musical balls

a fun soccer warm up that improves dribbling skills

Your players, each with their own ball, dribble around a large grid. They should be moving at a decent pace, avoiding each other and keeping their heads up. 

After they have been dribbling for a while, call out the word "CHANGE."  When you do this each player must stop their ball, leave it where it is, and run around the circle looking for another football. It is important they get to new balls right away and continue dribbling. 

After allowing them to get comfortable with the concept of the drill, remove one player's ball.  This player now must run around the drill without a ball.  When the next "Change" comes about that person must try and find a ball leaving another player without a ball to dribble.

Any player who doesn't end up with a ball after a "Change" has to run round the grid. Just be careful that the same player doesn't lose out every time.

What to look for:

• Players are not allowed to swap balls with the same person two consecutive times,

• Make sure that the children are using the entire grid,

Finally, make sure that the players are practicing moves and turns within the area. You don't want them to just be dribbling straight all the time.  They should be weaving in and out of each other at a realistic speed.