By Jebreel Bubtana
This dribbling challenge is a great way to have your players work on different dribbling techniques, whilst working on their endurance. The objective is to complete the challenge with 5 soccer balls as quickly as possible. Set up your field as shown below (figure 1).
There are 4 stations that your player/players must complete before getting the next ball and going again.
Station 1 – Dribble in and out of the cones using the inside and outside of both right and left foot. It is important that the player moves their feet quickly and keeps the ball close using small touches.
Station 2 – Dribble in a zig zag around the outside of each cone. As the player goes around the outside of a cone they can use the inside of their right or left foot and cut inside towards the next cone. Again small touches will ensure that the ball is kept under close control at all times. After they have done this they dribble towards the flag and cut inside towards the next station. To get there as quick as possible the player can use bigger touches so that they can build up some speed to get to the next station.
Station 3 – Perform the scissors move to get past the cone. The player must ensure that they perform the move at a good distance away from the cone so that they do not hit it (in a real game this would be a defender and if they hit the cone it is like the defender winning the ball). After this is done the player must dribble around the flag and towards the next station.
Station 4 – The last station is a 1v1 square. The player must make sure that they attack the space as quickly as possible to get past the defender.
As soon as they beat the defender they run to the starting point and get the next ball to perform the circuit again. This exercise is timed and the player must go around the circuit 5 times to complete the challenge. This is a great way to get your squad competing against each other and can create healthy competition.
Variations
You can create your own challenge and change some of the dribbling techniques through the circuit, for example, you may want to change the 2nd station so that the player uses the sole of both feet to complete the station. Be creative!
Jebreel Bubtana
Director of Marketing at BRASA – Brazilian Soccer Academy
NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma
Follow me on Twitter @jib1989
