Free Dribble

• Small Touches – What can we do to keep the ball close? keep the ball close to your feet for optimum control and ball manipulation. Encourage the players to use all parts of their feet – inside, outside, sole, heel, or top.
• Head Up – Why do we have our heads up when dribbling? So you can see obstacles and where they are going.
• Dribble Into Space – dribble faster when they dribble to open space to help them get away from other players, slower when in ‘traffic.’
• Be Brave! – players should learn at their own speed but try new things and express themselves.

Free dribble allows players to gain familiarity with ball manipulation and spatial awareness.

As the players become more confident, you can add commands after 2-3 minutes.

• ‘FREEZE’ – come to a complete stop by controlling with their foot on the ball.
• ‘TOE TAPS’ – lightly alternate feet on the top of the ball. They should touch their foot lightly on the ball, so the ball doesn’t move and be on their toes. This will help footwork and agility.
• ‘CHANGE’ – change direction with the ball – If this isn’t their first soccer experience or they’re a little older, you can teach them the inside chop, outside chop, and pull-back. But otherwise, you can let them figure out the most efficient way to turn themselves.
• ‘SPEED UP!’ and ‘SLOW DOWN’

• 10/15x15yd area -make larger to incorporate more players.
• Each player has a ball.
• Short break at 1 or 2-minute intervals to ask guided questions.

Dribbling and control are perhaps the most important ball skills in the game, especially for younger players. Dynamically changing speed and direction, instead of dribbling in lines, is a more game-like and developmental way of exploring the skill.

• Make the area smaller for more difficulty/larger to make it easier.
• If you notice the players taking it easy, challenge the group or particular individuals to speed up, change direction, challenge themselves with a skill, or use their non-dominant foot.
• Add cones in the area to get them dribbling around.