Dribbling and Tackling

Conditioned dribble
Purpose: 1. For attackers: to practice dribbling, screening and turning with the ball to beat a man. 2. For defenders: practice intercepting, jockeying and tackling for the ball.

Procedure: An area approximately 40X30 yards wide is marked out and split into two halves. The game is 5 v 5, with each team having three defenders and two attackers who are restricted to their own half of the area. The game begins with one of the back players dribbling and later passing the ball with the other back players. They have to get the ball up to one of their two colleagues in the opposite half who, in turn, look for opportunities to screen and dribble the ball past opponents until one of them carries the ball over the end line; also, defenders must make their tackles before the attacker reaches the end line. The sets of players should be changed around so that all experience dribbling and tackling practice.

Development: (a) Limit the number of passes that attackers can make to encourage dribbling and tackling. (b) Give attackers or defenders extra points for successful displays of set techniques, e.g. tackling with the weakest foot only, or turning with the ball to beat a man. (c) The team with the most 'goals', or fewest against them, win the game.