Sport Session Planner
Ball Mastery / Dribbling Category: Technical: Dribbling and RWB | Difficulty: Beginner
Dribble Through the Square (15 mins)
Dribble Through the Square SET UP: Place 4 cones into the shape of a square as shown. Make the square large or small enough to accomodate the amount of players in your session. (Note that players will be dribbling into the square all at the same time - so make it large enough to give them room to do it, but small enough to provide enough traffic so they will have to dribble with their head up to be aware of collisions) Divide the players into 4 equal teams, and have each team find their spot on each of the 4 lines that make up the square. Ask them to decide their team's name. (it's ok if one line has an extra person or one less....) THE GAME: Variation 1: Instruct them that they will need to dribble across the square as quickly as they can, get to the other line and stop it on the line with the bottom of their foot. Encourage them to be the first team to have all of their players finished.. Say - on your mark, get set, 'GO!'. Do this about 4-5 times. Variation 2: No have them dribble to the other side, do a change of direction move (pull-back, inside cut, etc) and return to their line. Do this 4-5 times. Variation 3: GAME SPEED: Now tell them that since everyone understands the game, it's time to race. Have them dribble across the sqaure, change directions and return 6 times. The team that finishes first gets 2 points, the team that finishes second gets 1 point. Keep playing the game until a team gets 5 points. Crown them the winner, while the losers have to do donkey kicks, jumping jacks, etc. COACHING POINTS: Let them know that small controlled touches will be important in the game. Using multiple surfaces of their foot to manipulate the ball inside and outside will help them avoid traffic. Keeping their head up will help them avoid traffic. Dribbling with knees bent and body down low, while keeping arms out to shield their ball will help them avoid getting their ball bumped or kicked away.
JailBreak! (15 mins)
Jailbreak! SET - UP: Create a zone in the middle of the field as shown using 4 cones. Place another two cones on each END LINE to signify a starting/ending point. Place two mini-goals at the ends of the 'ZONE'. Divide the players into even groups of three (as evenly as possible- an extra/less player on either team is ok). The don't need to wear pinnies. Two of the teams will be on each end line with their balls, the other team will be in the middle 'ZONE' without their balls. OBJECTIVE: When coach yells 'GO' the two teams on the end line will try to dribble across the ZONE and make it to the other end line without getting 'CAUGHT" by the guards. The guards (players in the middle zone) can 'CATCH' someone, by stealing their ball and putting it into either of the two mini-goals. What team wins? Continue the game until the following: If there is ONE person left at the end line with their ball - that team wins. If there is NO body left on their end line (the guards caught multiple players in one round) - the GUARDS win.
Switch out the Guards with one of the other teams, and play again. Coaching Points: Dribble with pace. When entering the ZONE, use controlled touches to maneuver in traffic and exit quickly. Get your head up to find the open spaces in the ZONE quickly. Keep the ball close in the ZONE and shield your ball (bend your knees, get down low, keep ball underneath you)
3v3 END LINE (15 mins)
END LINE GOAL GAME: SET-UP: Divide the field into 1/2 with cones as shown Divide the players into 4 teams THE GAME: Teams will play 3v3 or 4v4. Goals are scored by dribbling the ball and stopping it on the END LINE across from you. The other team will be trying to do the same. Coaching Points: Encourage lots of small touches and no 'BIG KICKS' since there is no shooting in this activity. Dribble with head up to recognize when to dribble or when to pass. 1v2 situations should result in a pass. Rotate teams after a few minutes so they all get to play each other.
Match Play (15 mins)
Match Play Play match. 4v4 or 5v5. Divide into three teams if you have large numbers with one team sitting out until a goal is scored or 3 minutes has pased. Make coaching points from the session during the match.
Dribble
Pitch Line 2
Pitch Line 3
Shaded Pitch Area
Dribble Through the Square (15 mins)
Dribble Through the Square SET UP: Place 4 cones into the shape of a square as shown. Make the square large or small enough to accomodate the amount of players in your session. (Note that players will be dribbling into the square all at the same time - so make it large enough to give them room to do it, but small enough to provide enough traffic so they will have to dribble with their head up to be aware of collisions) Divide the players into 4 equal teams, and have each team find their spot on each of the 4 lines that make up the square. Ask them to decide their team's name. (it's ok if one line has an extra person or one less....) THE GAME: Variation 1: Instruct them that they will need to dribble across the square as quickly as they can, get to the other line and stop it on the line with the bottom of their foot. Encourage them to be the first team to have all of their players finished.. Say - on your mark, get set, 'GO!'. Do this about 4-5 times. Variation 2: No have them dribble to the other side, do a change of direction move (pull-back, inside cut, etc) and return to their line. Do this 4-5 times. Variation 3: GAME SPEED: Now tell them that since everyone understands the game, it's time to race. Have them dribble across the sqaure, change directions and return 6 times. The team that finishes first gets 2 points, the team that finishes second gets 1 point. Keep playing the game until a team gets 5 points. Crown them the winner, while the losers have to do donkey kicks, jumping jacks, etc. COACHING POINTS: Let them know that small controlled touches will be important in the game. Using multiple surfaces of their foot to manipulate the ball inside and outside will help them avoid traffic. Keeping their head up will help them avoid traffic. Dribbling with knees bent and body down low, while keeping arms out to shield their ball will help them avoid getting their ball bumped or kicked away.
JailBreak! (15 mins)
Jailbreak! SET - UP: Create a zone in the middle of the field as shown using 4 cones. Place another two cones on each END LINE to signify a starting/ending point. Place two mini-goals at the ends of the 'ZONE'. Divide the players into even groups of three (as evenly as possible- an extra/less player on either team is ok). The don't need to wear pinnies. Two of the teams will be on each end line with their balls, the other team will be in the middle 'ZONE' without their balls. OBJECTIVE: When coach yells 'GO' the two teams on the end line will try to dribble across the ZONE and make it to the other end line without getting 'CAUGHT" by the guards. The guards (players in the middle zone) can 'CATCH' someone, by stealing their ball and putting it into either of the two mini-goals. What team wins? Continue the game until the following: If there is ONE person left at the end line with their ball - that team wins. If there is NO body left on their end line (the guards caught multiple players in one round) - the GUARDS win.
Switch out the Guards with one of the other teams, and play again. Coaching Points: Dribble with pace. When entering the ZONE, use controlled touches to maneuver in traffic and exit quickly. Get your head up to find the open spaces in the ZONE quickly. Keep the ball close in the ZONE and shield your ball (bend your knees, get down low, keep ball underneath you)
3v3 END LINE (15 mins)
END LINE GOAL GAME: SET-UP: Divide the field into 1/2 with cones as shown Divide the players into 4 teams THE GAME: Teams will play 3v3 or 4v4. Goals are scored by dribbling the ball and stopping it on the END LINE across from you. The other team will be trying to do the same. Coaching Points: Encourage lots of small touches and no 'BIG KICKS' since there is no shooting in this activity. Dribble with head up to recognize when to dribble or when to pass. 1v2 situations should result in a pass. Rotate teams after a few minutes so they all get to play each other.
Match Play (15 mins)
Match Play Play match. 4v4 or 5v5. Divide into three teams if you have large numbers with one team sitting out until a goal is scored or 3 minutes has pased. Make coaching points from the session during the match.
Dribble
Pitch Line 2
Pitch Line 3
Shaded Pitch Area
