Dribbling Games - U6 Practice Plan
Dribbling Games - U6 Practice Plan
A U6 practice session that works on teaching dribbling fundamentals with fun games. The practice outline is:
- 2 vs. 2 Play (10 Minutes)
- Galaxy Explorer (10 Minutes)
- Space Invaders (10 Minutes)
- Star Destroyers (10 Minutes)
- 4 vs. 4 Scrimmage (15 Minutes)
End of practice questions:
Bring your players in for the last five minutes of practice and recap your session using open-ended questions:
- What are some surfaces of the feet we can use to move our soccer ball with? (inside, outside, laces, heel, bottom, toe)
- Why is it important to be able to use both feet while dribbling? (so you can turn direction quicker, as well as evade defenders easier!)
- Why should you look for space to dribble into, instead of just dribbling straight ahead? (it’s important to know where defenders are, so you can avoid them and get past them!)
Have a team cheer; great job coach!
2v2 Play
Set Up:
- Make two (or more) fields of 20 x 10 yards.
- Place small goals on each endline.
- Players play 2 v 2 on field.
- On goals and balls put out of play, use a kick-in to get ball back in play.
Coaching Points:
None. Let the players play and make mistakes. Only intervene if it is taking too long to get ball back in play.
Galaxy Explorer
Set Up:
- All players have a ball in a 20 x 20 yd grid with several 3 yard triangular shaped gates (Galaxies). In 90 seconds, challenge the players to get into and out of as many Galaxies as possible. Each new round, have them try to beat their previous score.
Coaching Points:
- Use peripheral vision while dribbling the soccer ball.
- Keep the ball close so you can change speed or turn quickly.
- Encourage players to use both feet when touching the ball.
Progressions:
- Round 1: Get to as many Galaxies as possible.
- Round 2: Whichever side they enter the Galaxy, they must exit the same side (encourages turning).
- Round 3 & 4: Ask the players to use only one surface of their feet on their way to each new Galaxy (bottom of feet, outside of feet, instep etc).
Space Invaders
Set Up:
- Make a 20 x 20 yard grid with several 3 yard Space Ships (Bases). Select two players to be it (The Blasters). The blasters (in red) have the ball in their hands and are guarding the bases. The rest of the players dribble their ball and are trying to land on the bases to be safe. Have them count the number of bases they can get to. The Blasters use the ball to tag the other players (touch them with the ball, not throw the ball at them) The Blasters are trying to see how many players they can tag in the time allowed. Switch blasters each round, and encourage everyone to beat their previous scores.
Coaching Points:
- Look for moments to fly to a new base. Don’t take too long, or your score will be lower.
- Big touches vs. little touches. Encourage players to take shorter touches when in tight spaces or getting to a base, and longer touches if they have space in front of them.
Star Destroyers
Set Up:
-
Two lines of players start at one end of a 20 x 20 yard grid with several 3 yard triangular shaped Battle Stars spread out on the inside. The coach starts with all the soccer balls and places himself between the two teams. When the coach puts a ball in play, one player from each team tries to win it and stop it in any of the Stars. When two balls are stopped in any Star by the same team, that destroys that star (pick up the cones of that star and give to coach). The team that destroys the most stars wins.
Coaching Points:
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Big touches vs. little touches.
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Look to turn if there is space behind you.
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Encourage using both feet and the different surfaces of each foot.
4v4 Scrimmage
Set Up:
- Play 4v4. If your numbers are short, decrease size of field to 25x15 and play 3v3.
- Cones for goals are 2yds wide (same as for a game).
- There are no goalkeepers.
Coaching Points:
None. Just sit back and let them play. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the rules of the game for your league. If a goal is scored, bring ball back to center of field and show the players where they should stand to restart.
