Coaching Soccer Drills: Dribble for Lots of Activities

When it comes to coaching soccer drills, there is variety of fun, yet effective ways to teach the players about the same.

These methods will not only improve the practice attendance but your team will also play better and win more games. One of such methods is dribbling across a square.

Dribble Across A Square (U-6 and Up)

This is the best way to teach dribbling and how to use the bottom of the foot, the inside & outside of the foot to stop the ball, and turn. This is something that the U6-coaches must read and learn about.

This method will effectively teach the players how to dribble in traffic. As per this method, first, make the square 5 or 6 adult steps wide. Now tell the players just to dribble across and stop. Do not let them turn and dribble back.

The moment they have all dribbled across, have them all face inward and dribble back across to the opposite side and stop. You need to consignee this approach for at least 6 to 8 times.

Each trip includes dribbling across and stopping each time until they have crossed the square. One important thing that the coaches must note is that the players have to focus on their own ball only. They should not try to kick anyone else's ball.

Furthermore, the coaches should not teach turns at this stage. They do not even need to keep scores. You just have to encourage the players and let them have fun.

The best thing with this method is that the set-up is easy and everyone has a ball. This way, it can be a great warm-up. Teaching the players about dribbling through cones is good but dribble across a square is a much better method to teach and evaluate dribbling skills of the players.

Coaching soccer drills like this does not only help the players? brain learn to process a lot of activity, but it also helps them learn how to use peripheral vision, and to make correct, instinctive decisions and maintain composure when under pressure and in heavy traffic.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of coaching soccer drills.
His web site, Youth Soccer Drills, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles,
resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.