Futbol Island

7v7 lesson · Beginner

Give Your Teammate Room to Dribble

The sole middle midfielder leaves room for a wide teammate to try a one-against-one, then reconnects after the dribble.

What the coach says

  1. Our left midfielder wants to try a dribble. You are the middle midfielder, close to the space they could use.
  2. There is one defender ahead. Do not run across your teammate just because you want to help.
  3. Where can you leave room for the dribble?
  4. Move behind. The forward and other wide midfielder keep their own lanes.
  5. Your teammate changes direction and carries inside. You do not need a fixed passing pattern.
  6. Your teammate is in the middle now. Where can you reconnect?
  7. Offer the outside connection. Blue turns to face the new ball position.
  8. The pass finds you outside after the dribble. First leave your teammate room, then reconnect as their position changes.

Quiz questions

Try to answer before you read the coach’s explanation. On the island you answer each one on the pitch.

  1. Question 1

    Where can you leave room for the dribble?

    • Move across the carrier
    • Move behind the carrier

    Coach’s explanation: Moving behind keeps you available without crossing the teammate’s next inside touch.

  2. Question 2

    Your teammate is in the middle now. Where can you reconnect?

    • Follow directly behind
    • Offer the outside lane

    Coach’s explanation: The outside lane is now empty. Move there to offer a different connection after the dribble.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? The forward runs over to help the dribble.

    • False
    • True

    Coach’s explanation: It's false. The forward keeps their own lane and leaves room.

  4. Question 4

    Put these moments in order, first to last.

    • Teammate carries inside
    • The pass finds you outside
    • You move behind the dribbler
    • You move to the outside

    Coach’s explanation: First you move behind, so your teammate has room.

  5. Question 5

    Now the right midfielder wants to dribble. Where do you leave room?

    • Behind the dribbler
    • In front, across their path
    • Right next to them, by the line

    Coach’s explanation: Behind leaves room ahead, and you can still help.

  6. Question 6

    Your teammate cuts inside past the defender. Where do you go now?

    • Out to the side they left
    • Run across in front of them
    • Stay right behind them

    Coach’s explanation: The side they left is empty, so you give them a new pass there.

Play it on the island