Dribbling to Beat an Opponent

Purpose:

The purpose of this session is to train players to go at defenders so they can beat them with ease. The focus of all the moves is on taking on the defender, selling the move with a fake, feight, etc, and then accelerating past with a change of pace.
Success in this session is critical to have a team that can attack and score at will. Additionally mastery of these moves will give players confidence over the entire field to take somebody on while maintaining possession.

Equipment:

Cones, pinnies, balls.

Progression:

Fundamental:
The purpose of this stage is to get the players familiar with the moves that they are going to be working on. They should be able to master the moves with the restriction of time and space gradually increase to add pressure of being able to pull the move. Focus here should be on the body, the ball, the fakes and the speed at which the moves can be made. This progress to “taking on an opponent” though depending on skill, the defender can be passive or aggressively playing defense as needed.

Match Related:  The game becomes one versus one at this point with defender playing at full speed trying to win the ball. The pressure is now on as space is tight, time is an issue and a defender is trying to break you in half. Keep score to make it competitive. Focus on the attacking moves and the success or failure of the moves.

Match Condition:  The game becomes 5 v. 5 or 6 v. 6 as the players now must only advance by dribbling forward. Back passes are allowed but the emphasis is in the forward dribbling. As the ball is moving forward, defenders are stepping hard, then the attacker should be making moves to beat the defender.

Coaching Points:

• Go at the defender.
• Be aggressive with the ball
• Make the moves at the proper time, about three to five yards away.
• Sell the moves with a fake
• Attack the heel of the defenders front foot and accelerate past it, making it hard for the defender to tackle.
• Make a fake before the first touch on a non moving ball
• Change your pace to fool the defender
• Stay under control
  

Activity

Setup

Box Dribbling in a 40x35

• Teach the attacking moves with only the pressure of time and space
• Progress to half with balls half without.
• Partner up. The ones without the ball are “passive defense”-full speed, no attempt to win the ball.
• Find your partner, go at him, make a move and accelerate past.
• Each person go touch a boundry line, then repeat.
• Switch every 90 seconds.
  

Coaching Points:

• Go at the defender.
• Be aggressive with the ball
• Make the moves at the proper time, about three to five yards away.
• Sell the moves with a fake
• Attack the front foot when it plants, drive past it

• The light grey dashed line is the cone line to use when you go into match related. It gives two 40x 15 yard fields.

1 v. 1 in a 35 x 15

• Blue plays a long pass into red
• Red goes at blue, makes a move and beats the defender.
• Stop the ball within one yard of the oppositions line for a point.
• If defender wins, turn away play back to teammate who now goes at the red player who just lost the ball
• If ball goes out, other team begins by dribbling in. New attacker and new defenders come out.
  

Coaching Points:

• Attack the heel of the defenders front foot and accelerate past it. This makes it hard for the defender to tackle.
• Change your pace to fool the defender

6v6 in a 44 x 40

• Only allow back passes.
• To move forward players must dribble
• Play to small goals
• Progress to large goals.
• Score to keep competitive.
• Add a mid-stripe and only allow shooting after the mid-stripe.
  

Coaching Points:

• Encourage taking defenders on.
• Find the space ”behind” the defense and attack there.
• Be smart but agressive