When you watch a professional soccer game, you see players use skills that they have taken years to master. In many cases, the players use very simple drills to improve these skills, as practicing the skills continually leads to improvement. Work on your passing and dribbling during every practice and you will see the results when you take the field.
Two-on-two Passing Drill
Have two offensive players and two defensive players line up in a predetermined area of the field. The offensive team has the ball and the defensive players must attempt to gain possession. Have your offensive players pass the ball around and support each other throughout the drill. The offensive player with the ball should have a passing option at all times. The offensive player without the ball must give the ball carrier support by working on his angles and distance.
Three-on-one Passing Drill
Three offensive players have the ball and one defensive player must attempt to gain possession. The offensive players should focus on heading to an area of the field where the defensive player has no chance of intercepting a pass. Your offensive players should provide early support, which means to give their teammates a good angle with which to pass the ball before the ball even arrives. The offensive players should attempt first touch passes to keep the defensive player guessing.
One-on-one Dribbling
In a one-on-one battle, the ball carrier must beat the defender and get a shot on goal. The drill takes place in a box 10 meters square and the players must continue to battle until you stop the action. Have your defender work on guiding the attacker away from the goal and waiting until she exposes the ball before attempting a tackle. The defensive player should also stay between the attacker and the goal at all times. The offensive player should change direction and speed with the ball in an attempt to shed the tackler. He should also shield the ball from the defender as he works his way toward the goal.
Back to Net Dribbling
Give one player the ball, then station a second player with his back to the goal and a defender near that player. The ball carrier passes the ball to the player with her back to the goal and the defender approaches. The player who receives the ball must trap the ball and either beat the defender or attempt a shot on goal quickly. This forces the player to control the ball and make an instant decision on what to do with it.
References
- "Youth Soccer Drills: 84 Drills for Beginning and Intermediate Players"; Jim Garland; 2003
- "101 Great Youth Soccer Drills: Skills and Drills for Better Fundamental Play"; Robert Koger; 2005
- "Soccer Skills & Drills"; National Soccer Coaches Association of America; 2006
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