The Lie groups $SU(2)$ and $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$ can be viewed as model spaces in subRiemannian geometry. Coupling two subelliptic Brownian motions on $SU(2)$ (resp. $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$) consists in coupling two Brownian motions on the sphere (resp. the hyperbolic plane) and simultaneously their swept areas. Using this approach we propose an explicit construction of a co-adapted successful coupling on $SU(2)$. The strategy is to alternate between reflection and synchronous (with noise) coupling on the sphere. We also describe some more general constructions of co-adapted couplings on $SU(2)$ and also on $SL(2,\mathbb{R})$.