I've seen coaches run sessions that work on executing fakes and moves. Then when I watched the team play there was no sign of any moves. Why bother working on them if the players aren't going to use them in the game?
If you ask players why they don't try the moves in games they'll tell you that they are afraid of making a mistake. That tells me that the coach has not built confidence to actually use the moves into his or her session.
It's not complicated or difficult to build the confidence needed to use the moves in the game but as with all confidence it must be built on success.
This simple progression will help your players become more sure of their abilities to use creative fakes and moves in game situations.
Start by having the players in two lines facing each other with two cones in the middle. Each player dribble toward their cone and performs the same move with the same foot so that they play away in opposite directions. Move the cones as far apart as you need to in order to give the players the space and time to perform confidently.
Next, remove one of the cones so that both players are dribbling toward the same cone. This will bring them closer together and put more pressure on them without being under the active pressure of a defender.
Then remove the cones and have the players dribble toward each other and perform the move before they run into each other. It may take several weeks to get to this stage. Don't rush ahead; be sure that they players can perform at each stage successfully before moving on to the next.
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Now the players are ready for a defender without a ball but we keep the defender passive at first. I tell the players that we just want to, 'Show a Picture' of a defender to the attacker. As they become more confident then it's time to allow the defender to try and win the ball.
By the time you reach this stage the players will be perform the moves well and start to understand the amount of space and time they need to beat the defender.
One final key to this process is that you, as the coach, MUST be supportive of their efforts to be skillful and creative in the games. There's no reason to go through this process and then criticize the players for making mistakes and losing the ball when they try to beat someone 1 v 1. Remember, you're building confidence; mistakes will occur as part of the process but you'll be developing confident, creative players.
Have a Great Day!
Tom
