Dribbling

Underload Gate Hunt Dribble

Encourage travelling with the ball into space

Dribbling
Ball Mastery
Speed & Agility

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
Underload

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. 2Add one extra defender to the working area and mark their start position with a flat cone.
  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 attacking group starts a player short, so every entry pass has to be sharp.
  5. 5Defenders score a point for every clean turnover; attackers need three clean end actions to win the round.

Coaching points

  • -Look up to pick the next free gate
  • -Touch into the gate, not at it
  • -Change speed after each gate
  • -Protect the ball and wait for the second runner rather than forcing it

Progressions

  • +Add a second extra defender
  • +Raise the demand once the group is consistently successful

Regressions

  • -Even the numbers up again
  • -Simplify the area or the service until success returns

Variations

  • -Attackers get one 'free pass' per round they can call
  • -Run the practice on the opposite side of the pitch

Common mistakes

  • -Following the player in front
  • -Big touches through crowded gates
  • -Trying to beat two players instead of releasing early

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