Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Backyard Dribbling

Figure 8 Dribbling (10 mins)

Preparation:

- This figure eight dribbling just needs 1 player, 2 cones and 1 ball.

- Set up cones 3-4 meters apart.

Execution:

- Dribble throughout the 2 cones.

- Proceed in 60 second intervals.

Quality:

- Utilize best dribbling skills: great balance, bent knees, body slightly leaning over the ball, touching ball with foot on every step.

- Use inside, outside, and laces of your foot to dribble.

- Make short, sharp steps keeping the ball very close.

- After making a turn around a cone, there should be a short, quick acceleration while maintaining the ball very close at all times.

Progression:

- Use only the outside of your feet.

- Use only the inside of your feet.

- Use only left foot.

- Use only right foot.

Total time estimated:

- 5+ minutes for this soccer figure 8 dribbling drill.

1 v Cone

For this next drill, use the same basic setup at the previous drill, but this time you will dribble at your cone which acts as a defender for you to beat.

In order to beat your “defender,” you will perform a move, which can be anything from a step over to a 360 spin.

Practice each move 10 times slowly and then 10 times at a faster pace. Here are some moves that you’ll want to try.

Rake – Use the sole (bottom) of one foot to pull the ball across your body and slightly backwards to the inside of your other foot. In a game situation the pull would take the ball just out of reach of a defender, and pushing the ball with your other foot would allow you to accelerate past.

Step Over – Move one foot around the front of the ball and slightly over the top so your heel passes across the top third of the ball. At the same time drop your shoulder to make it look like you are going to take off in that direction. Then you use the outside of your opposite foot to accelerate the other way.

Inside Out – Use the inside of one foot to touch the ball slightly inside as if you were going to knock it to your other foot or continue dribbling inside. Then use the outside of the same foot to move the ball back to your original direction and past your defender.

Speed Dribbling Competition

Organisation:

2x players

Set up three gates being easily identified (Blue, Red Green or 1, 2 & 3).

One cone in the middle and one football.

Instructions

Player begins on the starting point in the middle of the three gates.

Player waiting is timing 60sec while calling out the number or colour player has to dribble through.

If "Blue" is called player mucst dribble as quicklyh as he can through gate and back to the centre spot.

While returning back to starting position teammate will call out the next gate to dribble through.

Player to dribbler through the most gates at the conclusion of 60 seconds wins.

Variations

- Use different parts of the foot to manipulate the football (right/left foot, sole role, etc)