Football-adapted gameDribbling
Cross the River
Players dribble from one bank to the other across a river zone guarded by two or three 'crocodiles' who try to kick their ball out. A dribbling game for U7–U10.
- Age
- U7–U12
- Players
- 8–20
- Duration
- 12 min
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Intensity
- High
- Area
- 25 × 20 m
- Type
- Technical
- Approach
- Global
- Format
- Football-adapted game
- Objectives
- Technical: Dribbling, 1v1 attacking
- Concepts worked on
- Technical:Dribbling past an opponentRunning with the ballShielding the ball
- Tactical:Scanning
Training diagram
Legend
- Attacker
- Defender
- Run without ball
- Dribble
- Ball
- Cone
All players attack at the same time, so the crocodiles cannot mark everybody: dribblers learn to look up and pick the moment and the gap. Players whose ball is kicked out become crocodiles, so the game gets harder each round.
Objective
Dribble past defenders by looking for the free space and changing speed.
Organisation
- Area of 25 × 20 m: two banks of 8 m and a river of 9 m in the middle.
- Two or three crocodiles in the river; everyone else on one bank with a ball.
How it works
- On the coach's call, everyone dribbles across the river to the other bank.
- Crocodiles try to kick balls out of the area; they cannot leave the river.
- Players who lose their ball become crocodiles. Last three survivors start the next game as crocodiles.
Coaching points
- Head up: find a gap before you go.
- Use a change of pace to get past.
- Protect the ball with your body when a crocodile comes close.
Progressions
- Crocodiles may leave the river.
- Players must cross with the weaker foot only.
Regressions
- A narrower river so crossings are quicker.
Variations
- Players who lose the ball can rejoin by doing 10 toe taps.
Key principles
- Look, choose the gap, accelerate.
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