Dribbling Gates:
Dribbling Gates is an activity for players of all ages that can be used. It is a basic game that makes it simple to focus on essential fundamentals for dribbling.
Set up gates around your practice field (mini cone goals). Every player has a ball. Players dribble across the field freely. Execute a skill at each gate. Moving from easy to hard. Start with dribbling with either foot through a gate. Designate a foot, left or right. At each gate, execute skill – toe taps, tick tocks, turn. Speed dribble under control through the gate. Race through the gates dribbling, and then running races.
Passing Gates:
A enjoyable activity that promotes proper techniques and movement is Passing Gates.
Set up gates around your practice field (mini cone goals). Each player requires a partner, a group of two. There is one ball in each pair. The target is to pass the ball to your partner through a gate. The game begins with a partner running to a gate without a ball. The player with the ball leads and moves through the gate to his partner. After completing the pass, the player runs to a new gate without the ball, followed by a ball partner. Game continues… When passing and receiving, players should be 5-10 feet apart.
Coaches Notes:
Focus on Fundamentals and Proper Techniques:
“Gates” are excellent preparation exercises to develop dribbling and passing skills. When your players fully understand the game, turning it into a competition is a way to get the best out of your players. Race to dribble through 5 gates, race to do 2 toe taps at 5 gates, race to run through 5 gates, team race to pass through 5 gates.
Points for Coaching:
Keep the ball close to your feet while dribbling and head up as much as you can. Use the inside of the foot while passing, plant the foot (non-kicking foot) next to the ball and point to the target (partner / teammate). All players should have 100% Commitment