Dribble or pass, how do you decide? 【Youth Soccer】Teaching by principles

Hello, this is Kazu, your instructor.

I received the following question from a reader. Below is the content of the question.

"There are situations in possession and combination drills that involve decision making where dribbling comes into play. At those times, I sometimes do not really understand my own judgment of whether dribbling was the right choice or passing was the right choice for a player. How do you make that judgment, Kazu? I would also like to hear about the priority of dribbling versus passing in matches."

Thank you. Indeed, I have not touched much on dribbling until now.

For example, some of you may feel as follows.

• During practice, you think "that should have been a pass," but you cannot explain why you thought so
• You do not know how far to let a child who is good at dribbling take on opponents
• You do not know how to teach the "carrying dribble"

In this article, I will explain how I divide dribbling into two types, the reason I say "do not do 1v1" in zone 3, and the principles for deciding between dribbling and passing, while giving several situations as examples. If you read this article, your criteria for judging players should become a little simpler, and you should become able to put into words "why dribbling was the choice just now," so please watch until the end.

1) Do not have the debate of dribbling soccer versus passing soccer

A debate that is common in Japan is dribbling soccer versus passing soccer. I basically think that words like passing soccer and dribbling soccer are not soccer terms. It is normal to play while using dribbling and passing differently depending on the situation.

2) Breakthrough dribbling and carrying dribbling

In Spain, dribbling is divided into two: regate and conduccion. Regate is breakthrough dribbling, dribbling that tries to beat an opponent. Conduccion is often translated in Japan as the "carrying dribble," and it is dribbling that carries the ball into space or escapes from an opponent.

3) The dribble you use changes depending on the zone

When you enter zone 3 (the opponent's half, the finishing zone), breakthrough dribbling naturally becomes important. Conversely, the carrying dribble is used to advance or keep the ball, so it is often used in midfield or at the start of build-up (salida de balon).

Put the other way around, I believe that a situation where a center back does breakthrough dribbling in front of your own goal should never happen. It may exist as a last resort when you are cornered, but basically the image is to escape with the carrying dribble as much as possible.

1) Beating someone in 1v1 just means you were superior in ability

In zone 3, I think it is very important to actively take on dribbling. However, the thing I am most careful about when coaching elementary school age groups is "do not do 1v1."

You beat an opponent in 1v1 and scored a goal. That is a very good thing, but if the opponent defender's ability is higher, it will not come off. In other words, I think you beat them because you were superior in ability. Improving ability is also important, but rather than only that, I value the part of how you use dribbling within relationships with teammates, such as in 2v1.

2) Beating an opponent while trying to use a teammate is a good decision

The player with the ball beat an opponent with dribbling while trying to use a teammate. I think this is a very good decision. Because the action of trying to use a teammate is included, the opponent is wary of the pass. That is why you can break through with dribbling, and if the opponent commits to the dribble, then the possibility appears of breaking them down with a one-two.

Conversely, when support was available but the player did not notice and took on the opponent alone, and as a result beat them and scored. In this case, I think I quite often point out, "You did not see that support had arrived just now, did you? You were doing 1v1, right?"

3) Encourage the opposite of what they are good at

Of course, depending on the context, there are times when I say "take them on by yourself." With third graders and fourth graders, for players who immediately look for a pass when they get the ball, I say "take on the dribble more yourself." Looking for a pass itself is not bad, but if that is all, there is no breadth to their play.

Conversely, for players who always just dribble by themselves, I urge them: "If it is your strength, you can go, but if you charge in twice in a row and lose the ball, then next time pass and use combination play." With the second and third graders I am currently coaching, I have them do quite a lot of 1v1, and with the U-11 group, where there are many children good on the ball, I tell them, "Because you have the option of passing, your strong dribbling comes alive."

In addition, dribbling within combination breakdowns (whether it is dribbling while pretending to do a one-two, or dribbling while pretending to use the space behind) is summarized in the key factors of the 2v2 attacking article.

1) If the passing lane is cut off, dribble; if the dribbling lane is cut off, pass

As a broad way of thinking, the one I find simplest is this. If the passing lane is cut off, use the dribble. If the dribbling lane is cut off, use the pass.

What often happens at the junior level is a player who, despite having the passing lane cut off, plays the pass anyway and gets it caught on the opponent's foot. So you give them criteria for judging, like: "Why did you dribble there? The passing lane was open," or "It was good that you dribbled because the passing lane was cut off." I think having this is one thing.

② When you are free and a teammate is marked, dribble

In a situation where you are advancing, you are free, and there is a teammate ahead who can advance freely. In this case, it is better to prioritize the pass. That is because dribbling slows things down.

Conversely, you are free and a teammate is marked. In this case, you dribble to attract the opponent and then play the pass. In Spanish this is called fijar, "to fix," and this is the carrying dribble. When you are free and there is no chance of losing the ball, yet you play a pass into a marked teammate and it gets taken, that is a mistake as an option (playing a wedge into the top is a separate matter as a play model).

③ Do not play the pass before a teammate has taken their position

What you often see in possession training is the phenomenon where, after winning the ball, a player plays a pass before a teammate has taken their position. In my case, I say quite a lot, "There, create time with the dribble." The dribble creates one second, two seconds of time, and during that time a teammate takes their position, so you can play the pass after that. That is the idea.

④ Example with center backs: if the passing lane is cut off, carry the ball inside

There are two center backs, the right center back has the ball, and the right side half is open. You try to play the pass to the side half, and the opponent's forward cuts off the outside. At that moment, you eliminate them with a dribble carrying the ball inside. This is also a concrete example of "if the passing lane is cut off, dribble."

Conversely, if you are under pressure from two players, there are two players supporting nearby, and you still force your way through and get caught, then it becomes "prioritize the pass." Which of the two is the better option. I myself have the image that this becomes the principle.

⑤ Organize with logic the reason you thought, "There, it should be a pass"

The judgment depends on the situation, but I think it is better to speak as close to principles as possible. When a coach thinks, "There, it should be a pass," they should organize with logic why they thought so. If you do that, I think you can notice that the same phenomenon comes up again and again.

I myself now think that principles are the key factors in everything, in other words, the knack for making a play succeed. If the passing lane is cut off, the dribble opens up; if the dribbling lane is cut off, the pass opens up. This is a principle of soccer, and in teaching decision-making at the junior level, I think defining and understanding things like this is very important.

① Do not particularly set priorities for the whole team

I do not particularly set priorities between dribbling and passing in matches. That is because there are situations where it is better to dribble and situations where it is better to prioritize the pass.

② Set priorities only for players who are struggling

However, depending on the player, I set priorities during the match. For example, at the start of build-up, a center back searches too long for a pass, and during that time they are targeted and the pass is intercepted. In a situation like that, I have them prioritize: "First, carry the ball up with one dribble." If setting priorities reduces the player's burden and removes their anxiety, I think it is fine to do that.

③ If they get caught twice, next time use a teammate

Previously, there was a boy who was extremely good at dribbling. When he cut inside and got caught twice in a row, I said this to him. "Cutting inside is not bad at all. But after you cut inside, next time use a teammate once. The opponent will start to be wary, thinking there is a pass. Then, if one combination comes off, the dribble comes alive next. Put in one buffer."

Rather than priorities for the whole team, it is about, for the problems each individual is facing, which one they should prioritize if they are to solve it. That is the approach of having them prioritize that.

5. Summary

• Dribbling has two types: "breaking through" and "carrying." In zone 3, break through; in your own half or in build-up, carry
• For elementary school players, "do not do 1v1." Trying to use a teammate while beating your man is a good decision
• Prompt the opposite of what they are good at. For a child who searches for passes, dribbling; for a child who only dribbles, using teammates
• The criteria for judgment are principles. If the passing lane is cut off, dribble; if the dribbling lane is cut off, pass
• If you are free and a teammate is marked, attract the opponent with the dribble. Do not play the pass before a teammate has taken their position
• Priorities in matches are set not by team, but by each player who is struggling

In this article, I explained how to decide whether to dribble or pass, and the criteria for judging players. First, try starting in your own coaching sessions by putting into words, with a single principle, why dribbling was the right choice in that moment!

Also, when I incorporate situations like "if the passing lane is cut off, dribble" into practice, I keep the practice menu as a diagram.