Soccer Dribbling Drill

XC Skiing: Soccer Dribbling Teaches Skating Technique

Pat Aitken

Here's a drill that teaches students the skating technique in cross-country skiing. It forces them to use the correct stance and movement patterns for skating.

Without poles, have your students dribble a soccer ball as they skate, pushing the ball from ski to ski. You can also have two skiers skate side by side and pass the ball back and forth to each other while moving. As they become more confident, they can widen the distance between them.

The sideways leg action used to dribble the ball is similar to that needed in ski-skating.

Reference:
1. Rob Bradlee, Sverre Caldwell, Zach Caldwell, Fred Griffin, Dain Laroche, Peter Phillips, Jim Stock, Janice Sibilia,, Patrick Cote, Coaching and Training Continued: A guide to coaching and certification in cross country skiing, Level Two, CreateSpace, 2010.
2. Laurie Gullion, Ski Games, Leisure Press, 1990.

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