19 Jul 2011

Football Training – Ball manipulation and dribbling

It is important that young players get comfortable with the ball at their feet and know how to manipulate the ball, with different parts of their feet, whilst keeping control of the ball and their heads up.
This is a short video that shows how players can achieve these basic techniques, using their big and little toes and keeping their head up, to be aware of other players and space.

A simple progression would be for the players to be in pairs, with ball between them. One passes the ball, the other receives the ball and then does the ball manipulation, before passing back to their partner. The football coach should encourage the receiving player to be aware of space, receive the ball on the half turn as this would replicate what they have to do in a game, prior to dribbling.