Speed dribbling drill to increase ball control

-August 6, 2024

In football, the ability to dribble at speed while maintaining control of the ball is an invaluable skill that can set players apart. This blog post introduces a speed dribbling drill to enhance players’ dribbling skills, agility, and speed under pressure. This drill is an excellent option to use soon after a light warmup to increase heart rate and blood flow.

Setup

This speed dribbling drill setup is straightforward and adaptable to various team sizes and field spaces, but we recommend practising with at least 8 players to make it fun.

You will need enough space for two lines of cones spaced from each other by about 1 meter, as shown in the picture. The setup should allow players to dribble in zigzag between the cones. For equipment, ensure you have a minimum of 2 balls and 11 cones (4×2 for the zigzag lines, 2 to mark the starting point, 1 for the end zone).

Split players into two teams, each starting at the end of a line of cones.

Instructions

To make sure the intensity of this drill is high, the two teams compete against each other following this pattern:

Players start at the cones with a ball each, ready to push their dribbling limits.
Zigzag Dribbling: Players dribble at full speed through the zigzag cone setup. The key here is to keep the ball close, allowing for quick changes in direction and maintaining control under speed.

Sprint Section: After navigating the zigzag, players sprint towards the final cone between the zigzag lines, focusing on accelerating with the ball without losing control.
Turn and Return: Players turn around the cone, pass the ball to a teammate waiting to start and sprint back to the starting point. This tests their ability to handle the ball at high speed and manage tight turns and passing.
Continuous Rotation: Upon completion, players rotate to the end of their team’s line, ensuring each participant gets multiple turns to refine their technique.
Winning team: The team that first completes the number of rotations agreed to wins. Alternatively, you can run one rotation and give 1 point to the team that finished first. Then start again, and continue until one of the teams reaches a target score (e.g., the first team to score 3 points).

Takeaways

This drill focuses on keeping possession after scoring. Additionally, your team will practice:

Enhanced Ball Control: Players learn to manoeuvre the ball quickly through tight spaces, which is crucial for match situations where space and time are limited.
Improved Agility: The ability to change direction rapidly with the ball is improved, enhancing overall field adaptability
Speed: Players develop the skill to sprint at high speeds without sacrificing ball control, which is essential for breaking away from defenders.
Aside from good dribbling skills, players must have a good passing technique to win this game.
Increased Endurance: Repetitive practice of the drill builds stamina and prepares players for the physical demands of a full-length game.

I hope you find this drill helpful. If you like this post, please share it with your friends. Also, if you know about other exercises or have questions, comment on our Facebook page.

Pablo Matamoros

I am a software engineer with 25+ years of experience across diverse industries. I've climbed the corporate leader over the years, which has some benefits but means I moved away from my love for tinkering with technology. So, I build the odd website or application to keep learning and stay in touch with technology. FootballTechniques allows me to combine my programming knowledge with my passion for football.

To find out more about my professional experience, visit PabloMatamoros.com