Dribbling and ball control exercises for U14 players
Dribbling and ball control are the most individual skills in football. At U14 (13-14 years), consolidating 1v1 technique under pressure, defensive recovery, fix-and-free combinations and 2v2 play is the key individual technical base for the advanced formation stage. In this article you will find 5 dribbling and ball control exercises for U14 players, with objective, materials, space, duration and a variation for each one. Exercises that develop 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 play with competitive intensity.
Why work on dribbling and ball control with U14 players?
Dribbling and ball control are the most individual technical skills in football, and their development is especially important at the advanced formation stage (13-14 years). A player who solves 1v1 situations confidently and can fix defenders to free teammates is a decisive asset in any game model. Three pedagogical principles to keep in mind. First, confidence under pressure: at U14 the dribble must be attempted in high-intensity situations. Second, specific feints: the player must master their personal repertoire of feints and know which to use in which situation. Third, 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2: work the full range of individual and combination attacking situations at game intensity. These exercises work on these principles through 1v1, 2v1 and 2v2 situations with mini-goals at high competitive intensity.
Exercises 5
1v1
| Objective | Improve 1v1 attacking play, dribbling and feints. Improve 1v1 defending, defensive positioning and tackling |
| Players | 2 groups of 4-10 players each team |
| Materials | Balls, mini-goals and bibs |
| Space | Rectangle of 6-20 m per side |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-10 min per set |
| Category | Individual technique |
The task consists of a 1v1 game in a delimited space with 2 mini-goals, with the objective of scoring a goal. The attacking player (RED) must perform a dribble past the defender.
(BLUE) and score in the mini-goal. The defending player (BLUE) must win the ball back and score in the mini-goal. Teams rotate roles each set, switching attacker and defender.
Focus on the technical gesture of dribbling and the timing of the tackle.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
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| Objective | Improve 1v1 attacking play, dribbling and feints. Improve defensive recovery, defensive positioning and tackling |
| Players | 2 groups of 4-10 players each team |
| Materials | Balls, mini-goals and bibs |
| Space | Rectangle of 6-20 m per side |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-10 min per set |
| Category | Individual technique |
The task consists of a 1v1 game in a delimited space with 2 mini-goals, with the objective of scoring a goal. The attacking player (RED) must cross the white line delimiting the halfway line past the defender.
(BLUE) and score in the mini-goal. The defending player (BLUE) must perform a recovery run, win the ball back and score in the mini-goal. Teams rotate roles each set, switching attacker and defender.
Focus on the technical gesture of dribbling, dribbling speed and the timing of the tackle.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
2v1
| Objective | Fix to free a player. Improve 2v1 attacking play, dribbling and feints. Improve 1v2 defending |
| Players | 2 groups of 4-10 players each team |
| Materials | Balls, mini-goals and bibs |
| Space | Rectangle of 6-20 m per side |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-10 min per set |
| Category | Individual technique |
The task consists of a 2v1 game in a delimited space with 2 mini-goals, with the objective of scoring a goal. The attacking players (RED) must perform a fix-and-pass or dribble action past the defender.
In the mini-goal. The defending player (BLUE) must win the ball back and score in the mini-goal. Players within the same team rotate during the set; at the end of each set teams switch roles, changing from attacker to defender.
Focus on dribbling speed, the technical gesture of dribbling and defensive positioning.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
1v1
| Objective | Fix to free a player. Improve 1v1 and 2v1 attacking play, dribbling and feints. Improve 1v1 defending |
| Players | 2 groups of 4-10 players each team |
| Materials | Balls, mini-goals and bibs |
| Space | Rectangle of 6-20 m per side |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-10 min per set |
| Category | Individual technique |
The task consists of a 1v1 game in a delimited space with 2 mini-goals, with the objective of scoring a goal. The attacking player (RED) must perform a dribble past the defender.
(BLUE) and score in the mini-goal. The defending player (BLUE) must win the ball back and score in the mini-goal. Teams rotate roles each set, switching attacker and defender.
Focus on dribbling speed, the technical gesture of dribbling and defensive positioning.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
2v2
| Objective | Fix to free a player. Improve 2v2 attacking play, offensive relationships, dribbling and feints. Improve 2v2 defending |
| Players | 2 groups of 4-10 players each team |
| Materials | Balls, mini-goals and bibs |
| Space | Rectangle of 6-20 m per side |
| Duration | 2-4 sets x 4-10 min per set |
| Category | Individual technique |
The task consists of a 2v2 game in a delimited space with 2 mini-goals, with the objective of scoring a goal. The attacking players (RED) must perform a fix-and-pass or dribble action past the defenders.
In the mini-goal. The defending team (BLUE) must win the ball back and score in the mini-goal. Players within the same team rotate during the set; at the end of each set teams switch roles, changing from attacker to defender.
Focus on dribbling speed, the technical gesture of dribbling and defensive positioning.
Variation: reduce the space to increase defensive intensity or add a touch limit to force faster play. You can also add a joker to create numerical superiority and facilitate learning.
Build your full session with FutCoach
FutCoach generates complete training sessions for U14 players in seconds. Select your age group, the session objective (dribbling and ball control) and the number of players, and the AI creates a complete session for you with warm-up, main block and cool-down. Download FutCoach free and prepare your next dribbling session in less than 2 minutes. No blank templates, no improvising on the field.
Frequently asked questions
When is a U14 player considered to have mastered ball control?
A U14 player (13-14 years) masters ball control when they can control the ball with both feet at different rhythms, change direction under pressure without losing the ball and solve 1v1 situations with feints and speed changes consistently.
Is dribbling taught or is it an innate quality?
Dribbling has a component of personality and confidence that cannot be taught directly, but the technique can be worked on. At U14 (13-14 years), the player should already have a personal repertoire of feints. The work focuses on applying them at game intensity and in 1v1 situations with real pressure.
How many 1v1 exercises should I include in each session?
"For U14 (13-14 years), including one or two 1v1 exercises per week is sufficient if the intensity is high. At this age, quality and intensity matter more than volume. The 1v1 can appear in the warm-up, as the main technical task or integrated into a more complex game format."
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