession of the ball really plans to go.

When using either a feint or a fake subtle control of the body is required. The center of gravity should not be moved too far sideways from the body’s midline. If the body weight is unnecessarily shifted in the direction of the swerve, the player will find it difficult to make a fast second move. Changing direction quickly during a fake requires the player to keep a low center of gravity until the second move is started.

Coaches must be cautious with the systematic instruction of feints and fakes. In coaching, the main thing is to develop the abilities that will help the players in making effective ‘moves’, such as speed, mobility and a sense of how to shift the center of gravity economically. Once a player is comfortable with the basics of dribbling then cunning must become a part of the skill.

The Dribbling Attack Activity

This activity works with all age groups.

Play 3v3 in a 30 x 20 yard grid. Put the two groups of three into different colored training bibs. Each player in one group has a ball. Attacking players must dribble past defending players. The defending players should try to gain possession and (if they do) then dribble past an opponent. Players may dribble in any direction inside the grid to start. The activity can progress when the coach gives the attack a direction (e.g., dribble to a specified goal line). Play a round for a set amount of time. After a round the groups switch roles.

Suggestions of time to play -
U6: play one minute rounds
U8: play two minute rounds
U10: play three minute rounds
U12: play four minute rounds
U14: play five minute rounds

Under 6 Drill - "The Moving Goal Game"

Organization:
Divide players into two equal teams. Two coaches or parents hold a practice vest between them forming a goal. The players must then try to kick their ball through the goal (any side) while the goal is moving around. Both teams score into the same goal.

Under 8 Drill - "Bulldog"

Organization:
The coach starts as the bulldog in the middle of the playing area. All the players are at one end of the playing area with a ball. On the coach’s command of “go bulldogs” the players must get to the opposite side of the playing area without their ball being kicked out by the coach. If a players ball is kicked out they become a bulldog . The last player with a ball wins the game and becomes the bulldog for the next game.

Shielding (with Video)

A skill that many youth coaches overlook, but is critical in the player development process.

Dribbling Skill - "The Matthews"

This is a very effective move, especially when the defender is patiently containing you. To successfully execute the Matthews move, you need to attack the supporting foot of the defender. Initially, the attacker pushes the ball in, towards the free leg of the defender. The he suddenly cuts to the outside.This leaves the defender helpless as the ball rolls past his supporting foot.

Named for Sir Stanley Matthews, which to this day is still considered one of the best dribblers the game has ever seen. Matthews played in the England's top soccer league until he was 50 and didn't retire from the game as a player until age 55. Below is a dedication to this great of the game with a lot of playing footage.

Under 8 Drill - "Braveheart"

Organization:
Divide players into two equal teams. All players have a ball and start on opposite end lines. When the coach shouts “charge,” they each dribble towards each other and try to get to the opposite end line and stop the ball on the line. The team that has 3 players on the line first gets a point. Start by walking with the ball, then progress to running with the ball.

Under 8 Drill - "Ball Retrieve in Pairs"

Organization:
Each pair has a ball which in turn they give to the coach. The coach tosses the ball away and each pair must retrieve the ball as quickly as possible and bring it back to the coach. The players must bring the ball back a different way each time, e.g. balanced between two backs, balanced between two heads, throwing the ball to each other, passing the ball to each other. The coach can also limit the number of touches a pair may have when returning the ball.

Variation:
The coach may move and change position which encourages players to look up.

Dribbling Skills - "The Rivelino"

In the Rivelino you feint by moving one foot around the ball from the outside in. Then you cut the ball using the outside of the same foot. The key to a successful Rivelino, is that you accelerate away after the feint. Your first step after the feint is critical.