How to Use Small Sided Games to Develop Dribbling in Soccer

The use of small-sided games to work on technical aspects of the game of soccer has become very popular in the last 20 years or so. This concept was pioneered by the Dutch and Germans, as well as Brazil. Formats differ from country to country, but generally, small-sided games of 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 are excellent means to develop good dribbling skills in players of all ages.

Things You'll Need

  • Cones
  • Balls
  • Pinnies
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use basic 1v1 games to work on the idea of beating players. Condition these games such that the player with the ball must use a move to beat a player rather than rely on speed or power. Have 1v1 games with a goal at each end that any player can score in to work on turns, acceleration and feints.

    • 2

      Play games of 2v2 to teach players to dribble into the space created by off-ball runs from supporting attackers. A player on the ball must get her head up to see what her teammate is doing to create space for her. Once space is created, the on-ball attacker can then use skill moves to beat the defender near her and move into the space created by her teammate.

    • 3

      Use games of 3v3 to work on dribbling to maintain possession. 3v3 allows for plenty of attacking movement but also presents challenges to the attacking team in that the defense is usually more balanced and defends space very well. In times where there is no avenue to beat defenders with the ball, and when passing is too risky, the player with the ball must learn to dribble to possess by keeping the ball moving and by keeping his body between the ball and the defender until a good option arises.

    • 4

      Play games of 4v4 with a man marking condition. This should be a condition where every player has a specific mark on the other team, and each player can tackle only her mark. This creates four 1v1s on the field of play and also works on how effective it can be to beat one defender and go to goal. A side effect is that off-ball attackers will also learn how to make runs that drag defenders away from the dribbler.

    • 5

      Use channel games, with zones on the wings, to work on dribbling on the wings. Ensure that these wing channels are only 1v1 at all times and that goals can be scored only from crosses. This ensures many repetitions in the wide areas on the field and forces players to use their skills to beat their immediate opponents.