Dribbling and Ball Familiarity - U6 Practice Plan

Set Up:

• Make two (or more) fields of 20 x 10 yards.
• Place small goals on each endline.
• Players play 2 v 2 on field.
• On goals and balls put out of play, use a kick-in to get ball back in play.

Coaching Points:

None. Let the players play and make mistakes. Only intervene if it is taking too long to get ball back in play.

Set Up:

• All players (the ships) have a ball inside the 15 x 20 yd grid. The Coach (ship’s captain) is outside of the grid. The players start sailing around the ocean and change their speed based on the weather; high winds = go fast!, No wind = go very slow. Hurricane = dribble in a circle. Rogue wave = go backwards. Each round add a new direction, combine movements, or make up your own.
• Game starts when coach says “Ahoy mates, set sail!”

Coaching Points:

• Keep the ball close so you can change speed or turn quickly.
• Encourage players to use both feet when touching the ball.
• Change direction by using different surfaces of the feet.

Set Up:

• In your 15x20yd grid, select 1-3 players to be Bruce the Sharks without soccer balls (coaches can start as sharks too).

• The rest of the players are Nemo or Dori and start each with a ball on one end of the grid.

• Nemo/Dori’s have to dribble their ball to the other side of the ocean without losing their soccer ball (food) to Bruce the shark.

• Sharks do not kick balls away, they just need to touch it with their foot to catch the Nemo/Dori.

• If a Nemo/Dori gets their ball stolen, have them do 4 toe taps (touch top of ball with the bottom of your feet), and then continue to swim the ocean.

• Nemo/Dori’s can start crossing when the sharks yell “Try and cross my ocean little fish!”

• Switch sharks after two fish crossings.

Coaching Points:

• Look for moments to swim into space! If you just swim without a plan, you’ll be eaten up!

• Encourage changes of speed and direction.

• Look for players who are using both feet to dribble, and make a positive example out of them.

• Have fun!

Set Up:

• Play 4v4. If your numbers are short, decrease size of field to 25x15 and play 3v3.
• Cones for goals are 2yds wide (same as for a game).
• There are no goalkeepers.

Coaching Points:

None. Just sit back and let them play. Use this as an opportunity to talk about the rules of the game for your league. If a goal is scored, bring ball back to center of field and show the players where they should stand to restart.