Annual training plan · U9–U13

Week 2: Dribbling to Keep Possession & Cutting Back

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

The first training week on dribbling to keep possession is complete, and week 2 starts with the same training focus.

In the 2nd and 3rd sessions of the week, it is then no longer just about shielding the ball but about beating an opponent.

The focus here is above all on feinting in a head-on 1 vs 1.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

After a warm-up that develops orientation skills as well as dribbling skills, the session continues with the drill Speed with the Ball.

Exercise 3 trains the players to keep the ball close and to take the ball with a purposeful first touch.

The training session ends with a Funino, which can also be played as a tournament depending on the number of players.

Drill 1

Grid Dribbling with Various Tasks

15 min20 x 20 metres

The players dribble in their square freely or only with the right or only with the left. On visual and acoustic signals they carry out additional tasks:

  • Clapping hands: crouch over the ball
  • Raising the right arm: swing the ball between the legs
  • Raising the left arm: control the ball with the sole
  • Two whistles: change square clockwise
  • Three whistles: change square anticlockwise
  • One whistle: change square diagonally
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: One large square with four smaller squares at its corners.

Equipment: Cones and tall cones as well as one ball per player.

Players: The players are divided evenly among the four smaller squares.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to close ball control.
  • Look up from the ball.
  • Constantly build in changes of pace and direction.
Drill 2

Island Dribbling

20 min20 x 20 metres
  • The players dribble freely or as instructed in the playing area.
  • On the coach's whistle they dribble to a hoop as quickly as possible.
  • The two players who do not get a hoop receive a minus point.
  • The players with the fewest minus points win.

Variations: Build in different signals.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark a square playing area. Hoops lie outside the playing area as small islands — always two hoops fewer than there are players taking part.

Equipment: 4 cones, hoops and one ball per player.

Players: The whole group.

Coaching points
  • Have them train with both feet.
Drill 3

Taking the Ball in Stride and Dribbling

20 min
  • The coach plays the ball in.
  • The player takes the ball in their stride towards the course that has been called and dribbles through it.
  • Then comes a pass into the mini goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Three cone courses, each in a different colour and shape, stand in front of two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 mini goals, cones in three colours and several balls.

Players: The players start one after the other; the coach plays the ball in.

Coaching points
  • Keep the ball close.
  • Take the first touch straight towards the course that has been called.
Drill 4

Funino as 3 vs 3

25 min
  • A free 3 vs 3 is played.
  • Goals may only be scored from the end zones.
  • The players try to play a team-mate into the zone with a pass into the run.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark out the playing area and the end zones; there are four mini goals at the ends.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams of three.

Coaching points
  • Keep the rounds short and intensive.
  • Make the game wide in order to create space in the middle and for a switch of play.
  • The defending team must defend as a unit in order to keep both goals in view.
The complete session as a ready-made training plan – with animated drills in the web app. Go to the web app

Session 2

4 drills

The next two training sessions aim to improve the dribbling skills needed for the attacking 1 vs 1. They include the following learning objectives:

1) Being able to make an explosive change of pace with the ball in order to beat the opponent after a feint.

2) Mastering a wide repertoire of feints so as not to be predictable in the attacking 1 vs 1.

3) Mastering secure running with the ball at high speed so as not to give the opponent a second chance of another challenge.

4) Two-footed dribbling in order to widen the range of options in the attacking 1 vs 1.

Coaching points for this session
  • When feinting, shift the centre of gravity sufficiently
  • Start feints in good time
  • After feinting, make an explosive change of pace
  • Demand two-footed feinting and dribbling
Drill 1

Dribbling and Feints

20 min10 to 15 metres between each of the starting cones
  • All three groups start at the same time.
  • The players dribble towards the pole.
  • They perform a feint.
  • They then cut to the left and dribble to the next group.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Three starting cones form a triangle with 10 to 15 metres between each; a pole stands in the middle as a further marker.

Equipment: 3 cones, 1 pole and several balls.

Players: At least two players stand at each starting position.

Coaching points
  • Pay attention to clean execution of the feints.
  • Keep the ball close.
  • Increase the tempo after the feint.
  • Make a clear change of direction.
  • Shift the body as well so that the feint works.
Drill 2

Speed Competition With and Without the Ball

20 min
  • A competition is held between the players.
  • The coach calls out three colours — as the drill progresses also numbers, players' names or club names.
  • In this order the players run round the cones and then sprint over the finishing line at the coach.
  • The winner gets a point.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones in four colours, plus two tall cones as starting positions.

Equipment: 8 cones and 2 tall cones.

Players: The players stand in the middle at the tall cone.

Coaching points
  • Vary the distance of the finishing line.
  • Start and sprint inside the playing area with a low centre of gravity.
Drill 3

Shot After Dribbling in the 1 vs 1

20 min
  • The first players of both teams set off at the same time, dribble through the cones and then shoot at the goal on their left as they see it.
  • A ball is then played into the area and the two players play 1 vs 1 on the mini goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Eight cones form two dribbling courses; plus two youth goals and two mini goals.

Equipment: 2 youth goals, 2 mini goals, 8 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams.

Coaching points
  • Transition immediately after the finish in order to be ready for the 1 vs 1.
Drill 4

4 vs 4 with Dribbling Goals

25 min
  • Free play to dribbling goals.
  • Each team plays to two goals. This allows the play to be made wide, which creates more space for dribbling.
  • The focus is on dribbling and on the 1 vs 1.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark out the playing area, eight cones of a different colour form the dribbling goals, which are two to three metres wide.

Equipment: 12 cones and at least 1 ball.

Players: Two teams of four players each.

Coaching points
  • If necessary, limit the number of passes in order to force more dribbles and 1 vs 1 situations.
  • Go into the dribble decisively.
  • Run with the ball using the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Mix in feints again and again.

Session 3

4 drills

The last training session of the dribbling block starts with a coordination course. After that, various techniques for cutting are learnt at length and internalised through repeated execution.

In Exercise 3 the players dribble under time pressure. This is an excellent way to observe which players keep control of the ball even under pressure.

The training week ends with a small-sided game in which communication and choosing a sensible strategy are required.

Drill 1

Dribbling + Coordination Course

20 min15 x 15 metres
  • One player dribbles in the area, the partner runs through the course three times.
  • Then the partner goes into the area, and the two swap tasks.

Stations in the course:

  1. Run over the poles with a set number of contacts.
  2. Run through a straight slalom.
  3. Run through a staggered slalom.
  4. Run through a triangle of cones and touch every cone with the hand.

Possible tasks for the dribbling in the area: only with the left or right foot, only with the sole, pulling the ball back or performing feints.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A dribbling area as well as a course with four stations made up of poles, hurdles and cones.

Equipment: Poles, hurdles, cones and one ball per pair.

Players: Groups of two.

Coaching points
  • The quality of execution comes before speed.
  • Train with both feet.
  • Look up from the ball.
Drill 2

Dribbling with Change of Direction

15 min

The players dribble towards the cones, which represent opponents, and perform a cutting technique. Examples:

  • Inside of the foot
  • Outside of the foot
  • Sole drag
  • Dragging the ball behind the standing leg
  • Zidane roulette
  • Heel chop

After the last cone, the players dribble towards the two yellow cones and perform a turning movement. Examples:

  • Sole drag
  • Cutting
  • Dragging the ball behind the standing leg
  • Deco turn
  • Shot or pass feint with a change of direction

The ball is then passed back down to the team-mate, who continues the drill.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Seven cones in two colours.

Equipment: 7 cones and several balls.

Coaching points
  • Start the feints in good time.
  • Cut with a change of pace.
  • Shift the centre of gravity.
Drill 3

Dribbling under Competitive Pressure

25 min
  • On the coach's call, two players start against each other at the same time.
  • They dribble through the slalom and shoot the ball into the goal from behind a marker line.
  • The player at the goal collects the previous player's ball and dribbles at speed through the return station back to the start.
  • The shooters then move to the goal.
  • The evaluation covers who got the ball into the goal first and who scored the most goals.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two goals stand next to the full-size goal; in front of them ten cones per side form a slalom, with a return station behind each.

Equipment: 2 goals, 20 cones and several balls.

Players: Two teams; one player per team stands at the goal. In addition goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Keep the ball close.
  • Dribble with both feet.
  • Make changes of direction with the inside and the outside of the foot.
  • Pay attention to clean dribbling.
Drill 4

3 Teams 1 Result

35 minLarge area 40 x 55 metres, medium area 16 x 30 metres, small area 10 x 13 metres
  • A1 plays against B1, A2 against B2 and A3 against B3.
  • The results of the three games are added together for the overall result.
  • After each round the teams can reorganise their players within the teams.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Three playing areas with two goals each are marked out. The size of the areas and the number of players depend on the total number of players.

Equipment: 4 mini goals, 12 cones, 10 bibs and several balls.

Players: Two teams A and B, which divide themselves independently into three smaller teams — for example 5 vs 5, 3 vs 3 and 1 vs 1. The playing time is three to five minutes.

Coaching points
  • Encourage communication between the players.
  • Work towards a sensible team split.
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