BASIC DRIBBLING FOR 5 AND 6 YEAR OLDS; TECHNICAL ASPECTS

Do not be intimidated by the word “Technical” in the title. Successful Kinder-Coaching requires VERY LITTLE soccer expertise or knowledge. What it does require is KNOWLEDGE about the AGE GROUP.

Dribbling is the ONLY skill we emphasize at this level (although a little kicking technique is also permissible).

Dribbling Requirements (technique)

1. Soft Tip-tap touches. Best taught with one ball per player, a large square with boundaries, and folded into “Simon Says” or similar.
   
   
2. Contact with a “Fat Ball” (i.e. touch the ball at its centre point) This is why we MUST use the correct SIZE of BALL (size 3 soccer which is very similar to Futsal Ball!)
   
   
3. Try to get both feet tip-tapping. Perhaps a coach demonstration here (or from an advanced player). Many kinders will still be conditioned to “Boot and chase” (Oh well!”)
   
   
4. Try getting TIP-TAP touches from inside/outside and sole of SHOE. Best in a situation requiring zig-zag touches or (Red Light /Green Light) speed-change games.
   
   
5. Work at different speeds (Stop-go-slow-fast) (again Red/Green Light etc)
   
   
6. Try more dramatic changes of direction (180 turns, zig-zag etc) (difficult!)
   
   
7. Take evasive action while dribbling: awareness of other players. This is where the “Dribble Tag” games can work really well-IF  IF  IF they are strictly controlled. For example : COACH becomes the “COOKIE MONSTER” who (pretends!!) to chase everyone who is dribbling their ball. DO NOT go for full-out “Tag” – there will be tears, accidents, and a loss of fragile dribbling confidence for most kids.
   
   
8. CYSA recommends that any and all scrimmages to end such practices be 1 vs 1.

I find this a little rigid (and 1 v 1 is VERY difficult). However, a 6 v 6 scrimmage is NOT DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPOS: I suggest (Week one) play some 1 v 1….and later in perhaps, Week Three, maybe try two  small games of 3 v 3.