Player Reflection Tool
Dribbling, taking players on
HOW IT WORKS
Complete the form
First, complete the 55 questions below as accurately as you can
Choose a topic area
View your results and choose an area to study
Identify two aims
Use video tasks to identify two specific things to work on
Practice to improve
Let your coach know what you are working on
This webpage has been especially designed to help you improve your dribbling skills. Dribbling is a vital skill in football. It is creative, exciting, enjoyable and very effective. Becoming a great dribbler takes a lot of practice though, so be prepared to work hard in order to improve. Your mission is to complete all the homework tasks below and identify two key specific things that you want to work on and try to improve in your practice sessions, team training or on your own.
Dribbling requires that you can control the ball well. There is no short-cut to being able to control the ball well, it takes hours and hours of practice. We will look at how we practice, and watch the marvellous skills of Marta (football) and Ricardinho (futsal).
HOMEWORK TASK 1
Watch the video and copy the movements of the players. The first video is easier than the second or third. Listen to the tips and advice in the videos, especially about practising on both feet. It's very important when practising ball control that you use the correct size ball. Children don't need an adult size 5 ball. It is best to practice these skills using a size 3 ball (or size 4 for teenage players).
HOMEWORK TASK 2
Watch how these girls are able to unbalance their opponent with fients and dummies. Why is it important to unbalance the defender, and why is it then important to move quickly?
When you play and practice football or futsal, try to 'decorate' your play with quick movements, in order to make it really hard for the defender to win the ball from you.
In the videos below, for your inspiration - Ricardinho (futsal) and Marta (football) - show us some of their tricks and moves..
Try to get confident with the move, and then challenge a parent or friend to a game and see if you can use it against them.
HOMEWORK TASK 3
Choose two moves (from any of the videos on this page) and practice these moves. You will use these at your next MoF session, so make sure you are confident performing them. It is a good idea to practice on your own, and then against a friend or parent too.
Here are some links to good videos that will help you learn moves:
Or here are some clips of MoF superstar, Itai, demonstrating the 360 and Elastico moves.
How to practice
Scientists have done lots of research on how people develop skills. They have found that the best type of practice for sports is something called Deliberate Practice (or sometimes called Deep Practice). They have found that one hour of Deliberate Practice is more useful and effective than several hours of non-Deliberate Practice. Find out more about Deliberate Practice by watching the videos below.
In the first two videos expert Daniel Coyle talks about the magic and importance of practice, and how quality of time is more important than quantity of time:
Here are the key factors needed for Deliberate Practice:
- Practice needs to be intense and focused, and you need to make a lot of effort to learn. Practice should push you to the edge of your abilities, outside your comfort zone
- It helps to set a goal for yourself so you are trying to improve at something in particular (eg. ball control, shooting on target, improving your weaker foot etc)
- There should be repetition of key techniques or skills. Techniques should be corrected, concentrate on correcting each mistake you make
- It helps to have an expert coach to give feedback and tuition
Dear Learner,
Welcome to your HOMEWORK page! Here you will learn about your chosen topic. It is a good idea to save the URL for this page to your favourites so you can easily return to it when you need to.
You need to work through the tasks on the page, one at a time. This might mean watching videos, it might mean doing other tasks and activities. It may be a good idea to take notes also. Remember that the more work and effort you put into the tasks, the more you will learn and the better you will become.
For most topics, there will be a PRINT OUT at the bottom of the page. You need to print this, complete the questions, and take to your coach. You need to do this so the coaches know what you are working on and are able to help you.
If any of the links on this page are broken, or you have other ideas or suggestions, please get in touch at:
Contact
Mark Carter
mark@ministry-of-football.com
Back to top
Once you have completed all the homework, click on the 'Print the form' link. This will open a form which you need to print out and complete. Take this completed form to your coach.
Then click here to move onto the last part of the Tool.
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Mark Carter
mark@ministry-of-football.com
07772 716 876