Welcome to the Soccer Awareness Coaches Corner. Browse through soccer drills, small sided games, tactical thoughts, full sessions and a variety of resources. Posts marked “Training Center Exclusive” are for members only.
Ball Control and Dribbling Skills Ideas
Dribbling is a ball skill that's crucial in soccer. The best soccer players in the world can control the ball when sprinting at full speed and avoiding defenders. Better dribbling skills allows players to create space and time and therefore better control the ball and make plays. Here are two drills you can add to your practices to improve your teams dribbling skills.
Fast Passing and Dribbling Plays in Fours - Training Center Exclusive
A simple exercise when you have large numbers to work with. Practice lots of different receiving and passing drills here. Players pass and switch with their teammate behind them developing a constant rhythm. Passing with pace to challenge the first touch of the person you pass to. Also develop running with the ball and performing various tricks and dribbles as you move forward.
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Five Gates Dribbling Activity
In this drill, players score by dribbling over the opponents’ end line or by dribbling through any of the five gates located in the playing area. Players can only leave their third of the field by dribbling forward.
Improving Basic Dribbling & Awareness with Lots of Touches in Possession of the Ball
Four areas of Awareness:
- “On the Ball” Awareness before receiving the ball,
- “On the Ball” awareness as the player receives it and moves it on quickly using one or two touches only;
- "On the Ball” awareness if the player maintains possession of the ball using several touches; and:
- “Off the Ball” awareness in terms of their positioning of players supporting the player On the Ball.
This works if all players are in synch and thinking ahead of the ball and it is not just the player on the ball thinking ahead.