Dribbling

Rotation Escape Square Dribble

Protect the ball under real pressure

Dribbling
Ball Mastery
Possession

Rotation Escape Square Dribble is a 14-minute dribbling drill for 6-18 players, suitable for Under 5 to Adults at beginner, intermediate, advanced level. You need balls, cones, bibs. Below you will find the objective, the set-up, how to run it, coaching points, common mistakes, progressions, regressions and variations.

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Dribbling
Ball Mastery
Possession
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Foundation Phase
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Rotation

Duration

14 min

Players

6-18

Pitch size

18 x 18 yards

Ability levels

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Pitch diagram

Pitch set-up: Rotation Escape Square Dribble1218 x 18 yards

Rotation Escape Square Dribble — 4 gates — score by travelling through · 18 x 18 yards

Step 1 of 5Dribblers keep the ball alive in the square while two thieves try to kick it out.

  1. 1. Dribblers keep the ball alive in the square while two thieves try to kick it out.
  2. 2. A dribbler can escape through any gate and re-enter on the opposite side.
  3. 3. Thieves swap in every 90 seconds.
  4. 4. Play starts at station one and the ball works round the numbers in order.
  5. 5. Every player must complete each role once before the round is scored.
  • Cones mark the area
  • Cone gates to dribble / pass through
  • Ball
  • Solid arrow = pass, thick = shot, dashed = run / dribble

Objectives

  • -Protect the ball under real pressure
  • -Use turns and shielding to escape tight areas
  • -Keep the head up in traffic

Setup

  1. 1A square with four exit gates, one on each side in a 18 x 18 yards area.
  2. 2Number every station so players know exactly where they travel to next.
  3. 3Balls for the dribblers, bibs for two ball-thieves.

Coaching instructions

  1. 1Dribblers keep the ball alive in the square while two thieves try to kick it out.
  2. 2A dribbler can escape through any gate and re-enter on the opposite side.
  3. 3Thieves swap in every 90 seconds.
  4. 4Play starts at station one and the ball works round the numbers in order.
  5. 5Every player must complete each role once before the round is scored.

Coaching points

  • -Body between the thief and the ball
  • -Turn away from pressure
  • -Escape through the quiet gate
  • -Follow your pass — the movement is part of the practice

Common mistakes

  • -Dribbling into the busiest corner
  • -Panicking and hitting the ball away
  • -Staying in a favourite role and avoiding the harder one

Where this drill fits

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