As a football player, having advanced dribbling skills is essential for beating defenders on the field. Superior dribbling ability gives you better ball control, enabling you to maneuver past opponents with ease. While all good players spend time on fundamentals, taking your dribbling ability to the next level requires drills specifically designed to develop mastery of the ball.
We provide football players with seven drills to dramatically improve their dribbling technique. Whether you want quicker footwork, smoother turns, or sharper cuts, Including these challenging drills in your training is key. With consistent practice, the payoff will be obvious in your games when you breeze past defenders using your new moves. Read on to start building your dribbling skills to the advanced level!
Why Advanced Dribbling Drills Are Crucial for Improving Ball Control
Advanced dribbling drills are vital for any football player seeking to improve their ball control and footwork. Though basic dribbling drills have value, advanced drills take your technique to the next level by emphasizing moves and skills needed in game situations.
Specifically, advanced drills develop:
- Better touches on the ball with all parts of the feet
- Quicker changes of speed and direction
- More deceptive fakes and body feints
- Sharper cuts, turns, and stops
- Improved close control in tight spaces
Mastering these abilities gives you the tools to manipulate the ball past defenders consistently. Advanced drills recreate scenarios you’ll face against tough, experienced opponents so you can put your honed techniques into practice.
With the foundation built through advanced drills, you’ll have the ball control to drive the ball downfield, dance through traffic in the box, and create space for shots and passes. The drills challenge you to handle the ball well under pressure, building key dribbling fundamentals.
Tips for Maximizing Your Dribbling Drills
To get the most out of your advanced dribbling drills, keep these tips in mind:
Focus and Intensity
- Give your full concentration during the drills – no distractions
- Perform moves with speed, power, and precision
- Maintain intensity even as you get tired
Integrate Moves into Scrimmages
- Incorporate dribbling moves from drills into scrimmages
- Visualize using the skills against defenders
- Build confidence dribbling in game-like scenarios
Get Feedback
- Ask your coach to observe drills and provide feedback
- Identify areas you need to improve
- Refine technique based on expert input
Vary Drills and Use Equipment
- Switch up drills to improve different techniques
- Gradually increase difficulty as skills improve
- Use cones, ladders, and hurdles to add realism
Maximizing your advanced drills requires effort, focus, and continually pushing yourself. But the payoff will be sharper dribbling skills and improved in-game performance.
Cone Dribbling Zig Zag
The cone dribbling zig-zag drill helps improve close control and the ability to maneuver the ball with different parts of the feet.
Set up:
- Arrange a series of 8-10 cones in a zigzag pattern with each cone 1-2 yards apart
- Have 2-3 yards space between each “row” of cones
Instructions:
- Begin dribbling through the zig-zag cone pattern
- Use the inside, outside, and laces of both feet to dribble around cones
- Increase speed and make tight turns at the cones
- Change direction at the end of each zig zag
- Repeat the drill going both forward and backward
This drill challenges you to precisely control the ball despite frequent changes of direction. Your touches and ability to maneuver in tight spaces improve dramatically. Vary the drill by adding more cones, tightening space between cones, or incorporating moves like stepovers at the cones.
Hurdle Stepovers
The hurdle stepover drill develops footwork, body feints, and ball control when changing direction.
Set-Up:
- Place 5-10 small hurdles in a straight line with 1-2 feet between them
- Have enough space to dribble comfortably between hurdles
Instructions:
- Dribble up to the first hurdle at speed
- Perform a stepover and exit to the side of the hurdle
- Accelerate quickly to the next hurdle
- Alternate the side you exit each hurdle
- Increase the frequency and complexity of stepovers
This drill improves coordination between your feet and the ball when doing rapid stepovers and changes of direction. To increase difficulty:
- Use smaller hurdles to sharpen footwork
- Set up multiple lines of hurdles
- Incorporate additional moves like inside/outside cuts
Regular practice will make stepovers and sharp cuts second nature when facing defenders.
Ladder Footwork Patterns
Agility ladders are a great tool for honing footwork and ball control.
Set-Up:
- Lay the agility ladder flat on the ground
- Ensure adequate space on both sides to dribble
Instructions:
- Begin at one end of the ladder, dribbling the ball
- Move through the ladder, executing various footwork patterns:
- Two feet in each box
- In and out of each rung
- Quick feet shuffle
- Hopscotch pattern
- Face forward and sideways while moving through the ladder
This drill promotes smooth coordination between footwork and dribbling. Key points:
- Keep the ball close and under control
- Look up, not down at the ladder
- Alternate touching the ball with left and right feet
- Increase speed and complexity of patterns as skills improve
Sharpen change of direction and close control by incorporating moves between ladder rungs.
Partner Mirror Dribbling
Adding a partner element takes dribbling drills to a new level. The mirror dribbling drill improves reaction time and ball control.
Set-Up:
- Partner up with a teammate, each with a ball. Face each other.
- Mark out a 10 x 10-yard square with cones.
Instructions:
- One partner initiates dribbling anywhere in the square.
- The other partner mirrors their every move, staying close.
- React quickly to changes in speed, direction, and moves.
- Perform fakes to lose your partner.
- Switch the leader every 1-2 minutes.
This advanced drill develops close control, coordination, and response time. Key tips:
- Stay on your toes and move nimbly.
- Keep your eyes up and focus on your partner’s movements.
- Work together to increase complexity as skills improve.
- Communicate clearly when switching roles.
Doing drills with a partner brings a game realism lacking in solo drills. Compete and have fun!
Dribbling Relay Races
Dribbling relay races add a competitive element to improve motivation and pace.
Set-Up:
- Divide players into teams of 3-5 players. Set up cones 10-15 yards apart for start and finish lines.
Instructions:
- Teams line up behind the start cone, with the first player dribbling a ball.
- When signaled, the first player dribbles to the finish cone and back.
- The next teammate then takes their turn dribbling to the cone.
- This relay pattern continues until a team finishes.
This drill encourages:
Control focus on keeping the ball tight while moving fast
Changing pace accelerates and decelerates quickly
Changing direction alternate going left and right of the cone
Teamwork cheers teammates on and moves quickly between turns
Make it competitive by seeing which team completes the relay fastest. The intensity boosts speed and urgency when dribbling.
Coached Dribbling Course
This drill adds variables by incorporating a coach’s commands.
Set-Up:
- Use cones, hurdles, or poles to design a dribbling course with different stations
- Have the coach stand to the side of the course
Instructions:
- The player dribbles through the course while the coach yells commands like:
“Turn” – change direction suddenly
“Stop” – dead stop the ball
“Go” – accelerate rapidly
“Back” – dribble backward then forwards again
- Execute the coach’s commands while maintaining control.
- Increase the speed and complexity of commands.
This drill develops listening skills, reaction time, and ball control under changing conditions. Key tips:
- Stay focused on the ball, not the coach.
- Execute commands smoothly.
- Push yourself to react and move quickly.
Having to respond to random commands improves the ability to change direction and speed with the ball.
Target Dribbling
This partner drill works on control dribbling leading into a pass.
Set-Up:
- Partners face each other 10-15 yards apart
- The passer has a ball, receiver presents their hands as a target
Instructions:
- The passer dribbles toward the receiver performing moves like stepovers, cuts, turns
- The receiver holds hands up in different positions as the target
- The passer executes the final move and then passes the ball into the receiver’s hands
This advanced drill develops:
Control dribbling – maintain close control executing moves
Passing accuracy Perform accurate pass after dribbling sequence
Communication – receiver cues passer on target position
Vary the drill by increasing distance, specifying which foot to pass with, and adding defenders or targets.
Final Tips for Advanced Dribbling Improvement
Here are some final tips for getting the most out of your advanced dribbling training:
- Emphasize quality over quantity with drills
- Push yourself outside your comfort zone
- Combine drills for a complete skill set
- Replicate game conditions and scenarios
- Focus on your weaker foot
- Be consistent for maximum improvement
Following an advanced dribbling training regimen will elevate your skills to new heights. Mastering the ball will give you the confidence and ability to conquer any opponent. Take your game to the next level with these drills!
Read More: Take Your Dribbling to the Next Level: The Ultimate Guide to Agility Training
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