Week 8 · U6
Dribbling and 1v1 attacking
Objectives — what the players will do
- 1Keep the ball glued close with little touches on both feet
- 2Try a trick to dribble past a defender
- 3Change speed after the trick — slow, slow, FAST
Play 1 — starts when the second player arrives
Red Light, Green Light
Every player grabs a ball the moment they arrive and joins in. Green light means dribble, red light means stop the ball with the bottom of your foot — squash it like a bug! Add yellow light for slow-motion dribbling and purple light for turning around. Let the kids take turns being the traffic light. No waiting, no lines — the game starts when the second player gets there.
Practice — the one taught activity of the night
Escape the Den
A square den with all the attackers and their balls inside, plus one or two gentle bears (defenders without balls). Escape by dribbling OUT of the den over any line with the ball under control — try your favorite trick, then zoom: slow, slow, FAST! Run back in and escape again. Count your escapes in 90 seconds, then swap the bears.
Send the bears home — pure dribbling escapes with little touches, both feet, and a red-light stop on every line.
Add a bear, or escapes only count through narrow cone doors on each side — trick first, then burst through the door.
Play 2 — always finish playing the real game
4v4 — Beat One, Score Big
Normal games, but a goal counts DOUBLE if the scorer dribbled past someone on the way. Cheer every brave try at a trick, even the ones that get tackled.
Key coaching points — in your own words
- ·Little touches, little touches — like the ball is glued to your shoe.
- ·Slow... slow... FAST! Zoom away after your trick.
- ·Which way is empty? Go there!
- ·Keep your body between the bear and the ball.
- ·I love it when you try your move — win or lose, try it again!
Livelier defenders in every game — the tricks now have to work for real.
Bears walk everywhere, spaces grow, and every escape earns a team cheer.
Game-day focus — watch for this on Saturday
Give every player one "brave dribble" moment to try a trick — and cheer it whatever happens. Diamond stays big, everyone defends and attacks, rotate positions, no booting.
Message to forward to your parents
This week was all about brave dribbling — keeping the ball close, trying a trick, and escaping bears! Being brave enough to try matters more than whether it works. Ask them to show you their favorite escape move.
This week's two videos
Prep the night before; copy the activity on the field.
Run Better Rec Soccer Practices!
Watch the night before to understand the idea
Watch before your first March session — this is the blueprint for a fun, high-touch practice that matches our Play-Practice-Play method. Lift the structure wholesale: arrive-and-play, short game-based activities, finish with the game. Layer the dribbling theme into every activity rather than coaching it in isolation.
Watch on YouTubeInsanely Fun 1v1 Training Drill That Will Transform Players Dribbling Skills
A drill you can copy on the field
A quick-hit 1v1 game design you can drop straight into weeks 3 and 4. Small area, fast turnarounds, everyone duels. Score the attempts, not just the goals — that is how we make BRAVE visible to seven-year-olds.
Watch on YouTube