Skip to content

Dribbling Mastery 1

Activity

Set up a starting line and finishing line tell your players they must stay inside the two lines you can’t let your ball go past either of the lines. Your lines should be approx. 10 yards apart you want to encourage close control in this activity. Having your lines a longer distance will most likely encourage players to kick and chase the ball more, you can vary the distance based on your dribbling objective. When introducing the skills it should be done using Blocked practice first, followed by Serial practice and then Random practice. More info on these three phases is contained below.

Blocked practice in learning involves repeatedly practicing the same single skill in a consistent, unchanging environment. This method allows for focused repetition and muscle memory development, making it effective for initially learning and refining specific techniques.

Serial practice refers to practicing several different skills in a fixed order. Unlike blocked practice, where one skill is repeatedly drilled, serial practice involves a sequence of different skills, but this sequence remains consistent throughout the practice session.

Random practice involves practicing a variety of skills in a random order, rather than in a fixed sequence as in serial practice or repeatedly focusing on one skill as in blocked practice. This approach requires the player to adapt to different types of skills in an unpredictable sequence, closely mimicking the varied and spontaneous nature of real-game scenarios.

Skills

  1. Right Foot – Outside/Laces
  2. Left Foot – Outside/Laces
  3. Alternate Foot – Outside/Laces
  4. Alternate Foot – Inside Foot
  5. Combinations Of Inside/Outside/Laces
  6. Sole Rolls And Drags

Variations & Progressions

Challenge your players to touch the ball 10 times before they get to the other side.20 Touches, 3 Touches. Keep varying the number of touches so they have to use bigger and smaller touches to meet the number of touches required.

Give your players a time limit to get to the other side of the grid but make sure they dont go past the line they have to stay inside the grid. Change the time limit making it longer or shorter.

Give the players instructions to go Slow. Medium or Fast

Coaching Points

  • Use different parts of both feet to dribble the ball
  • Keep the ball close at all times using lots of softer smaller touches
  • Introduce the push technique where the player push the ball forwards rather than kicking the ball

Have your players focus on great technique and using the correct part of the foot and being able to stop the ball in the activities first before worrying about speed

While dribbling, it’s crucial to maintain your vision with your head up and eyes forward, which allows you to fully observe the field, including teammates, opponents, and open spaces. Constantly scanning the area enhances your spatial awareness, enabling you to anticipate other players’ movements and react swiftly. This approach not only prevents collisions but also aids in making quick, effective decisions like evading opponents or changing direction, vital for successful play in real-game situations.