Soccer Footwork & Dribbling Drills
Dribbling is one of the most essential skills to develop at an early age if you want to become a good soccer player. Learning how to dribble and improving your footwork is a vital skill that take a lot of practice.
Regardless of whether you are a goalkeeper, a defender, or a midfielder, you should be able to dribble a ball in different situations. Every player needs to practice and improve their dribbling and footwork skills because dribbling is not just for forwards.
However, like many other skills, a lot of practice and repetitions are the key to improvement.
In this post, we are going to look at different footwork & dribbling drills you can use to improve your skills and the equipment you need to help you practice and become better at dribbling.
How To Improve Your Footwork/Dribbling Skills
To succeed in soccer, you need to know how to manipulate and control the ball. Knowing how to dribble the ball properly will set you up for better shots and passes while on the field.
To become better at this, you need to practice different dribbling techniques using different part of your feet.
Mastering this skill will help you get better control, movement, and balance of the ball. This will allow you to move confidently during a match. The tips discussed below will help you enhance your dribbling skills, and you can easily apply them every time you play.
Mastering Basic Dribbling Techniques First: One of the common mistakes you can make on your pursuit of becoming a skilled dribbler is attempting the advanced dribbling skills first before mastering the basics.
All the basic dribbling moves are typically used in more challenging and difficult movements, meaning you need to concentrate on them early during your training.
Becoming a great dribbler should be one of your long-term goals. The most important parts of your feet you can use for dribbling are the top of the toes and the sides.
When running with the soccer ball, make sure you kick it with the front part of your foot to keep it going directly ahead of you.
When you’re dribbling side-to-side, you need to have good touches with the inside part of your shoes. You can also roll the soccer ball by placing one of your feet on the ball and roll it as you continue moving.
Ensure you have reasonable control of the soccer ball with every touch before proceeding to the more advanced dribbling movements.
Regardless of the kind of dribbling skills you are doing, ensure you do not hit the soccer ball too soft or too hard. If you can make the soccer ball go where you want it to go with every basic touch, you’re ready for the more challenging dribbling skills.
Working with Cones Regularly: If you want to get used to working with inside-outs, crossover dribbles, and many other advanced movements, you need to work with cones more frequently.
You can do most of the dribbling drills mentioned in this post by setting up cones in different pitch locations.
The cones can either represent the different parts of the pitch or defenders. Your objective in most soccer drills is mainly to dribble around or through the set cones without knocking down any of them.
Practicing Long-Distance Drills: The best way to have confidence and get comfortable when running with the ball is to practice long-distance dribbling drills.
They are simple drills that require you to go approximately 25 to 50 yards while maintaining full control of the soccer ball.
The goal of long-distance drills is to keep you under control throughout your run while going side to side and forward too. Practice these drills for around 15 minutes in every training session.
You’ll soon build the capacity to go for long distances during game scenarios without worrying about getting the appropriate touch on the soccer ball. Apart from becoming a better dribbler, you will also realize that you’ll improve your stamina over time.
Focusing on Speed Dribbling Techniques: One of the best ways to practice dribbling skills is to accelerate your dribbling process. Sprinting down the playing ground as straight as possible is a great way to work on your speed dribbling technique.
The objective of speed dribbling is to help you make contact with the soccer ball consistently using the top part of the middle toe. It might take you some time to run in a full straight line, but you need that skill to master advanced dribbling skills.
Practicing Confined Dribbling Drills: Close dribbling is usually more challenging to pull off than the long-distance dribbling drills. That’s because you need to be more accurate with every touch to keep the ball away from your opponents and keep it under control.
You can practice confined dribbling with or without some cones, but it’s better to have a partner or opponent to work with when doing these drills. In a small playing grid, practice moving the soccer ball around as you keep it away from your opponent.
If you lose the ball, allow your opponent to do the same drill. With time, you’ll learn how to move the soccer ball fast between your legs to prevent your partner from stealing it.
Understanding the Defensive Instincts of Other Players: The only way you can beat your opponents with your soccer dribbling techniques is by out-thinking them. That means that you should know how they usually react to the different moves you make.
From the beginning of the game, you should try your best to feel out the defenders who are around you. If you master how they defend, you’ll realize that you will have better chances of beating them using your dribbling skills.
Perfecting Your Shielding Skill: The dribbling skills you have learned during your training will not have much value if you cannot maintain proper control of the ball, especially when you’re under pressure.
Shielding is an essential skill in soccer because it enables you to maintain possession for your team as you look for an opening to move the soccer ball. The best way to work on your shielding techniques is to get a partner or opponent to try stealing the ball from you while keeping your body between the ball and the opponent. You can start by simply rolling the ball down the field as you move, and you can try dribbling past your opponents with time.
Being able to play soccer at the top-level involves having a perfect understanding of several aspects of the game. Understanding these aspects will make the game exciting. Dribbling is one of the most critical part of soccer.
A player’s footwork skill will live both their team and their fans excited. It creates a line of separation between average players and dominant players.
You will need to work on your speed, agility, body control, and balance to effectively dribble in style.
Dribbling will equip a player with enough skills to keep the soccer ball away from their competitors and at a very close range. Below are some of the most potent dribbling drills that will help you develop perfect ball control skills and enhance your creativity while on the field.
T-Cone Soccer Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Figure-8 Soccer Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Catch Me If You Can Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Zig-Zag Footwork-Dribbling Drill
British Bulldog Attack Footwork/Dribbling Drill
1V2 Soccer Footwork-Dribble Drill
Round The Square Soccer Footwork/Dribble Drill
Hot-Box Footwork-Dribbling Drill
Musical Soccer Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Straight Cone Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Closed-Space Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Sharks & Minnows Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Round The Cyclic Cone Footwork/Dribbling Drill
1 on 1 Controlled Footwork/Dribbling Drill
T-Cone Soccer Footwork/Dribbling Drill
It is the dream of every soccer player to perfect their skills and expertise on the field. Having a footwork-dribbling drill that helps you get to that level will make you shine during games and help your team win. T-Cone dribbling drill will help enhances your player' fitness, controlled turns, and touches.
Drill Setup
- Begin by setting up four highly visible cones with a spacing of about five yards. Make a T-shaped training area.
- Have two players in every T-Cone assigned one ball. One of the players should rest as the other works at the edge of the T area.
- Have several T-Cones to provide enough training space for the entire team to partake.
Drill Instructions
- One of the two players in every group begins with the soccer ball at his/her foot and the "T" base. The player dribbles the ball near the middle-top cone and then moves to cut towards the right-top cone.
- On the move, sprint towards the middle cone of your T set up. Use your right foot to approach the top-middle cone from the left side. Spine clockwise and have a controlled tap on the ball using the outer part of your right foot until you face the left.
- Repeat the drill and keep spinning, dribbling, and turning at every cone.
- Move and spin around the cone on your left, and then get back to the center-top cone.
- Make a full 360 degrees spin around the cone at the center, and proceed to the right cone.
- Spin around the right cone, and then get back, while having the ball at your foot, to the center.
- Make a final spin around the cone at the center and then sprint out to the base of your T where you started.
- Work on ensuring your ball remains close to your foot and closer to every cone during the spins.
- After completing, start the drill again but with your left foot. You should approach your cones from the right side and make counter-clockwise spins using the outer part of the left foot.
- The footwork-dribbling pattern is repeatedly undertaken.
- Repeat the same drill pattern for a minute and then have the players rotate.
Drill Variations
- The drill involves a variety of dribbling. Players can tactically use either the left foot, right foot, or the base of either feet for every single pattern completed.
- The drain can get modified where there is no soccer ball involved but have the players enhance their speed by sprinting. They can face forward and spring forward, do shuffles, and backpedal to improve their body fitness.
Coaching Points
- Players should work on having very close touches on your soccer ball.
- Players can enhance their dribbling speed. Every dribble should take seconds for higher flexibility.
- Players should work on having very tight or close range turns around every cone.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- It is a drill suitable with every prayer above eight years of age, and up to professional players
Figure-8 Soccer Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Figure 8 footwork-dribbling drill leads on the list of the best exercises to help you learn some of the most efficient dribbling techniques. It equips you with the best ways to dribble the ball. Most players acknowledge it as a simple but very effective drill.
Drill Setup
- Begin by creating two five by five-yard squares that are about five meters apart.
- Put two agility training sticks at the center of your marked area. These sticks should remain at least three yards (4 feet) apart.
- Put a cone at every end and make a pentagon from your square grids.
- The players can be grouped to at least a set of two for every group when the team is huge.
- Every group should have one soccer ball.
- One of the players begins with the ball in the middle of the two agility training sticks.
- Players are encouraged to play at very high speeds as they dribble for every minute counts and accommodate enough rotations for all the participants.
- Have several obstacle courses subject to the total number of participants in the training.
Drill Instructions
- Once it is your turn, you should dribble the ball to make a figure eight while going round the cones.
- The players are supposed to utilize the external or internal part of their foot depending on the side they are dribbling towards.
- In making the next cycle, the player should use the inner part of their foot when dribbling to their left, and as they move to their right, use the inner part of their left leg.
- Every pattern and dribble should run for at most sixty seconds before switching.
Drill Variations
- Players are supposed to use both the inner and outer parts of their feet and laces as they dribble.
- The player can have a step-over within the center or even a scissor to make the dribble more challenging.
Coaching Points
- Encourage players to make use of their dribbling skills to their best levels. They should work on achieving high balance, bent knees, and slight body inclinations over the soccer ball, and fine touch on the ball with their foot upon every step.
- Warn the players against using their toes to dribble as they may not achieve the required ball control.
- When dribbling, players should try utilizing the inside, laces, and outside of their feet to maximize on ball touches.
- A player can begin anywhere and at any of the cones. They should then move while dribbling the ball to make a shape of eight inside and round the cones.
- A player should aim to maximize the number of ball touches by making short, sharp moves while closely maintaining the ball.
- Every player should run the drill for about one to one and a half minutes before resting.
- Encourage your players to increase the tempo by making demands for more, quicker, and faster touches.
- Every turn around should then get followed by a sprint.
Equipment
Soccer Drill Focus
Catch Me If You Can Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Speed and agility are among the essential skill of any good soccer player. You need to remain flexible, run fast, and have enough strength to get and keep the ball. This drill aims at enhancing dribbling with enough speed.
Drill Setup
- Create a ten by ten-yard square using eight cones with balls on top.
- Divide the entire team into groups of two for every yard and give every player a soccer ball.
- Every player should move and begin at the opposite diagonal ends of the created grid.
Drill Instructions
- The drill's primary goal is to ensure players improve on their speeds as they move around the grid.
- The coach gives the "GO" order where the two players should speedily dribble around the grid's outer line. Either of the players should run and try to catch up with their partner.
- Once the coach gives the “STOP” order, the two players should ensure they stop their respective soccer balls.
- Once the coach gives the "TURN" order, both players should again change their directions around the grid.
Drill Variations
- The dribble drill involves coaching commands such as go, stop, and turn.
- Additional commands to include are left, right, and bottom, which dictates the specific part of the foot to use when dribbling.
- The playing grid can get adjusted to make longer edges for the players to run around.
Coaching Points
- Emphasize to your players on the need to maintain close control over the ball regardless of the part of their foot they are using.
- Ensure there is enough time for every player to move around the grid with the ball to improve their speeds while keeping the ball in control.
- Sharp touches should inform the commands the coach gives to the player. These speedy, sharp ball touches make it possible for the players to effectively work on their speeds while having close control of the ball.
- Again, ensure the players use their foot and not toes in keeping the soccer ball close to their leg as they run around the grid.
- The dual player's training can take about 15 minutes for every round before rotating or having another group.
Equipment
Soccer Drill Focus
- It is a perfect warm-up drill
- It enhances the players’ fitness
- Dribbling while running
- It is a great way to have fun
Zig-Zag Footwork-Dribbling Drill
Players are expected to trick and move past their contenders to score effectively. Having skills through which one can confuse and pass their opponent requires the use of both the outside and inside of the feet. Zig-zag soccer footwork-dribbling drill makes the player perfect on ways to use the bottom, inside, and outside of their feet. They also allow the player to work on better ways to dribble past their opponents at high speed while maintaining reasonable ball control.
Drill Setup
- Start by setting up cones that are approximately five yards apart. Your cones should take a zig-zag design.
- The entire zig-zag pattern of your cones should stretch for about twenty yards long. That is enough length to sprint and move while controlling the ball.
- Have enough balls to give all the players.
- The entire team should then line-up at the end zig-zag pattern of the stretch with their balls.
Drill Instructions
- The player at the lead in line should begin dribbling and move round the outer area of the zig-zag patterned cones.
- After going around several patterns, the next in line should also start running and follow suit.
- Immediately the dribbling soccer player gets to the end of the zig-zag pattern stretch he/she must again sprint back to the beginning of the line and wait to go for the second round.
- When the training soccer players are on the move towards their right, they are expected to dribble frequently.
- Every player should run through the entire patter for several rounds to perfect their soccer ball touch. Continuous exercising would effectively enhance the player's speed and dribbling.
- A player should frequently dribble when moving to the right side. However, players should use the soul of their right foot to roll the soccer ball when moving to the left.
- Players should ensure they change the original pattern and frequently move while moving to their left, and speedily use their soccer boots soul when using their left foot and moving to their right side.
Drill Variations
- The first drills that a player must learn are the left foot soul's use when dribbling and rolling the ball to the right.
- Some dribbling and footwork skills to add are making a complete turn round every cone while maintaining the ball as close as possible.
- You can also add the variation of moving the soccer ball through the entire zig-zag pattern while using the soul of your foot only.
Coaching Points
- Let the soccer players train and work towards improving their dribbling and moving speeds when training.
- Work on the best ways to dribble the soccer ball with both inner and outer parts of both the left and right feet.
- You also need to dribble with an excellent grip and control of the ball using the souls of your feet.
- Emphasize the need to make controlled touches close to the dribbling soccer player.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- This drill is suitable for players under eight years of age up to those above 17 years of age.
Soccer Drill Focus
- List ElIt is a perfect warm-up drill.
- It enhances the players’ fitness.
- Dribblingement.
British Bulldog Attack Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Young players with a passion for soccer require a drill that is enjoyable to engage in as they enhance their dribbling skills. The bulldog attack sdrill equips players with the appropriate ball control and touch skills.
Drill Setup
- Start by setting up a rectangular or square playing grid. There is no specified manner in which one should set up this grid.
- Your square playing area depends on the number of drill participants, whether it is part of the entire team.
- Have enough soccer balls to have individual players within the grid provided with one ball each.
- One of the team or group players should remain outside the playing grid and without a ball.
- The player outside and without a ball is termed as the "bulldog" to attack the rest of the players.
Drill Instructions
- Once the coach blows the whistle, every player assigned a soccer ball should begin dribbling within the set playing area.
- After ten to twenty minutes, the player standing outside (bulldog) should then get into the playing grid. This bulldog player should try and kick the balls of other players out of the grid.
- Every dribbling player assigned a ball has the obligation of ensuring that the soccer ball is protected within the playing grid. They have to overcome the challenge brought by the bulldog.
- Every player whose soccer ball gets knocked out of the playing boundaries should get out and wait for some minutes.
- Any player who steps outside the grid after having their ball kicked out should wait until the trainer blows the whistle. The player then joins in as an additional bulldog. The player must also try and knock out the balls of other players.
- The number of bulldogs keeps increasing as the drill progresses, while the number of players assigned a soccer ball keeps reducing.
- The game has to continue until only one of the soccer players remains with their soccer ball.
- That last player to remain with the ball in the playing area is then pronounced the winner. The next round starts immediately after establishing the winner.
- Players should go on and keep playing for many rounds to perfect their soccer dribbling skills.
Drill Variations
- There are no variations.
- All that happens is the increase in the number of bulldogs and reduced player until the last man standing gets declared.
Coaching Points
- Encourage the players to perfect their dribbling skills as they protect their soccer ball from the attacks of the bulldog(s).
- Body position helps the players in the process of securing their ball from the bulldog attacks.
- The training soccer players must work on their speed, agility, and sudden spin or change of directions as they get away and secure their ball from the bulldogs' attacks.
- Encourage the soccer players to always look around before making a move to remain alert where the bulldog is positioned in the field.
- Let the players and the bulldogs perceive each other to be the practical opponents while performing the drill.
- Bulldogs can work together to ensure they kick the ball of an individual target player out of the playing area.
Equipment
Soccer Drill Focus
- It is fun and enjoyable
- Enhances player’s dribbling and ball control skills
1V2 Soccer Footwork-Dribble Drill
Soccer players need to make quick decisions and judgment based on the challenge encountered. Such a swift decision-making mindset can only happen when one acquired the necessary confidence. This drill subjects’ players to such situations. It allows to work on their speed, vision, confidence, change of direction, and finishing techniques.
Drill Setup
- Have the players move to one side of the playing field where a goal is already installed.
- Choose a goalkeeper to remain at the goal post.
- Create two distinct gates several yards or meters at the front of the installed goal and chosen goalkeeper.
- Have two players stand at each of the two gates. These players are supposed to play the defensive role and block the offensive soccer players from going past the two gates.
- The offensive players must also work their way out to ensure they pass the defensive players and score.
- Both the defenders and the offensive players should work hard and perfect their skills as they effectively play their roles.
Drill Instructions
- Once the coach or trainer's whistle sounds, the offensive player at the lead should try and dribble past the two defenders positioned at the two marked gates.
- Every defender should then move and courageously prevent the assigned gate using their developed skills.
- If any of the offensive soccer players managers to dribble past the defenders at the two gates, the next move is to make a shoot at the goal. The attacking player should also use dribbling skills to ensure the ball goes past the goalkeeper.
- If the two defenders at the gates managers win the soccer ball from the offensive player, that attacker rush and return to the start of the offensive players' line.
- If the goalkeeper preventers the attacker from scoring or he/she makes to score, either way, that offensive player should get back to the attacking players' line and go for another trial.
- The next offensive player queued at the offensive players' line should then begin his/her turn immediately are the player ahead manages to score or loses the soccer ball to goalkeeper or defenders.
- This drill should continue for a period in which the coach decides.
Drill Variations
- The tenacity of this drill varies based on the category of players training.
Drill Coaching Points
- Encourage the soccer players to exercise a high level of creativity when making or working out moves that best suit their situations.
- Always remind your players to improve on their speed when dribbling.
- Let the players know the essence of maintaining close control of the soccer ball as they speedily dribble.
- Encourage the player to use their inner and outer part of their feet as they move as that helps them in carefully controlling the ball.
- Build the players' confidence and ability to decide when taking on the defenders.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- Most players above eight years of age, and even those playing expert soccer levels, can use the drill during training.
Drill Focus
- Change of direction
- Finishing technique
- Speed
- Vision and remaining aware of the opponent’s position
- Confidence to face and go through the opponent
Round The Square Soccer Footwork/Dribble Drill
This drill helps players work on their alertness to their surroundings. It allows them to effectively keep the ball away from their opponents while keeping it under close control. Also, it teaches them how to effectively improve their agility and speed while on the move.
Drill Setup
- Start by acquiring about four cones that are differently colored.
- Put the four cones to form a square playing area. The distance between your cones should be approximately one meter. The distance from one set of cones to the other should be around 2.5 meters.
- Have one player from every group standing next to the cone but on the outer side of the playing square.
- The single group player should also get allocated one soccer ball.
Drill Instructions
- Once the coach blows the whistle, the players standing outside the set square should begin by moving into the grid. He/she should then move the soccer ball using the inner part of his/her foot inside the cone.
- Speed of execution is of great essence when undertaking this drill.
- Once the trainers blow the whistle for the second time, they should switch to the next cone and begin moving the soccer ball using the outside part of their feet.
- The trainer should remain adamant in hastening up any of the dribbling players who go slowly with the soccer ball.
- Players must keep moving and intermittently switching at every sounding of the whistle.
- The drill keeps running for a duration the coach deems okay, and then the players can rest as the rest take turns.
Drill Variations
- Use of the inside of players’ feet.
- Moving the ball with the outside of players’ feet.
Coaching Points
- The trainer is instrumental in ensuring that the players improve their speed as they move around the entire square and keep switching intermittently.
- Encourage the soccer players during this drill to master the use of the outside and inside of their feet when controlling the ball. Every good dribbler should efficiently use both sides of his/her foot.
- Encourage the players to improve on their agility and body stability while moving around the squares.
- Encourage the players to maintain consistency even with the added pressure on changing direction and shifting from one cone to another.
- Let the players understand the essence of maintaining a good vision of the ball movement.
Equipment
Drill Focus
- Alertness to the surroundings
- Keeping the ball and preventing the opponent from having its control
- Close control of the soccer ball
- Improved ball-player connection
Hot-Box Footwork-Dribbling Drill
The art of passing and receiving a soccer ball during a game defines the team's ability to work together and score. However, perfecting this skill requires the team to work together in small groups in training. During this drill, players can identify their strengths in passing and receiving the ball. They also get to know who among them has better potential to play a particular position during competitive matches.
Drill Setup
- Use cones to create a playing square or approximately 3x3 yards. Use agility training sticks to connect two parallel edges of your box.
- Set up two different cones about five to seven yards on the two sides of your created box.
- Form a team of three players and allocate them a ball to train inside the box.
- Begin by having one of the team players inside the box while the rest stands at the cones placed on the opposite side of the box.
Drill Instructions
- The player outside the box starts by passing the soccer ball to the player in the middle of the box (working player). The working should then perform a check run to the passed soccer ball.
- The player inside the box gets the ball, makes a 180-degree turn, sprints, and gets inside of the training box.
- This working player should kick the soccer ball and make a through pass between the parallel training sticks.
- He/she then runs to the end of the training sticks, and out of the grid, toward the player who has the ball.
- The working player again receives a close pass and kicks the ball back into the middle of the grid, makes a quick check run and passes the ball to the other player.
- This passing, receiving and check run pattern is continuously repeated.
- Switching should happen every minute to allow players enough time to exercise at high speed and rest.
Drill Variations
- The box area can get enlarged in making the drill easier.
- Tightening the grids and limiting the touches to pass, receive, and turn helps make the drill more challenging.
Coaching Points
- The first touch needs to be on point for better control of the ball.
- There should be the first movement of fluid after getting a pass and first touch control. The working player should run with the ball close to his/her foot.
- The pass back to either of the standing players should also be on point.
- The side players can make some movements and not remain standing, to make the game more enjoyable.
- Encourage the working player to maintain high speed and close ball control while moving. They can use their inner and outer foot as the situations demand.
- Encourage players to keep communicating while making passes, and good vision between the stationary and working player. They should effectively monitor the movement of the ball from one player to the other.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- It is a standard drill for the professional players above ten years of age.
Drill Focus
- Soccer ball passing skills
- Receiving skills
- Game warm-up
Musical Soccer Footwork/Dribbling Drill
A perfect dribble looks like a musical dance. In such moves, player are expected to control the ball with high dribbling skills effectively. Having a drill that help players improve their footwork and dribbles in fun and enjoyable manner is a beautiful. The musical soccer dribbling drill helps players maintain a high level of awareness.
Drill Setup
- Create a rectangularly shaped playing area without specific measurements and dependent on the total number of players to participate in this drill.
- Your cones should not be more than the total number of participating players. So, if the players are eight, you should have seven tall cones.
- Every player should get allocated a ball.
- The coach should control the players using either music or a whistle.
Drill Instructions
- This drill emphasizes the importance of players using their weaker foot when dribbling.
- Ball touches should take less, not more than a split of a second.
- In beginning the drill, the coach starts by either blowing the whistle or starting the music. Players are expected to start dribbling within the set grid.
- Once the trainer stops the music or blows the whistle, every player should sprint and dribble to the nearest discovered cone. They should then knock the cone using their soccer balls.
- Every player that fails to knock over a cone goes out of the set drill grid. Such players can then continue with other exercises outside the set playing area.
- Before the beginning of the next round, all the players should reset and reduce the cones. The trainer decides which cone to remove to keep the number of players more than the cones in the playing area.
- Every soccer player in the playing area must move and dribble the ball everywhere within the gird. Any player found standing still or not dribbling the ball is either disqualified or warned.
- The drill should continue in the pattern above until only one player remains within the grid. This last man standing is then declared the champion of the game.
- The drill requires a repeat of the game pattern for as many times as possible.
Drill Variations
- in making the drill more difficult, a cone should get removed every time a player gets disqualified.
- Adding the playing area would enhance ease of movement for the players to avoid instances of collision.
- Players should use their inside and outside foot to effectively and closely control the ball.
Coaching Points
- Always encourage the players to swiftly move to all the corners of the set playing area. None of them should get caught or seen trying to hit or target their nearest cone before the trainer stops the music.
- Encourage players to maintain a high level of alertness as that remains the ultimate goal of playing and stopping the music.
Equipment
Drill Focus
Straight Cone Footwork/Dribbling Drill
The straight cone footwork drill is meant to improve players' ability to maintain the soccer ball at a close range. It allows them to perfect their dribbling skills through good ball control.
Drill Setup
- Get at least ten cones and put them on a straight line.
- The distance between them should remain equal and within a range of 0.8 meters to 1.5 meters.
- You can have the straight cone line extending from one end of the field to the other.
Drill Instructions
- The coach should stand at the side of the cones straight line with a whistle, ready to give instructions. He/she should also be in possession of the ball to get used during the training.
- The trainer then blows the whistle and kicks the soccer ball at a high velocity towards the player positioned at the first cone.
- The player should then control the soccer ball and begin dribbling through the cones.
- The player should then dribble through the cones. The player should ensure he/she uses both feet, outside and inside of both feet. Then vary the dribbles by use of the outside and inside of their right foot, and out and inside of their left foot.
- Upon getting to the last cone at the end of the straight line, the player should quickly control and make quick ball touches in making a 180-degree turn.
- The player should dribble and speedily move back to the starting cone.
- This pattern should be repeated as many times as the instructor finds it necessary.
Drill Variations
- Players should dribble with both the inside and outside of their feet this will help pefect their skills.
Coaching Points
- Make your players realize the need to perform this drill with maximum focus and concentration.
- Encourage your players to tactically improve their dribbling speed, spinning speed, and quick touches as they turn with the ball.
- Let the players know that they need to maintain close control of the ball as they dribble.
- This drill should help the players keep control of the ball even when playing on the field under pressure.
- Encourage your players to develop quick decisions making skills a they dribble and move from one cone to the other
Equipment
Drill Ages
- This drill is suitable for players under six years of age up to those above 17 years. Professional players can also give it a try.
Drill Focus
- Maintaining the ball at a closer pace.
- Improve ball touches
- Improve ball control
- Use of both feet.
- Use of the inside and outside of the feet.
Closed-Space Footwork/Dribbling Drill
This dribbling drill helps players utilize every available space and effectively practice their skills. Any willing player can even play inside his/her house. You can effectively perfect your skills by using every surface you can find.
Drill Setup
- Start by placing three circular cones to form a triangle. You can also use four cones and arrange them on the ground to make a straight line.
- The spacing between these cones should be at least two feet to one meter apart.
- Start with one ball in your hands, which you will roll and move around the cones.
Drill Instructions
- Start by placing your ball on one of the cones.
- Dribble your ball around and between the cones. Ensure you use both your feet when dribbling. Also, make good use of both the inside and outside of your feet.
- Undertake quick touches when controlling the ball and even during the turns around the cones.
- Have a particular controlled pattern to use when moving the balls around the different cones and in one specific direction.
- This dribbling exercise should get performed within ten to twenty minutes of your day.
Drill Variations
- You can make the drill more interesting and challenging by changing your cones' spacing if, indeed, space allows.
- Keep using different parts of your feet to better your dribbling skills and maintain the ball as close as possible.
- Ensure your ball touches are speedily done.
- You can time and count the number of rounds you make during every dribbling pattern you create.
- Change your dribbling pattern to diversify your movement and skills to control the ball from different angles and directions.
Drill Coaching Points
- This drill does not require a trainer since it is meant to suit your home and closed space training needs.
- Make sure you use both of your feet. Also, you need to ensure you give your ball quick and fine touches when controlling it around the cones.
- Maintain a close range of your soccer ball for efficient control around the different cones.
- You can choose to wear a soccer boot or even play barefoot depending on the training ground condition.
- The timing of your move and ball touches during the training is of great essence. You need to make good ball controls with appropriate weight and timing.
- Always ensure you optimally utilize your tight space by exercising high levels of creativity when finding a way out.
- Ensure you use all the surfaces of your feet when controlling and moving the ball around the cones.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- This drill is suitable for players under eight years of age.
- Professional players above 17 years of age can also use the drill during their leisure time.
Drill Focus
- Ball control
- Quick touches
- Warm-up
- Passing
Sharks & Minnows Footwork/Dribbling Drill
When training juniors, especially those under six and eight. They need enough training to enable them to improve their ability to dribble in varying conditions. The goal is to help them develop higher levels of ball control and focus. This drill helps players learn how to protect the ball by placing their body between the defender and the ball.
Drill Setup
- Start by building a square of about twenty by twenty-five yards using disc cones.
- You can adjust this playing grid depending on the number of players taking part in the drill and their skill level.
- Divide your team to a group of two players, the SHARKs, and the rest as Minnows. Every minnow should have a soccer ball.
- The sharks start inside the playing grid and without a soccer ball.
- The rest of the players, minnows, start with soccer balls on the edges of the playing grid.
Drill Instructions
- The game involves a competition between the sharks and minnows.
- In this case, the minnows are the players with the balls, they should try to dribble and navigate from the one grid end to the other.
- As they move, minnows are supposed to prevent the sharks from touching or taking away their balls.
- The sharks, or the two players at the center of the playing grid and without soccer balls, should attempt to possess and knock the minnows' ball. Sharks should ensure that any soccer ball they get on their way gets kicked out of the set playing grid.
- Any minnow whose ball gets hit out of the grid should then become a shark. The number of sharks continuously increases while that of minnows decreases.
- The last man standing from the group of minnow players gets declared as the winner of the challenge.
Drill Variations
- The junior soccer player can use their left foot only to dribble.
- The junior soccer player can use their feet souls, inside and outside, to dribble.
- The junior soccer player can use their right foot only to dribble.
Coaching Points
- Encourage the young talented dribblers to keep their soccer ball under full control and avoid panicking when the sharks attack or come close to them.
- Inform the young players to maintain their soccer ball at close range in playing distance.
- Ensure your players use every part of their foot when moving the ball from one line to the opposite end.
- Emphasize to the players the essence of having high speed while controlling the ball to overcome the challenge posed by the sharks.
- Make the dribblers understand the importance of quick decision making and maintaining good ball focus as they sprint past the sharks.
- Players should enjoy themselves as they warm-up and assess their skills level most efficiently.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- This drill is good for under six (U6) and 8 (U8) players
Drill Focus
- Dribbling
- Good footwork
- Efficient ball control
Round The Cyclic Cone Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Dribbling during a match requires one to maintain a high level of focus. Also, consistency is vital in ensuring a player passes the defenders and score. This drill primary purpose is to help players maintain high level of focus and consistency when on the field.
Drill Setup
- You need one big cone to put at the center of the playing area.
- Then, set at least twenty smaller sized cones around the big cone.
- Follow a cyclic format when arranging these small-sized cones.
- Have the players standing outside the created playing area.
Drill Instructions
- The coach will have a whistle that will have to sound to control what actions the players need to do.
- When the whistle goes, one of the players at the front of the queue should start moving in the set cones with the soccer ball.
- The player is supposed to sprint and move in with high speed. However, the distance between the ball and the player should remain minimal.
- The player should ensure that he/she maintains short touches on the soccer ball to control the ball effectively.
- Once the soccer player gets to the middle placed big cone, he/she should spin, swiftly turn and start getting back to the starting position.
- The player should also maintain high speed even when going out of the spiral arranged cones.
- The second in line player should then take over after the first player returns to the starting point. Every player is expected to go through the drill without much obstruction from the rest.
- This drill should get executed at an increasing speed, and also for as many rounds as possible.
- Every player is not limited to go through the drill several times. It should only stop when the coach deems the right to discontinue.
Drill Variations
- The use of different parts, the inside and outside foot, of both feet and every surface of the foot should depict the player’s skills.
- The arrangement size can vary by adding the number of cones to make a longer cycle or removing cones to make the cycle shorter.
Coaching Points
- Encouraging the players to maintain a high level of consistency should be a trend of the trainer.
- Let the prayers know that some essential qualifications of a dribbler are focus and consistency.
- Every player should maintain a high level of consistency regardless of the pressure they encounter.
- When dribbling and moving inside the cone arrangement, players should try keeping their eyes up.
- Every player should exercise towards achieving a higher vision and dribbling habits. These two define their consistency in the field.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- This drill is suitable for all the soccer players within the junior players' bracket of six to seventeen years of age, the youths and professional players aged seventeen and above.
Drill Focus
- Dribbling consistency
- Dribbling focus
- Footwork in ball control
1 on 1 Controlled Footwork/Dribbling Drill
Drill Setup
- Start by setting up your cones to make a 20x20 square meters playing area. Your cones should only mark your grid corners.
- Come up with two four meters goals at two adjacent ends.
- Then have a single ball for the entire team or group to use.
- The two participating players should start while inside the marked square playing area.
Drill Instructions
- The drill’s name comes from the aspect that it involves two players on different ends of the marked playing grid.
- The drill begins in the middle of the marked pitch.
- It involves one ball, and any participating player can start the ball once the coach's whistle sounds.
- A player's requirement to score is for him/her to dribble past the other player before trying to shoot the ball through the two-goal cones.
- Once a player makes to score, the other player has to start the net round. They should place the ball at the end line from their end of the field. It implies that the player who lost or whose side was scored on should then start with the ball from that same goal line where the opponent scored.
- The player who is quickest to score between three to five goals gets declared the winner.The coach has the liberty to decide the duration of every group of players that should take in the field.
Drill Variations
- The use of every part of the foot defines the ability of a player to control and handle the ball.
Coaching Points
- Let the players put maximum efforts into this dribble/footwork drill for it is through doing so that they will enhance their playing skills.
- Every player must know how to control and handle the ball with their foot and ensure they use high skill to bypass their contenders and score more goals.
- Encourage your players to drill more often as practice will help them perfect their skills.
Equipment
Drill Ages
- This drill is suitable for all the soccer players within the junior players’ bracket of six to seventeen years of age, the youths and professional players aged seventeen and above.
Drill Focus
- Soccer ball control
- Soccer ball handling
Best Equipment/Gears for Dribbling Drills
Soccer is a technical sport that requires different skills. However, if you are looking forward to developing your core soccer skills, there is nothing that can match continuous practice.
Spending enough time on your training will gradually enhance your key dribbling skills that will make you a better soccer player. Nonetheless, to maximize your potential, you will require the right dribbling equipment.
To replicate real game conditions and scenarios, you will need several tools. Utilize these items the right way, and you will be able to improve your dribbling skills with the right attitude and regular practice.
Slalom Poles or Dribbling Cones
Dribbling skills involve moving with the soccer ball while still maintaining control of its direction and pace. The closer to your feet you keep the soccer ball, the fewer chances of opposition players taking it away from you.
. The best way to sharpen your soccer dribbling skills is by arranging courses using slalom poles and cones. Begin with the cones placed reasonably far apart and move them closer as your confidence and skills grow.
You can purchase cones and slalom poles separately or in sets. Most of the manufacturers include two colors of slalom poles and cones and some steel spikes to drive your poles into the playing ground.
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Target Sheet & Goal
Dribbling skills always require a target whether you are training for five aside or full games. To provide you with good flexibility in the types and positions of soccer training you do, you need to consider using high-quality and portable goals.
When shopping for a portable football goal, look for lightweight, easy to assemble, and durable soccer goals made from uPVC material. Go for goals that come complete with frame anchors, clips, and nets and one that you can use indoors and outdoors.
With the addition of target sheets, you can turn your portable goal into an item for sharpening your dribbling and shooting skills. Target sheets attach to the frame of your goal to provide you with many target holes that you can aim for during your practice sessions.
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Football Rebounder
Control and touch relate to how well a player handle the ball during possession. Soccer dribbling drills enable you to control the ball better and make your next move easy on the field. Soccer rebounders help you control the soccer ball as you make twists, turns, and runs.
A rebounder will push your practice further when it comes to ball speed, unpredictable outcomes, and different angles. It will help you mix things up a bit on your training sessions.
A rebounder consists of an elasticated net and a plastic frame, making keeps-ups and many other control skills more challenging. You can purchase rebounders as standalone frames or big soccer goals with their standing support poles.
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Passing Arcs
Soccer passing is undeniably the most important skill needed to play soccer at any level. However, it needs development and constant practice. You can easily turn your backyard into a soccer training pitch by buying several passing arcs.
Soccer passing is undeniably the most important skill needed to play soccer at any level. However, it needs development and constant practice. You can easily turn your backyard into a soccer training pitch by buying several passing arcs.
These metal frames are usually driven into the playing ground utilizing steel spikes to offer challenging targets for your ground passes. You can also combine several training arcs to create a soccer training pitch for both your passing and dribbling skills.
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Ladders & Hurdles
Agility and speed are some of the traits you develop with time through regular training. However, recreating match scenarios that build agility and speed is not always an easy task.
Your lower body and core strength are vital, which means the training should be quite challenging. Making sharp and fast turns while still maintaining your balance needs a lot of practice, and that’s why ladders and hurdles are always an important part of every soccer coach’s inventory.
Speed Ladders:These ladders are laid on the playing ground to give the soccer players the chance to mix accurate foot placements with power and speed. They come in both cross and straight configurations, and you can fold and store them away in a carry bag in a few seconds.
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Speed Hurdles: Generally, speed hurdles are made of non-corrosive materials, so they are appropriate for any weather condition. They are compact and lightweight, and they usually sit on the playing ground. Soccer players jump over the hurdles at speed in different configurations. Due to the unique design of speed hurdles, they easily return to their initial position after being knocked over or kicked by players.
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FAQ
What is the importance of having excellent dribbling skills?
Excellent dribbling skills are beneficial for soccer players because they usually help them beat their opponents down the wing. They will also have adequate time to shoot, cut inside, square the soccer ball and even get to the line’s end to deliver the ball across for other teammates to attack.
Does juggling improve soccer dribbling skills?
Indeed, keeping up or juggling a soccer ball has incredibly strong effects on running or dribbling with the ball when playing. First of all, it enhances your touch.
That will help you move faster with the ball and maintain better control. It will also enhance your speed with the ball. Even if you’re not sprinting or practicing a long-distance dribbling drill, you’ll have better speed because you will have better control.
Control of the ball is vital when playing. Regardless of whether you play defender, midfielder, goalkeeper, or forward, controlling it is one of the most important things in this game.
If you have reasonable control or touch, it’ll help you play properly and even improve yourself. One of the ways you can have better control is through dribbling. And juggling helps improve your dribbling skills.
What mindset do I need when dribbling around other players to help me keep the ball?
The best thing is to avoid thinking about the players a lot but have your well-practiced dribbling skills to help you dribble naturally around your opponents. However, avoid doing too much of it, but keep your head up to look for a member of your team you can pass the ball to so that you can advance quickly towards the soccer goal.
Can you practice soccer dribbling drills using a tennis ball?
No. Playing or practicing soccer using a tennis ball is just like playing a game of tennis using a soccer ball. However, many coaches worldwide believe that practicing soccer using a relatively small ball such as a size three rather than size five assists in improving ball control and dribbling skills.
Generally, standard size three soccer balls are meant for children until they are old enough to transition to size 5, designed for adults. Drilbbling with a relatively smaller soccer ball assists you in boosting your foot speed. If you can comfortably control the smaller soccer ball, then you can work excellently with the adult standard size one.
How can I dribble successfully past multiple soccer players while maintaining control of the soccer ball?
Although one might have an innate capacity to dribble past many opponents while maintaining control of the soccer ball, you need a lot of practice to succeed in soccer. Weaving in and out of multiple defenders in a soccer game can only come through perfecting your close control during training.
Spend enough time on the football pitch with well-arranged cones to master the more advanced dribbling movements. Even if you have a natural flair for dribbling effectively, you still need to hone your talent to become a better dribbler
What does soccer dribbling involve?
Being a great dribbler in soccer sport involves three main things:
Keeping the soccer ball close: Soccer players who can maintain control of the soccer ball when keeping it closer to their bodies are usually the best dribblers. Keeping a soccer ball close makes it more challenging for the defending team to tackle them.
Changing direction and speed fast: Keeping the soccer ball close to you also allows you to change direction and speed quite fast when you see an opening in the defense camp. Any time you get your opponents off-balance, you should be able to take full advantage of the opening fast.
Keeping your eyes up to help you read the game: Beating an opponent one-on-one is usually pointless if you do not know what you need to do with the soccer ball afterward. Soccer players need to keep looking up more regularly to read the game and understand where the openings are and how well they can set up their team members.
