Traffic Lights Dribble

Build close control, stopping the ball dead, and reacting to commands — disguised as a game.

Mark a 20x25 yard box. Every player has a ball and dribbles freely inside it.

1. Green light: dribble anywhere, little touches, avoid traffic.
2. Red light: stop the ball dead with the sole — last to stop does 2 toe taps.
3. Amber light: dribble in slow motion with tiny touches.
4. Add bonus calls: 'roundabout' (drag the ball in a circle), 'reverse' (sole-roll backwards).

• Little touches — the ball never further than one step away.
• Stop the ball with the sole, knee over the ball, balanced.
• Eyes up between touches to spot space and traffic.
• Both feet — call 'left foot only' rounds.

• Players sprint-kick the ball ahead and chase it — that's running, not dribbling; demand a touch every stride.
• Heads stay down the whole time — reward players who spot the call fast because their eyes were up.
• The same strong foot does everything — sneak in left-foot-only rounds.

• Players call the lights for each other.
• Add a tagger without a ball.
• Shrink the box to force tighter control.

• Bigger box, walking pace.
• Hands-on-ball stops for the very youngest.
• Coach demonstrates each call first.

• Ball must stop completely dead on red — rolling stops don't count.