| Shielding the ball while knowing where players are | | | | dribble the ball around on the coach's whistle. As the |
| around you is an important skill to learn as players | | | | players dribble, they will attempt to pull the flag off the |
| develop. This drill will teach both shielding and | | | | other players. Once the flag is pulled, the player whose |
| awareness as players will need to keep their head up | | | | flag was removed must step out of the area. If a |
| while they move around so they know where other | | | | player loses control of the ball and it goes outside the |
| players are. | | | | area, they must also step out of the area. As you get |
| Preparation and equipment: | | | | fewer players, you can make the area smaller to |
| - cones to mark off an area | | | | speed up the game. Play continues until you are down |
| - flags or socks for each player | | | | to two players at which point it becomes very difficult |
| - ball for each player | | | | for one player to win. |
| Execution: | | | | This drill teaches shielding and dribbling, while the player |
| Mark of an area with cones; area can be whatever | | | | must maintain awareness of their surroundings. This drill |
| shape desired, but generally people use squares. The | | | | is more of an intermediate drill better suited for players |
| area should be large enough to move around and can | | | | that know the basics of soccer and have a solid skill |
| be reduced in size depending on the skill level of the | | | | foundation. This drill can be used early in practice as |
| players. Each player needs to have a flag that can be | | | | part of the warm-up, but should be part of a regular |
| removed attached to their waist or shorts. Some | | | | plan designed to get players used to being aware of |
| coaches have used old socks stuffed in the backs of | | | | surroundings while on the ball. |
| shorts that hang out like a tail. Players will start to | | | | |