Beginning soccer players will learn many skills, but probably one of the most important skills is dribbling. Dribbling occurs when a soccer player moves the ball from one foot to the other while maneuvering across the field. The player accomplishes dribbling by pushing, tapping, shoving or nudging the ball with several areas of his foot such as the sole, inside or outside areas.
Methods Used to Teach Dribbling
There are many effective methods you can use to teach players to dribble. Several competitive games have been developed to teach dribbling while also having fun. Players can learn individually or in a group. Here are five of the most popular games used to teach dribbling skills.
Game One: Flags
Items Needed:
- Two balls per player
- Two flags per player (cloth strips approximately two inches wide each and a foot long)
How to Play
Stick the flags into the waistband of a players' pants on both sides. Players lose a flag and the ball if another player who has a ball kicks the ball out of bounds, or when another player who has a flag, but no ball, steals their ball. Players are eliminated as they lose both flags and their ball.
Game Two: Freeze Tag
Items Needed:
- Cones
How to Play
Use the cones to form a rectangle. Players must dribble inside the boundaries the rectangle. One or two players must become "it" after a short while, and have their balls taken away. The "it" player tries to tag and freeze other players by touching their ball. When an "it" player touches a ball, its dribbler must stop where he is and hold the ball over his head with his legs spread apart. He must remain frozen in that position until another player comes along and dribbles a ball between his legs. The "it" players should be switched often to see who can freeze the most players during his time.
Game Three: Snake
How to Play
Group the players into threes. The first player in a group of three will be the head of the snake, and doesn't get a ball. The head is the leader in this follow-the-leader game. The second player follows the head, and dribbles a ball. The third player is called the rattle, and has no ball. The head must lead unpredictably while moving at different paces and directions - even stopping occasionally. After a set time (20 or 30 seconds), the coach blows a whistle, and player number two (dribbler) must pass the ball to the rattle and take the head position. The rattle becomes the dribbler and the head moves around to become the rattle. The game continues.
Game Four: Line Soccer
How to Play
The players form two lines and face one another. Each player gets a number and a matching player in the other line receives the same number. The ball is kicked between the two lines and a number is called out. Players from each line with the matching number will play one another and try kicking the ball through the opposing line. The players in the line learn not to chase the ball, but to defend the line in a small area.
Game Five: Tag
How to Play
This game is similar to the regular game of tag. A circle or grid is marked off, and everyone gets a ball. The player who is "it" has to dribble the ball to another player and tag him. The targeted (or chased) player dribbles away from the "it" player to avoid getting tagged. A player who is being chased becomes "it" if his ball goes outside the grid for any reason or if he is tagged.
Using the games above and others to teach dribbling helps players to become creative, learn to think quickly, and improve their skills while having a great time. You can even use prizes as motivators while your players learn.
No comments:
Post a Comment