Football (soccer) drill library: Dribbling
Dribbling is an important part of football (soccer). Dribbling exercises help players develop their ball control skills.
Drills: Dribbling
Dribbling in Different Ways
The coach demonstrates with examples, good touches and turning at the line / boundary. Different techniques, using the outside of the foot, rolling with the soles of the feet, etc.
Gate Game in Pairs
One player has the ball, score goals by dribbling through the gate, the ball must remain under control. Timed switch for who has the ball, about 1-2 min efficient games to maintain tempo. After a steal, the ball goes back to the attacking player, ensuring both players get attempts with the ball. Praise for successful dribbles to goal.
Line Dribbling Relay
Number of lines based on the number of players. Can warm up first with free dribbling to the lines. The relay method can be varied: First round, for example, with a specific dribbling technique (outside of the foot, inside of the foot, only one foot, etc.) and dribbling to the line and back. The first in the line/team goes to the 1st line and back, the next to the 2nd line and back, etc. Next round combines passing by dribbling to the line in the agreed manner and then passing back. The winning line is the one where all players have returned from their round back to the line and have the ball in possession.
Line Dribbling
Like line running, but with the ball. Can use an agreed or free dribbling method. The line must be clearly reached before turning. First, dribble to the 1st line and back, then to the 2nd line and back, 3rd and back, etc. The winner is the player who has gone through all the lines first and makes it back.
Dribble & Turn at Gates
Dribble in an area with gate goals. The coach gives instruction for the next turn (e.g., inside of foot, outside of foot, Cruyff, sole of foot, etc.) and gives a signal by raising a cone or bib in the air. Upon seeing the signal, players must dribble to the nearest gate and perform the instructed turn. Depending on the group and situation, it can be done either so that the color of the gates doesn't matter - or can be instructed that at the coach's signal, players must always find the correct color gate (e.g., red bib/cone in the air -> red gate). The coach uses voice as a signal for the gate color as well, if observation is still difficult otherwise.
First touch with directional control
Practice the first touch and specifically receiving the ball in a way that the player guides it away from the marked area. Players are positioned in two opposite lines. A player from the yellow team starts running to the marked area, at which point a player from the blue team passes the ball to the center of the area. The yellow player's task is to direct the ball in a predetermined direction, for example to the right back diagonal (blue dashed line), and then dribble it to the other line for the next player. The blue team player who made the pass now moves to the area, receives the ball and guides it in the agreed direction. In this drill, it can be predetermined which part of the foot should be used for the first touch, for example with the outside or inside of the foot.
Formula Track
Gate dribbling with a "Formula" theme. Shot on goal from a moving ball after the last gate. The track can be modified to your liking with different turns and gates of various sizes.
Technical Course
Technical course that begins with a "zigzag" pattern. At and between the cones, you can perform different turns, feints & dribbling styles.* After the "zigzag", there's a slalom course with cones, where you can also use different styles.** Finishing with a shot on goal. In addition to / instead of the slalom course, you can also add a defender, which then practices 1v1 dribbling past. *e.g. Cruyff turn, step-over feint, body feint, ball in front of the cone while the player goes around the back, dribbling with the soles, outside of the foot turn, inside of the foot turn, step turn etc. **e.g. with inside of the foot twice per side, with outside of the foot etc.
Pursuit relay in a line
A pursuit relay with two teams. The aim is to catch the other team. On each round, one more player is added to the relay, so for example after three completed rounds there should be three players running. This can be done with different variations; without the ball, ball with the first player only, and ball with all players.
Feint Roulette
Players advance one by one towards the first "opponent" (cones), perform a feint* and continue to the next "opponent". At the second cone, they perform a feint to the opposite side and finish with a shot. After this, the player moves to the next line. *for example step-over, body feint, Cruyff turn, scissors feint etc.
Cone Dribbling
Different colored cones are placed in the area. Players dribble freely in the area, but in a way that they don't collide with each other. The coach walks outside the area with different colored cones and raises one at a time. Players observe which colored cone the coach raised and navigate around all cones of that color in the area and continue dribbling. The positions of the cones can be changed during the exercise. Different dribbling styles can also be added to the exercise, such as using the outside of the foot, the sole of the foot, etc.
Escape from the box
In this drill, one player is in the middle with the ball, and the objective is to escape from the area. There are three defenders on the edges who are not allowed to enter the area, but only prevent the player from leaving. One development suggestion is to change the drill after a failed escape attempt so that the defenders get possession and it becomes a 3v1 rondo in the same area, allowing the defenders to enter the area. When there's a turnover or a failed pass in the rondo, the drill starts again from the beginning.
The Runaway
The drill involves two players; one with the ball and the other without the ball. The player without the ball is supposed to catch the player with the ball by touching them as quickly as possible, while the player with the ball tries to escape. You can compete, for example, by counting how many laps the player with the ball manages to escape before being caught.
Dribbling King
Individual game, where half of the players have a ball. The aim is to dribble through as many gates as possible in one minute. If a player loses the ball, they must win it back for themselves. No fixed pairs, meaning the player being chased can change several times even within a minute. The winner is the player who has dribbled through the most gates after one minute. However, the same gate cannot be used again immediately.
Dribbling Chaos
The goal is to dribble through the cones without colliding with other players / cones.
Who's Afraid of the Defender?
A classic game that works both without a ball and with a ball. One player starts in the middle and the goal is to prevent other players from reaching the other side. Players dribbling the ball must keep the ball in their possession, and cannot just kick the ball to the other end. If the player(s) in the middle manage to kick the ball away from a dribbling player, that player joins them in hunting other players' balls. The winner is the one who has the ball in possession last.
Warm-up Dribbling
Players dribble freely within a defined area. The coach has set different rules and ways to dribble the ball based on signals. Signals can be given by shouting, showing hand signals/bibs etc. For a specific signal, it is agreed that players must score a goal as quickly as possible in the goals placed at the edges of the area. Praise the first player who correctly interprets the signal and scores. At the beginning of the exercise, you can give a couple of rules for the signals and gradually add more during the drill. Examples of rules and ways to dribble: -with both feet, with only one foot, by rolling the ball -at full speed -on signal, stop the ball with the sole of the foot -on signal, sit on the ball, touch it with forehead, knee.. -on signal, perform a feint -on signal, leave your ball in place, get someone else's ball and continue dribbling
Watch out for your friend!
Make one line at both ends of the area. The blue players run around the orange cones and the black players similarly run around the yellow cones. The drill can be done while dribbling a ball or without a ball. Different dribbling styles and turns can be applied to the drill, such as rolling with the sole of the foot, ball between the legs, or Cruyff turns. The goal is to maintain speed and avoid colliding with other players.
Tag in a square
Agree on who starts as the tagger. During the tag game, players don't go inside the square but dribble outside the area. The player being chased must observe the tagger's movements and perform stops and turns. Can be started without a ball.
Color Dribbling
Create an area in the middle where players dribble freely without colliding with other players. Different colored areas are set up outside this central area. When the coach calls out a color, players must quickly dribble their ball to that specific area and continue dribbling there. The exercise can also be modified so that the coach shows different colored bibs/cones to indicate where players should dribble the ball.
Progression game against defenders
Objective: To progress from one end to the other without defenders winning the ball. If a defender wins the ball, they try to score in the goal positioned on the side of the area. The field is divided into three areas: two end zones and one middle area, which is further divided into three sections. There are three defenders in the middle area, one in each section of the middle area. The game starts with two attacking players (blue) moving from their own end zone trying to progress to the opposite end zone. Attacking players can progress either by passing or dribbling the ball. Defenders are not allowed to leave their designated areas. If a defender wins the ball, they try to score in the goal positioned on the side of the area. The game continues until either both attackers reach the opposite end zone or the defenders score a goal.
Follow the leader
A classic game, but this time with the ball. The first person in the line decides the direction and dribbling style, such as with the outside of the foot, with the sole of the foot, backwards, etc. Change the leader at regular intervals.
Collect cones - dribbling competition in pairs
In this drill, the aim is to dribble around a cone in the area, pick it up, and pass the ball to your partner who then goes to collect the next cone. You can pass the ball to your partner after you have picked up the cone.
Pursuit Relay
Pursuit relay with two teams. The objective is to catch up with the other team. Players run with the ball for a complete lap and then hand over the ball to the next player in line. After completing the lap, the player moves to the back of the line to wait for their next turn. The drill can also be performed without a ball.
Catch me if you can
Tag with the ball. The area is marked with cones and players can move outside the cones or enter the middle through gates (yellow cones). Decide who starts as the tagger and the goal is to avoid the tagger for as long as possible. Switch roles after a tag or after one minute of trying.
First touch under pressure
1. The red player passes the ball through the gate between the cones to the blue player and starts pressing. 2. The blue player takes their first touch toward the other small goal and tries to score. The red player tries to prevent the goal. Instead of small goals, you can also use gates made of cones that the player must dribble through.
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