DRIBBLING- DEVELOPING VISION AND MOVES TO BEAT A DEFENDER
Erik Oman League Technical Director | Washington Premier League
1. WARM-UP- RACE CARS- DRIBBLING
Area: 25x25 Where on the field: Midfield Players: 14( any number) all with a ball Objectives: Scanning and awareness of space while in possession of the ball. Confidence to have and keep the ball.
Description: Your ball is your race car- you have to cover the entire grid with your car to win. If you crash with another race car, you have to go to the‘ pits’ in the corner and fix your car by doing 10 taps on top of the ball before you continue to race. Find safe space to race so that you don’ t crash!
Progressions / Variations: Like in a car race, there are now green flags, yellow flags and red flags. Coach calls the color of the flag( or waves different color pinnies). Green means go as fast as you can, yellow means slow down, red means stop by putting your foot on top of the ball. If you crash, you go to the corner and fix your car by doing 10 taps on the ball and then re-enter the race.
Coaching Points: Find safe space to race- if everyone is going one way, there is safe space the other way. Feel the ball on your foot, take quick looks at it, but keep your eyes up to see the road. Big touches in fast / safe space, quick little touches in crowded space.
2. MOVE TAG
Area: 25x25 Where on the field: Midfield Players: 14( any number) all with a ball Objectives: Learn a dribbling move and how to use the move to get into safe space / beat pressure. Learn timing to take small, quick touches in tight space and escape with bigger touches into open space. Improve scanning for pressure and open space.
Description: Each player with a ball. Coach introduces one move with the ball and players practice / coach gives feedback. Once everyone has the basics of the move down, coaches become taggers and can catch players by tapping them on the shoulder. Players can escape by doing the move with the ball before being tagged( coach can’ t tag a player who has just done the move). If a player is tagged, they must do 3 repetitions of the move before re-joining the game.
Progressions / Variations: Coach can adjust pressure accordingly for each player- for players who are struggling, coach can tell them they are coming & slow their approach to allow players to have success.( Great game for the slanty-line concept!)
Coaching Points: Head up with the ball watching for pressure. Movement in one direction creates space in the other direction- fake one way, go the other way. Smaller, quick touches as pressure gets close, then explode with a bigger touch into open space.
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