Key Skills (U9/U10)
• Different from dribbling – players run with the ball in the open
field, need fewer touches, but still need to maintain
close control
• Touch the ball with
the OUTSIDE of the foot when running with the ball, not the inside.
• Head up
• Inside
cut - change direction by cutting the ball with the inside of a foot
• Outside cut – change direction by cutting
the ball with the outside of a foot
• Drag Back – change direction by stepping on the ball and dragging it back to
you
• Cruyff – change direction by cutting the ball back BEHIND the ankle of your plant foot
• Matthews
– while dribbling with the ball in front of you, fake in one direction with your body (don’t touch the ball yet!)
then cut back in the opposite direction and take the ball away with the outside of your non-plant foot
(e.g.
fake left, then cut to the right, driving off your left foot and taking the ball away with the outside of your right foot)
• Scissors – while dribbling with the ball in front of you, fake an outside cut by passing your foot just IN FRONT of the ball
and bringing it back around behind. See if you can do it twice in a row, once with each foot.
Finishing
• Power vs. accuracy – learn to recognize when you need each one (see below).
• Focus on finishing a moving ball with
a first-time strike. Time is scarce in front of the goal!
Passing
• On the ground – insist on this! It’s much easier for your teammate to control a ball on the ground.
• On the move – more emphasis on passing a moving
ball rather than a stationary one.
Teaching Points
Running with the Ball – Stress using the OUTSIDE of the foot when
running with the ball. Think about trying to run fast while dribbling with the insides…toes pointed outward…waddling like
a penguin. Penguins are not fast! Note the distance of the ball from the body. Keep the ball at a close and consistent
distance and challenge players to increase their pace and change directions while running with the ball.
Finishing – Aim low and in the corners. Aim for the far post when shooting from angles. Distinguish between finishing, from closer in where accuracy is more important than power, and shooting, from farther out where they need more power and shoot more with laces. Nobody gets to shoot or finish a stationary ball in a game. Design your practice games to teach shooting off the dribble or from a pass as well as from stationary balls.