Dribbling and Ball Familiarity - U6 Practice Plan

Dribbling and Ball Familiarity - U6 Practice Plan

A U6 Practice Session that focuses on dribbling and becoming familiar with the ball. The practice outline is:

  • 2 vs. 2 Play (10 Minutes)
  • Sailing the Seas (10 Minutes)
  • Bruce the Shark and Nemo (15 Minutes)
  • 4 vs. 4 Scrimmage (20 Minutes)

End of practice questions:

Bring your players in for the last five minutes of practice and recap your session using open-ended questions: 

  1. What are some surfaces of the feet we can use to move our soccer ball with? (inside, outside, laces, heel, bottom, toe).
  2. Why is it important to be able to use both feet while dribbling? (so you can turn direction quicker, as well as evade defenders easier!) 
  3. Why should you look for space to dribble into, instead of just dribbling straight ahead? (it’s important to know where defenders are, so you can avoid them and get past them!) 

Have a team cheer; great job coach!

2v2 Play

Players Required: 
4
Goals Required: 
0

Set Up:

  • Make two (or more) fields of 20 x 10 yards.
  • Place small goals on each endline.
  • Players play 2 v 2 on field.
  • On goals and balls put out of play, use a kick-in to get ball back in play.

Coaching Points:

None. Let the players play and make mistakes. Only intervene if it is taking too long to get ball back in play.

Sailing the Seas

Players Required: 
8-10

Set Up:

  • All players (the ships) have a ball inside the 15 x 20 yd grid. The Coach (ship’s captain) is outside of the grid. The players start sailing around the ocean and change their speed based on the weather; high winds = go fast!, No wind = go very slow. Hurricane = dribble in a circle. Rogue wave = go backwards. Each round add a new direction, combine movements, or make up your own.
  • Game starts when coach says “Ahoy mates, set sail!”

Coaching Points:

  • Keep the ball close so you can change speed or turn quickly.
  • Encourage players to use both feet when touching the ball.
  • Change direction by using different surfaces of the feet.

Bruce the Shark and Nemo

Players Required: 
8

Set Up:

  • In your 15x20yd grid, select 1-3 players to be Bruce the Sharks without soccer balls (coaches can start as sharks too).

  • The rest of the players are Nemo or Dori and start each with a ball on one end of the grid.

  • Nemo/Dori’s have to dribble their ball to the other side of the ocean without losing their soccer ball (food) to Bruce the shark.

  • Sharks do not kick balls away, they just need to touch it with their foot to catch the Nemo/Dori.

  • If a Nemo/Dori gets their ball stolen, have them do 4 toe taps (touch top of ball with the bottom of your feet), and then continue to swim the ocean.

  • Nemo/Dori’s can start crossing when the sharks yell “Try and cross my ocean little fish!”

  • Switch sharks after two fish crossings.

Coaching Points:

  • Look for moments to swim into space! If you just swim without a plan, you’ll be eaten up!

  • Encourage changes of speed and direction.

  • Look for players who are using both feet to dribble, and make a positive example out of them.

  • Have fun!

4v4 Scrimmage

Players Required: 
8
Balls Required: 
1
Goals Required: 
0

Set Up:

  • Play 4v4. If your numbers are short, decrease size of field to 25x15 and play 3v3.
  • Cones for goals are 2yds wide (same as for a game).
  • There are no goalkeepers.

Coaching Points:

None. Just sit back and let them play. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the rules of the game for your league. If a goal is scored, bring ball back to center of field and show the players where they should stand to restart.

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