This Dribbling practice requires at least 5 players in a 15 yard diameter circle area, with each player beginning with a ball each to dribble. Players encouraged to be creative and try as many tricks and dribbles as they can unopposed to begin with before introducing various obstacles and challenges.
Attacking Emphasis80%80%
Defending Emphasis20%20%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Progression 1: Add 2 Areas
Add 2 areas, where players must perform a different trick and with increased traffic closer control is encouraged.
Progression 2: Add Defender
Add a defender to add pressure to dribblers, so they must avoid each other as well as perform a dribble in area.
Progression 3: Passing Floater
With increased difficulty with added defender, a floater could act as a wall pass for dribblers under pressure.
Key Coaching Points
– Technical – Close control under pressure of defenders – Technical – Ability to use both feet in turning – Physical – Change of Pace when required
Q&A
– Is the space available for players appropriate? – How can I work individually with each player? – Is there room to extend the challenge for higher ability players?
This is Play at Home Practice 7 and is a soccer drill that is focused on developing power and finishing technique.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Focus on developing power and strength with jumps over hurdles, before movement and first touch that prepares players to finish into corner of goal. The objective is to maintain technique in the physical jumping phase and in the movement to receive and finishing technique.
Key Coaching Points
Physical: Power over hurdles Physical: Sharp movement to receive first touch Technique: Finishing low into corners
Q&A
– How can I move quickly to receive the ball where I want it? – How do I play on different sides with my weaker and stronger foot? How can I improve?
Football Practice 4 of our ‘Play at Home’ Series combines working on your touch, movement off the ball to open your body and check shoulders, running with the ball and quick feet in ladders.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points 1
Focus on your first touch and movement off the angle of poles to receive on your back foot to be able to drive into space. It is crucial you get into the habit of checking shoulders as you will in a game situation, to ensure you have space to drive into and can see pressing defenders.
Progression 1: Speed Challenge
Now we can begin to introduce your speed of movement whilst maintaining technique in each step. Give yourself a score for each correctly performed technique together with the time it takes you to complete the course.
Key Coaching Points
Technical: Short side foot passing Technical: Movement to take first touch forward Physical: Quick feet and speed between poles
Q&A
– How can you ensure your movement allows you to take the first touch in front? – How can you vary sprints between ladders and poles? – How else can you take the ball to break into space?
This practice incorporates many different principles to engage players at home. We begin with some ladder work using whatever sequence you think your player needs to work on, before a bounce pass is played. After this initial pass, player must move quickly to get themselves into a position to receive a second pass to control and play off a rebound board. This must be through the poles shown and firm enough to return the bounce on one touch and play another pass off the rebound board at the opposite end.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points 1
Focus on individual technique in each area of the practice, with a lot of variation in player movement and skill execution. It’s very easy to just go for speed and forget technique, but it is crucial you focus on getting this right first with both feet before focusing on speed.
Progression 1
Now you are fine with your technique and you have made progress from the beginning of the soccer drill, you can now begin to challenge yourself by setting targets for accuracy and time.
Key Coaching Points 2
It is crucial to reiterate that technique over speed is the main objective here. You can steadily increase your speed without sacrificing technique and you will start to see big improvements in your, dribbling, passing and finishing.
Key Coaching Points
– Technical: Running with ball close control – Passing and finishing accuracy – Balance and speed to accel and decel as neccesary between exercises.
Q&A
– What skill do I need to work on most and how? – How does speed influence my technique and how can I adjust?
This ‘Play At Home’ practice is focused on players control, lateral movement and quick feet together with finishing in and around goal.
Attacking Emphasis100%100%
Defending Emphasis0%0%
Age Group
Number of Players
Minutes
Key Coaching Points 1
Focus on your first touch to move the ball through the gate accurately, well weighted so you can pass the ball on the other side before playing the pass back, performing quick feet, before receiving a return pass to finish in the goal on the opposite side.
Progression 1: Weaker Foot and Increased Movement
Develop your first touch outside of the area now and finish in the near side goal with your weaker foot on each side. With this added challenge, you will begin to slow down and execute your finish more carefully.
Progression 2: Physical Focus to Develop Speed
Introduce ladders if you have these, or poles and cones to aid the selected physical exercise. Quick feet will develop speed and co-ordination, which are extremely useful traits for attacking players
Key Coaching Points
Physical: Movement and balance to control the ball and body between sections Technique: Touch to move the ball in small spaces under close control Technique: Finishing on both feet, near and far
Q&A
How can I move quicker in between areas whilst still in control? What is the difference between weaker and stronger foot finishing technique? How does your standing foot influence this and how can you develop it?
