Dribbling practices give every player lots of touches on the ball. For younger groups, games with a story and plenty of repetitions work best; older players need a defender and a target.
Encourage players to use both feet and all surfaces of the foot, and reward them for trying to beat an opponent.
8 exercises
Football-adapted game
Minnows dribble across the 'ocean' without losing their ball to the sharks in the middle. Caught minnows become sharks. A classic dribbling game for kids.
BeginnerGlobalDribbling
Football-adapted game
Young players dribble around like cars and react to the coach's calls: green (go fast), amber (slow, small touches) and red (stop the ball with the sole).
BeginnerAnalyticalDribbling
Football-adapted game
Pairs play 1v1 in an area full of gates. The attacker scores by dribbling through any gate; if the defender wins the ball, the roles swap immediately.
BeginnerGlobalDribbling
Waves
A defender passes to an attacker and closes down; the attacker must beat them and score in one of two mini goals. Simple, intense and full of duels.
BeginnerGlobal1v1
Match
3v3 with two mini goals at each end. With two goals to attack, players learn to look up, spot the undefended goal and switch the play.
BeginnerGlobalSmall-Sided Games
Circuit
Every player has a ball in a 20 × 20 m grid and follows the coach's calls: sole rolls, inside–outside touches, turns and changes of speed.
BeginnerAnalyticalWarm-Up
Football-adapted game
Two teams race to dribble balls from the treasure in the middle to their base, then steal from each other. A favourite with U6 to U10 players.
BeginnerIntermediateFun Games
Football-adapted game
Every player dribbles their own ball in a 15 × 15 m square, protects it and tries to knock the other balls out. Nobody is eliminated.
BeginnerGlobalFun Games