Week 1, Practice A

Dribbling with your head up

1. 1Arrival play

   Warm-up · 8 min

   Setup

   1. Field and goals set up before players arrive.
   2. Balls out. Whoever is here plays right away, teams even as kids arrive.
   3. No coaching, no lines: the game starts the practice.

   Coaching points

   • Greet every player by name as they join.
   • Watch who is confident with the ball today.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: smaller area so touches come fast. Harder: nothing, it is play.

2. 2Follow the Leader Ball

   Warm-up · 10 min

   Setup

   1. Groups of 3 in single file, each with a ball.
   2. Leader dribbles anywhere in the grid at varied speeds.
   3. Followers copy the route and the speed, close behind.
   4. Change leaders every 45 seconds.

   Coaching points

   • Eyes up: you dribble the ball and watch the player ahead.
   • Change speed often, that is the habit we want.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: no followers, free dribbling. Harder: two groups cross paths.

3. 3Four Turns, Four Corners

   Practice · 12 min

   Setup

   1. Cones mark 4 corners, every player with a ball dribbles freely.
   2. Corner 1: inside cut. Corner 2: outside cut. Corner 3: sole drag back. Corner 4: your choice.
   3. Dribble between corners, turn at each.
   4. Coach names the turn as players arrive.

   Coaching points

   • Small last touch before the turn, then explode away.
   • Turns are one touch. Two touches is a stop.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: 3 turns, free at corner 4. Harder: coach calls turns mid-dribble.

4. 4Gates Dribbling

   Practice · 12 min

   Setup

   1. Scatter 6 cone gates, 2 yards wide, inside a 20x20 grid.
   2. Every player has a ball.
   3. Dribble through a gate to score a point, then find another.
   4. Most points in 3 minutes wins. New round every 3 minutes.

   Coaching points

   • Small touches through the gate, big touches between gates.
   • Scan for the next open gate before you arrive at this one.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: 4 yard gates. Harder: gates close after use, or one defender hunts balls.

5. 5Sharks and Minnows

   Fun game · 12 min

   Setup

   1. A 20x20 yard grid. 3 sharks in bibs without a ball.
   2. Minnows each have a ball on one end line.
   3. Minnows dribble across. Sharks win balls and kick them out.
   4. Minnows who reach the far side score a point. Most points wins.

   Coaching points

   • Keep the ball close enough to turn away from a shark.
   • Eyes up: find the open space, not the crowd.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: sharks hop on one leg. Harder: dribble the whole round with the weaker foot.

6. 6Small-sided game, 4v4

   Match · 18 min

   Setup

   1. Split the team into equal 4v4 teams with bibs.
   2. Small field with a small goal at each end. Balls behind every goal.
   3. Theme condition: a goal after a named turn counts double.
   4. Roll new balls in when one goes out. Keep the game flowing.

   Coaching points

   • Praise the theme when you see it, once, briefly.
   • Let the game teach: no stoppages for coaching lectures.

   Easier or harder

   Easier: bigger goals, no goalkeepers. Harder: winners stay on, or a two-touch rule for a round.