Running with the ball in space and under pressure.
16 drills
16 drills
Horst Wein's small-sided game that inspired the DFB and FIFA 3v3 formats: 3v3 without keepers on 25x25 yards, each team defending two 3-yard goals set apart on its end line and attacking the two opposite ones. Players learn to look up and switch the point of attack.
The most famous grassroots game: minnows dribble across the grid while two sharks without a ball try to kick their ball out. Lose your ball and you become a shark; the last minnow wins.
Foundation game (U4-U8): pirates dribble out from their ship, dodge the two or three guards, knock over a tall treasure cone with the ball and dribble home carrying the cone. The team that collects the most treasure wins.
Relay race in groups of 2-3 in 5x10 yard channels: dribble to the end of the channel, stop the ball, turn with the requested move (drag-back, Cruyff turn, inside or outside hook) and come back to hand over to a teammate. First group to complete five trips wins.
Simplified situation from the Barça academy: the defender passes to the attacker and steps out to press; the attacker must read the defender's position and score in one of two mini goals on a 20x15 m area. Take-on, change of direction and decision.
Pairs duel inside a 10x10 m square with a 1 m cone gate on each side: the attacker can score by dribbling through any of the four gates and the defender, starting central, must read and close. Constant changes of angle and lots of take-ons in 8 minutes.
1v1 duel on a 20x30 yard field with four to six tall cones on each end line as targets: the attacker must beat the defender and knock a cone over with a pass or a low shot. When every cone on one side is down, roles switch.
Foundation game (U4-U8): everyone dribbles around the island and the coach holds up a coloured disc. Green, dribble fast; amber, turn and burst away; red, stop the ball with the sole. Heads must come up to see the colour.
Everyone with a ball inside a 20x20 m square: keep your own ball under control while trying to kick everyone else's out of the ring. Lose your ball and you are out; the last player standing is king of the ring.
The grassroots classic: six 1-yard gates spread across a 15x20 yard rectangle; every player scores a point for each gate dribbled through in 60 seconds, never the same gate twice in a row.
Classic Coerver progression for U8-U12: ball mastery in 3x3 yard grids, 1v1 moves (scissors, step-over, croqueta) on defender cones and a 1v1 to a gate to finish. Hundreds of touches in 20 minutes.
Parallel race: the striker dribbles through poles and shoots first time after the last one while the keeper, without a ball, runs his own slalom to reach the goal before the shot.
Wave warm-up with four lines 10 m apart: the outside players pass to the inside players, who dribble diagonally outwards while the passer overlaps around the outside and receives on the run. The group advances up the pitch keeping its spacing.
1v1 duels in 15x8 m channels with two mini goals: the defender passes to the attacker and closes down immediately, steering them towards the side to win the ball. Individual defending technique.
Chasing game where everyone dribbles a ball: two taggers in bibs try to touch the others, who escape by dribbling away. The most fun way to start with young kids.
Dribbling circuit through a line of cones with changes of direction and a final sprint. Works ball control with both feet, head up and change of pace.