Gate Dribble Chase

Objective

• -Raise heart rate
• -Improve close control
• -Awaken scanning and turning

Setup

1. 1Mark out a square 20 x 20 yards with cones.
2. 2Set up 6 to 8 small cone gates inside the area.
3. 3Each player starts with a ball except two taggers who wear bibs.

How to play

1. 1Players dribble freely through the area and try to score by running a ball through as many gates as they can.
2. 2Taggers move without balls and try to touch dribblers below the waist.
3. 3If a player is tagged, they do five quick toe taps then rejoin straight away.
4. 4After 2 minutes, swap the taggers and restart.
5. 5Keep the ball moving and encourage players to find space before they speed up.

Progressions

• +Progressive Tempo: add a fourth maximal round
• +Ball For Every Player: shrink the working area
• +Reaction Start: two cues, one a decoy
• +Add a competitive scoreline for the last round

Regressions

• -Progressive Tempo: stay at the first two tempos only
• -Ball For Every Player: bigger area, share a ball between two
• -Reaction Start: coach counts players in
• -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

• -Progressive Tempo — Three rounds: 60% pace, 80% pace, then match pace with full recovery between.
• -Ball For Every Player — Every player works with their own ball so no one waits in a queue.
• -Reaction Start — Every repetition begins from a visual or audio cue rather than a set count.
• -Partner Race — Players work in matched pairs and race each repetition, best of five.
• -Mobility Focus — Each round finishes with a controlled mobility hold for the hips, groin and ankles.
• -Change Of Direction — Add a 90 or 180 degree turn into every repetition before the finish.
• -Team Target — The whole group works to a shared score target and repeats the round if they miss it.
• -Flip the practice to the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

• -All players crowd the same gate
• -Ball gets too far ahead
• -Players stare at the ball only