Dribbling competition with small- and full-sized games

Organisation

• Organise two teams to start from opposite ends: one player at a time from each team runs with the ball and tries to score past the opposing goalkeeper.
• The players start on the coach's command and race to score – if both players score, only the first goal is worth a point.

Ways to make the exercise easier

• To start with, if both players score, both goals count for a point, not just the first one.

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Introduce a chaser/defender.

Great questions to ask the players

• How can you travel quickly with the ball?
• Can you try to play the ball out of your feet so that you can run quicker?
• Can you get your head up and take note of the goalkeeper's position before you shoot?

Safety tips

• The next players should only start when the pitch is clear.

Organisation

• Organise a pitch for 3v3, including goalkeepers, plus two floating players in the wide zones (channels).
• When in possession, either team can combine with the floaters, who have no opposition.
• Rotate the goalkeepers and floaters every few minutes.

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Give one team more players in the middle area.

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Give one team fewer players in the middle area.
• Limit the number of touches that both teams' (or just one team's) players in the middle can take before passing or shooting.

Great questions to ask the players

• Can you spread out as a team and try to find the wide players with a pass?
• Can you receive a pass from a wide player in a shooting position?
• Can the wide players deliver crosses that can be attacked?
• Can the players in the middle use the overload to create scoring opportunities?

Organisation

• Organise two teams of 11v11 and divide the pitch into three zones, with four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards in each zone, plus a goalkeeper for each team.
• A player in each zone has to touch the ball in order for a team to score.
• The players are restricted to their own zone.
• Rotate the players between zones after a goal is scored or after a given amount of time.
• You can also ask the players to decide how many players they want in each zone.

Ways to make the exercise easier

• Let teams play straight to the end zone, by passing the midfield, if it's possible.

Ways to make the exercise harder

• Limit the number of passes in each zone.

Great questions to ask the players

• Do you always have to play forward from the middle zone?
• Can you try to find positions in your zone to support the player on the ball?
• Which zone do you prefer to play in and why?