| Just about everyone can dribble a soccer ball when | | | | 2. During scrimmage games, insist that players dribble |
| there is no resistance coming from an opponent. | | | | with their head up and with the ball close to the feet |
| Obviously however, there will be great resistance | | | | when near opponents. |
| during competitive matches. So the objective here is | | | | 3. The importance of shielding the soccer ball from an |
| to properly get young players comfortable and | | | | opponent cannot be overemphasized. Shielding |
| confident with dribbling while an opponent is applying | | | | properly keeps one, or possibly two or three |
| pressure by endeavoring to gain possession of the | | | | opponents from dislodging the ball from a dribbling |
| ball. If any field-soccer player wants to improve, this | | | | player. |
| skill is paramount. | | | | (a) Various drills are designed to elevate shielding skills |
| These are the basic objectives that must be | | | | from its most elementary level on up. Start with little |
| developed for young players and possibly others for | | | | opponent pressure, as the players develop expertise |
| maintaining possession of the ball. | | | | add pressure to each advanced drill. |
| 1. Dribbling the soccer ball must be kept close to the | | | | (b) In addition, there is another drill especially |
| feet around opponents. This is obvious. | | | | designed apply the shielding technique. It is a variation |
| 2. But what may not be obvious is that the sense of | | | | of the monkey-in-the-middle drill. When done right and |
| balance of the body, needed for rapidly changing | | | | constantly overseen by the coach, players properly |
| directions, must be developed. | | | | learn to shield the ball from aggressive opponents. |
| 3. Looking out around the field for open players and | | | | Furthermore, players also learn to make safer passes |
| open spaces is another necessity. It can only be | | | | to "teammates". |
| accomplished by keeping one's head up while dribbling. | | | | The following notes should add clarity to this article. |
| This of course will not happen with newly introduced | | | | Note 1: Very young "talented" players often make |
| players into the game, but it is one of the dribbling | | | | "breakaways" and dribble the ball towards the goal |
| objectives. | | | | unimpeded. Before taking the shot at the goal with |
| 4. Another necessity for retaining the ball while | | | | only the goalkeeper in front, these players push the |
| dribbling is to shield it from one or more opponents. | | | | ball about two to three yards (or two or three |
| So what is the optimum approach to improve the | | | | meters) out in front of them. At this distance the ball |
| dribbling skills for young players? | | | | is in an ideal position to kick it at the goal. Often |
| 1. In general, precious soccer practice time should not | | | | these young players score against an unskillful very |
| be spent on dribbling drills. Dribbling should be | | | | young goalkeeper, and of course the parents of the |
| practiced away from the soccer practice. But, there | | | | scoring child are elated. However, this may or may |
| are some exceptions: | | | | not indicate that this child will go on to be a great |
| (a) The youngest players must be taught the basics | | | | soccer player. That "skill" just witnessed is not a skill |
| via dribbling drills at soccer practices. There is nothing | | | | at all, because it was not learned. As the children |
| new here. | | | | progress up in age, opponent defenders ordinarily do |
| (b) After say two soccer practices, end the dribbling | | | | not allow an attacker the room of two or three |
| drills at these practices. Valuable training time is | | | | yards to set up the ball for the kick on goal. On older |
| needed for spending on kicks, trapping, defense, | | | | teams, this "tactic" is no longer a tactic. So what |
| shielding, endurance etc. | | | | point am I making? |
| (i)Without endurance, soccer players cannot perform | | | | Competitive soccer players need to discipline |
| to their maximum abilitiesand will make more dribbling | | | | themselves in keeping the ball near their feet when |
| and other errors. | | | | opponents are near. This is a necessary skill that |
| (ii)A professional should be consulted on the optimum | | | | must be learned for dribbling as well as when making |
| level of endurance training. | | | | attempts at scoring. It takes training both with |
| (c) Then, assign homework drills. Drills that are | | | | dribbling and while employing the various types of |
| designed to teach | | | | kicks to be competitive as a player goes on up in |
| (i)the young player balance while turning | | | | years. |
| (ii)control of the sensitivity of touch on the ball | | | | Note 2: Advanced players must also develop the |
| (iii)players to keep the ball near the feet when | | | | ability to lunge in one direction while flicking the ball in |
| moving with the ball. | | | | the opposite direction. There are several of these |
| (d) Coach demonstrations and player demonstrations | | | | feinting moves that a skillful soccer player must |
| should be performed so the players understand their | | | | master, but they are beyond the scope of this |
| assigned homework drill. | | | | article. |
| (e) At each subsequent practice (after a drill has | | | | Note 3: What do the young goalkeeper(s) do while |
| been assigned), players should be asked to | | | | the field players are training for their skills? They |
| demonstrate their homework skills for about 30 | | | | need to be developing their skills. They need an |
| seconds each. Say two players at a time--to | | | | assistant coach to train them on defending the goal, |
| conserve training time. After each player has shown | | | | to practice diving and punting. The coach must |
| his or her skill preforming the drill, a demonstration | | | | instruct the assistant coach in proper |
| should be repeated by the best young dribbling | | | | goalkeeping-training techniques while overseeing these |
| player. This acts as a teaching-aid to the others. | | | | techniques until the assistant coach gets it right. |
| (f) Every player is to own and bring an identifiably | | | | Note 4: Much of the above training information can |
| marked ball to practice. While on the subject, water | | | | be learned from good soccer books containing |
| and warm clothes in cold weather should also be a | | | | further descriptions and applicable drills. |
| requirement. | | | | |