Coach Says Dribble
Focus
Legend
- player
- movement path
How it works
Follow only coach instructions (not trick commands) during a dribbling game to practice focused attention.
What you need
- cones
- soccer ball
Your focus
Focus is the ability to attend to the right information while filtering distractions. A 'coach says' format with trick commands trains young players to listen carefully and act only on correct instructions , building attentional control in a playful context.
Players dribble freely in a 20x20 yard space.
Coach gives commands: 'Coach says fast,' 'Coach says stop,' etc.
When coach gives a command WITHOUT 'coach says,' players must ignore it.
Players who react to a no-'coach says' command must stop for 5 seconds.
Play for 4 minutes; count how many trick commands each player resists.
Progress to faster command sequences.
Goal
You've got it when you hear the trick command and don't flinch, you keep dribbling and wait for the real coach call. Zero false starts is a perfect rep.
Helpful cues
- Listen before you move, ears on, then feet on
- Don't react to the noise, react to the right words
- Focus means knowing what to ignore, not just what to hear
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
All commands include 'coach says' at first; gradually introduce tricks.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Coach also moves their hands (wrong gestures) to create visual distraction during commands.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.