Mastering the ball: DNA challenges

Set up an area which is appropriate for the age and abilities of your players and play a small-sided game, such as 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4.

Encourage your players to stay on the ball and to be exciting by asking them to:

• try to score themselves
• try to help someone else score
• dribble at different speeds and in different directions.

It’s important to explain that staying on the ball is about looking for positive attacking things to do - this involves, shooting, running with the ball, dribbling, turning and shielding.

And then explain that staying on the ball isn’t:

• dribbling until you lose the ball
• being ball greedy
• never looking to pass.

To learn more about Foundation Phase DNA, click here.