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U10 Pack · Week 1, Practice A

Dribbling with your head up

72 min

Equipment: 1 ball per player · 20 flat cones · 2 pugg goals or tall-cone goals · Bibs for 1 team · 6 tall cones for gates

  1. 1. Arrival play

    Warm-up · 8 min
    Balls out, play as you arriveAABB

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

  2. 2. Follow the Leader Ball

    Warm-up · 10 min
    Leader dribbles anywhere, followers copyAAA

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

  3. 3. Four Turns, Four Corners

    Practice · 12 min
    One turn per corner, all fourA

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

  4. 4. Gates Dribbling

    Practice · 12 min
    Dribble through gates for pointsA

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

  5. 5. Sharks and Minnows

    Fun game · 12 min
    Minnows dribble across, Sharks win the ballAAABB

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

  6. 6. Small-sided game, 4v4

    Match · 18 min
    a goal after a named turn counts doubleAAAABBBB

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