Description
A fun dribbling game where players, the blue “minnows” try to dribble their ball from one side of the area to the other without being caught by the yellow “sharks” The sharks try to steal, block, or kick the ball out of the area. The drill helps players practice close control, changes of direction, shielding, awareness, and dribbling under pressure.
Set up a rectangular area. All minnows start on one end line with a ball each. One or two sharks start in the middle. On the coach’s signal, minnows try to dribble safely to the opposite side. If a shark wins or kicks out a ball, that minnow can become a shark, perform a quick challenge before rejoining, or wait for the next round.
Coaching Points
- Keep the ball close when pressure is nearby.
- Take bigger touches when there is open space.
- Keep your head up to see sharks and open lanes.
- Change speed and direction to escape pressure.
- Use your body to shield the ball.
- Avoid dribbling straight into crowded areas.
Progressions
- Make the area smaller to increase pressure.
- Minnows can only use right foot, left foot, outside or sole to push the ball.
- Require minnows to use a specific turn or skill move before crossing.