December 2005, January 2006

Mannequin Training:
Creative Dribbling Training

Greetings Coach!

Good dribblers create goals. Good dribblers create excitement. Unfortunately, however, flashy dribbling is a lost art. Recently we lost one of the world's all time great dribblers in George Best. In honor of Mr. Best this months training newsletter will focus on how to utilize The Soccer Wall TM to assist in the creation of a clever, dangerous and game changing dribbler.

Slalom Dribbling

The most common dribbler training and a great place to start your dribble training is with a simple slalom course. With The Soccer Wall TM a realistic setting is in place for your dribblers. With training mannequins your players are unable to lean or cut corners as with the use of training cones.

Give specific instruction to insure dribbling with all parts of the foot. (Inside Only, Outside Only, Right Foot Only etc...) Bring excitement by demanding a change of speed and encouraging "No Look Dribbling". (Players must use their peripheral vision to see the ball.)

Zig Zag Slalom

Your Soccer Wall is lightweight (6lbs.) and easy to move. Change your set up to a Zig Zag Pattern. Have your players dribble through the course under the same restrictions as the straight slalom course. Zig Zag patterns push the dribbler to turn sharply using all parts of their feet while maintaining balance. Encourage use of the arms to keep the mannequin away from the ball. Great dribblers have excellent technique in using their arms to hold off aggresive defenders.

Creative Dribble

One of my old favorites is the Creative Dribble. Set up The Soccer Wall Men in a varied placement, somewhat symmetrical. Players are free to dribble anywhere they like. Encourage them to be creative with their turns, cuts, fakes etc... Direct them to change pace, require them to dribble with a specific foot, ask them to dribble without looking at the ball and accelerate into space. The goal is to develop a dribbling free spirit that will be unpredictable, clever and creative at game time.

Fakes and Feints

The glamorous part of dribbling are the dribblers fakes and feints. Good moves can make the opponent look and feel foolish while dismantling their defensive structure.

Separate players into groups of 4-6. Place 2-3 players 10-15 yards opposite 2-3 others players. Place a Soccer Wall Training Mannequin in between the 2 sets of players. Each player has a ball or they may share. Players attack the Mannequin and must throw a fake or feint before beating The Soccer Wall. Switch lines after taking on the Man.

A great technical warm up exercise that players enjoy. Add a twist by allowing 2 players to attack at the same time. Second one to the Mannequin must react to the first dribbler so as not to collide.

Dribble and Finish

Your striker is loose 20 yards out with one player to beat. He/She must beat the defender quickly before supporting defenders show up. A quick shoulder tuck or body fake will do it. Then a shot on goal!

This scenario is simple to reproduce. Place 3 Soccer Wall Mannequins approximately 10 yards apart and about 20 yards from the goal. One soccer wall central, one on the left side and one mannequin on the right side. Alternate dribblers and lines.

Closing

There are many additional dribbling exercises that will help you create top dribblers. Encourage your players to develop their dribbling outside of the daily or weekly structure of team training. Then, sit back and enjoy their work tearing up your opponents defense!

Now you can use The Soccer Wall on field turf. Easy to reposition. Fill with sand or cement or slip Olympic weights into the weight cavity. Adaptable to any and all Soccer Wall Mannequins. Order now!

Visit us at Cal South's Soccer Nation. Booth 355. February 18, 2006.

Contact Information
email: elder@thesoccerwall.com
phone: 1.877.757.9255
web: http://www.thesoccerwall.com