Dribble (Soccer)
Stages of Development
Teaching and Learning
Dribbling the ball requires controlling the ball while moving with it. This skill can be introduced in Kindergarten/Pre-school as it will help children develop their ball tracking skills as they tap the ball and run after it. Often at this age they will end up chasing the ball rather than dribbling it. By the age of 10 years children should have mastered all components of this skill.
Teaching cues
- Keep the ball close like it is attached to your foot with a piece of string
- Small, soft taps of the ball
- Use both feet and all parts of your foot
Teaching strategies
- Focus on moving the ball from one foot to the other with small, soft taps
- Use medium, soft balls as they are easier to control
- Try at a walking pace to begin with
- Ask children the different parts of the foot they can dribble with
- Encourage children to keep the ball close to them
- Play games such as Musical Soccer and Traffic Lights with each child having a ball, use commands such as dribble forward, stop the ball, walk around in a circle, dribble and knock over a cone, dribble with both feet
- Set up obstacle courses to dribble around
- Practice dribbling while looking ahead at a target
- Speed up and try dribbling at a fast walk, then jog, then run – all whilst still in control
- Encourage children to use the inside and outside of foot
- Play dribbling games such as Rob the Nest with dribbling and Cone Monster
- Dribble in different directions
- Incorporate dribbling into games with Small Sided Soccer games
- Practice dribbling at high speed
- Add in defenders to dribble around
- Play a game of Netflix using dribbling
- Combine dribbling and kicking with games such as Battleships
Skill criteria
- Dribbles with the inside and outside of feet
- Moves ball from one foot to the other
- Maintains even balance
- Lifts head to look around
- Arms move to assist action
Common errors
- Kicks the ball far away
- Only uses one foot
- Looks down at the ball
- Unable to control the ball
Skill usage
