Dribbling

Pressure Gate Hunt Dribble

Encourage travelling with the ball into space

Dribbling
Ball Mastery
Speed & Agility
Premium

Encourage travelling with the ball into space. Set up the area, follow the steps and use the coaching points below.

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Dribbling
Ball Mastery
Speed & Agility
Skill Practice
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Full Squad
Minimal Equipment
Youth Friendly
Adult Suitable
Under Pressure

Age

Under 9 to Adults

Duration

12 min

Players

4-20

Area / pitch size

20 x 20 yards

Difficulty

Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced

Equipment

Balls, Cones

Coaching focus

Encourage travelling with the ball into space

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Objective

  • -Encourage travelling with the ball into space
  • -Develop scanning while dribbling
  • -Reward quick changes of direction

Setup

  1. 1Ten two-yard gates scattered randomly in a 20 x 20 yards area.
  2. 2Position a recovering defender behind each working player, starting two yards back.
  3. 3A ball each, bibs for any defenders.

How to play

  1. 1Players dribble through as many different gates as possible in 90 seconds.
  2. 2The same gate cannot be used twice in a row.
  3. 3Between rounds players share the route that worked best.
  4. 4The defender is released the moment the ball leaves the server's foot.
  5. 5The working player scores by completing the action before pressure arrives; the defender scores by blocking it.

Coaching points

  • -Look up to pick the next free gate
  • -Touch into the gate, not at it
  • -Change speed after each gate
  • -Feel the pressure with your body, take the touch away from the defender

Progressions

  • +Defender starts level rather than behind
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Defender presses at jogging pace only
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Two defenders alternate so pressure is constant
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Following the player in front
  • -Big touches through crowded gates
  • -Facing your own goal and getting trapped by the press

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