SoW Week 1: Dribbling / Close Control

Age/Level: U5-U10 average level Players: 8-16 Training Objectives: Improve observation while dribbling / Improve close control ability / Dribble with more confidence

Warm-up

Setup:

• 20×20m pitch (adjust based on player numbers), place one cone 2m apart in the middle of each side
• All players run freely between the four sides
• Try different running styles or movements between the sides
• Finish with a timed race: who can reach the most sides

Coaching Points:

• Head up and scanning while running
• Dodging in the central area
• Decision-making on where to go next

Progressions:

• Going to a side with no one scores the most points
• Set different colors on each side, run to the called color or do the opposite
• U6: add more coordination exercises, e.g. hopping or frog jumps
• U8: use the four side colors to create themes, e.g. countries/cities/buildings/nature
• U10: add more body stretching movements, e.g. touch the ground or hold a balance pose at the sideline

Technique

Setup:

• 20×20m pitch (adjust based on player numbers), place one cone 2m apart in the middle of each side
• All players dribble freely between the four sides
• Try dribbling with different parts of the foot or at different speeds between the sides
• Finish with a timed race: who can reach the most sides

Coaching Points:

• Combining head-up scanning with looking down at the ball while running
• Distance between the ball and your body
• Stability of the upper body while dribbling
• Changes of direction and dodging while dribbling in the central area
• Decision-making on where to go next
• Different touch styles and speeds when space opens up

Progressions:

• Going to a side with no one scores the most points
• Set different colors on each side, run to the called color or do the opposite
• U6: follow coach instructions to dribble with specific parts of the foot
• U8: mimic different animals while dribbling with different foot parts, e.g. penguin/crab/snake/elephant
• U10: increase the speed of execution and add turning movements at the sidelines

Skill

Setup:

• 20×20m pitch (adjust based on player numbers), place one cone 2m apart in the middle of each side
• Two to four defending players use soft balls to hit the footballs; other players dribble freely between the four sides
• Reaching the sideline is a safe zone, defenders cannot attack
• If a dribbler's football is hit by a soft ball, they swap roles with the defender
• Finish with a timed race: who can reach the most sides

Coaching Points:

• Combining head-up scanning with looking down at the ball while running
• Distance between the ball and your body
• Maintaining a safe distance from defenders
• Close control and shielding when near defenders
• Choosing a safe dribbling route

Progressions:

• Maximum 3 seconds in the safe zone
• Maximum 1 person in the safe zone
• U6: add a story for the defenders, e.g. zookeeper/hunter/Spider-Man
• U8: reduce the number of defenders, or once hit, you become a defender until one player is left
• U10: try free defending

Conditioned Game

Setup:

• Two 20×20m pitches (adjust based on player numbers), each with a 4v4 game
• Dribble the ball across the opponent's end line to score
• No corners; throw-ins are kicked, you may dribble or pass

Coaching Points:

• Combining head-up scanning with looking down at the ball while running
• Distance between the ball and your body
• Maintaining a safe distance from defenders
• Close control and shielding when near defenders
• Positioning relative to teammates
• Choosing between dribbling and passing

Progressions:

• U6: scoring on all four sides, or use two footballs at the same time
• U8: round-robin tournament
• U10: change the pitch to a rectangle