Soccer
Principles And TipsAdapted from Colorado Soccer Net
09/23/01
Soccer
Principles And Tips
Adapted
from Colorado Soccer Net
09/23/01
OTHER SITES FOR TIPS/DRILLS
Soccer Drills
(extensive number of drills & tips)
Pill's Drills - New
Hampshire
Coaches
Tips
Offense
Team Principles of Attack
Individual Principles of Attack
Ball carrier:
Players without the ball:
Defense
Team Principles of Defense
Individual Principles of Defense
SCREENING THE BALL
By Hubert Vogelsinger
You should learn to do more with your body than just play the ball. Judicious use of your body can be a tactical asset. Take screening, for example. Screening means keeping your body between the ball and your opponent. It enables you to 1.) protect the ball, 2.) impede the tackle, and 3.) gain time for a teammate to move into position to receive a pass.
The move is legal as long as you honestly try to play the ball rather than simply obstruct your opponent. That means that you have to keep the ball within playing distance.
While screening a ball doesn’t take a lot of finesse it does require a good measure of courage and confidence to face up (or should I say back up) to an aggressive tackle from behind.
Looking at the screen from your opponents point of view, the only way he can get the ball from you is either by means of a well-timed tackle or by going around you and challenging you face to face. Getting around is nearly impossible since you need only make a quarter-turn, or series of turns to maintain position between the ball and him. So he will most likely try the tackling route in which case you will have to be careful to maintain good body balance while screening.
Other than balance you just need reasonable dribbling skills (to keep the ball close enough to control) and the ability to keep adapting your body position according to your opponents efforts to move in for the ball. Unlike more mechanical skills the true skill of screening can best be practiced against real-life opponents.
In the beginning it may be necessary to ask the player you practice with to offer only token resistance until, as you get better, there can be a true fight for the ball. Working with a teammate, you take turns with one of you dribbling and screening while the other offers a challenge from the rear or from either side.
As you become more proficient at screening you can make your task harder by restricting yourself to a certain small area or by trying to keep possession of the ball for a predetermined length of time. Or you might try to see how many times you can touch the ball before the challenger dispossesses you.
If there is no one around to work with it is possible to work on screening by yourself. Simply run with the ball and imagine an opponent approaching from either right of left. Screen the ball by using the foot on the opposite side. In other words, if you imagine your opponent coming from your left, then you want to lead the ball with your right foot as you move to screen.
Screening is not an end in itself. It is usually the prelude to a feint, pass, or shot. But a good screen enhances these moves by gaining you the time and space to make them. In soccer, time and space are a bargain at any price.
PASSING AN OPPONENT
By Hubert Vogelsinger
Your passing may be a thing of beauty and your positioning a joy forever. No matter. Sooner or later you will come face to face with an opponent standing between you and where you want to go with the ball.
You’re going to have to take him on and pass him through clever dribbling and feinting, usually in limited space.
Beating a man one-on-one has great advantages. It can pop open a tough defense, give your club a decisive though brief numerical advantage, and loosen a previously tight situation. But it can also drive coaches and players crazy because passing an opponent is so intensely individual as to be almost uncoachable.
Most soccer skills are learned with a kind of Arthur Murray rote simplicity. You do A then B then thus and so. One, two, cha-cha-cha. Beating a defender is more like disco dancing. If it isn’t natural it isn’t going to work.
So I caution coaches against over coaching in this area. And to players, I will suggest certain principles with the understanding that, in the end, what is best is what works for you.
We begin with sound dribbling. This is the basis for all feinting. You want your trunk slightly crouched and forward, weight on the balls of your feet. Hips, knees and ankles loose. This puts your center of gravity low and over the ball, permits protection of the ball, and gives you the needed balance for shiftiness and acceleration.
Also work on peripheral or split vision. Don’t be a ball watcher. You have to look at the ball as you contact it but even then keep the field in view peripherally. After contact, raise your head to look over the situation while viewing the ball peripherally.
You also need raw speed and a good change of pace. Without speed off the mark you can bet your man only to have him recover and overtake you. As for changing pace, there are many ways of passing opponents but all are predicated on changing direction and or speed sharply or subtly, or feinting the defender off balance then quickly accelerating. And your feints must be convincing. If you can’t sell don’t expect your opponent to buy.
A classic example: Sir Stanley Matthews, the English international, could repeatedly beat fullbacks with the same "Matthews" dribble. Slowly, almost at a walk, he’d dribble along the touchline, right up to the fullback. The defender, it seemed, had Matthews where he wanted him, trapped on the touchline and forced to go inside. But as Matthews dribbled closer to the fullback he would also be working his way farther from the touchline. Sure enough, he would make the expected inside move which the fullback would go for. then he would slide off the ball, check it and push it with the outside of his foot, accelerating into the open inside <$>area his skill and patience had created.
It worked because Matthews played to his strengths - patience, timing, maturity and great acceleration. What works for you is what plays to your strengths. And in that, you know best.
CONTROL WITH THE INSIDE OF THE FOOT
By Hubert Vogelsinger
So common is the sight of a player controlling the ball with the inside of his foot that you know this technique has to have something extra going for it. It does. In fact it has four things going for it: Safety, versatility, maximum control and relative ease.
The wide surface of the inside of your foot permits good control and delicacy of touch.
The versatility of the move is such that by using the basic trap - formed by the inside of your foot, your ankle and the ground - you can either stop the ball dead or sweep it along and move off instantly.
You’ll also find using the inside of your foot offers a measure of safety when controlling the ball within close challenge of an opponent. Since you trap the ball under your body, you can either screen it or sweep it out of range.
You should place your support foot comfortably alongside the ball. The support leg must be well bent for stability. Your toes should point in the direction you are going. The trapping angle is made by leaning and turning slightly sideways into the direction you intend to go. This leaning takes your weight off the trapping leg helping you to rotate that leg out ward from the hip. Your support foot and trapping foot should form a right angle.
Now bring your trapping leg back with the knee well bent. Make certain that your ankle is dorsal flexed (i.e. toes up). Keep your leg relaxed and loose.
Your eyes must follow the ball into the trap. At impact put the inside of your foot on top of the ball, squarely across its path. Ball should meet foot at right angles. Give gently to absorb the impact of the ball or "kill" it.
Sometimes you'll have to do this at a standstill. But one trademark of an advanced player is ability to play the ball on the move. To do this you don't want to kill the ball nor do you want to meet it at a right angle. Instead, make contact more on the back of the ball. With the inside of your foot held semi firm, you can then sweep the ball along in a half-volley move in the direction you want to go. This is a bit like a hockey player playing the puck up off his skate blades.
Judgment, concentration, coordination and a deft touch are vital in controlling a ball on the move. In most cases you'll be moving before the ball even gets to you so any mistake is disastrous. There is no chance of recovery.
The biggest risk of error is in moving off too soon. This leads to placing the inside of your foot too high on the ball and killing it with the embarrassing result of your tripping over the ball rather than dragging it along with you. (But some players will do anything for a laugh.)
You don't have to wait for a teammate to practice ball control with the inside of your foot. Simply toss a ball in the air and trap it. Get it right and you've got something going for you.
Controlling The Ball With Your Chest
By Hubert Vogelsinger
Einstein would have loved soccer. The game shows the direct relationship of distance to time. In soccer, distance is time and time is everything.
Stand around waiting for a ball to fall to your feet so you can control it and you won't wait alone. There'll be a defender on you. But run forward a few feet to take the same ball sooner, say, by playing it with your chest, and you gain a precious second or two. Also, you don't have to be Einstein to figure out that playing the ball with your chest offers the advantages of a large controlling surface and the chance to protect the ball with the whole width of your body as a screen.
So much for theory. Practically, there are two main ways to play a ball with your chest. You can either play it directly down to your feet or you can ride it back into the air - "semi-controlling", I call it - and play it on the volley.
To play it to your feet, keep your eyes on the ball as you run to it. Move across the balls flight path. Keep your legs in stride position, knees comfortably wide, arms out for stability. Now prepare for the ball by expanding your chest in exaggerated Marine Corps fashion. You want your chest way out, your chin tucked in and your shoulders and elbows pulled back.
On impact, collapse your chest as if you were pushing air out of your lungs. Roll your shoulders forward to form a concave cushion for the impact.
When the ball strikes, straighten your knees and rise on your toes so you can bend forward. This deflects the ball straight to your feet so you can take off immediately.
Be careful to judge the ball's flight correctly so you will arrive in time to puff up your chest for the impact.
Semi-controlling the ball is a good play for times when you're in heavy traffic and you know that playing the ball to your feet would be suicide.
Here, you're just riding the ball off your chest. Instead of collapsing your chest, puff it up and lean your body back so your chest becomes a platform to take the pace off the ball and give you a nice little pop-up of a rebound. After the ball has rebounded off your chest you can either play it on the volley - a spectacular play - or turn with it and screen off the defender with your body.
This move makes it tough for anyone to legally challenge you for the ball. If a defender comes in with his foot he'll be called for "dangerous play" If he tries to head the ball they’ll call him for "charging."
You can practice chest control alone or with a friend. If alone, toss the ball in the air trying first to play it to the feet and then working on the tougher "semi-control" move. With a friend, one player can juggle the ball before booting it into the air for the other to play with his chest. This will add some realism to the velocity and angle of the ball.
Volleying With The Inside Of The Foot
By Hubert Vogelsinger
You wont' always have enough space or time to afford yourself the luxury of playing a ball to your feet before passing it. Once in a while you're going to have to pass a ball that comes to you in the air. A volley lob pass with the inside of the foot is one of the quickest, safest ways to do this.
Technically, the move is much like the push pass, except that the ball is off the ground. But the beauty is its tactical application. It is a little like football's screen pass - just a nice easy toss over the heads of the blitzing linebackers into the arms of an open receiver. I like to see quarterbacks do it. I love to see soccer players do it. It's a heads-up play.
To make a good volley lob pass, make sure your passing foot is raised to the level of the ball, Lifting your leg will cause your trunk to fall slightly back and sideways to maintain balance. If the ball is above waist level you'll have to run completely sideways in order to raise your foot high enough to play the ball. You want your leg bent at the knee with the lower part of the leg almost at right angles to the thigh. You make the pass using a short, stabbing action with your lower leg. Don't try to swing the whole leg like it were some sort of bionic club. Just snap the lower leg out to send the ball to its target.
Obviously the position of the inside of your foot on impact is vital to proper direction. The ball can only go in the direction your foot is pointed, much as golf ball will only go in the direction of the club face. Thus, you must keep the horizontal plane of your foot adjusted to the angle of the approaching ball and the angle of the intended pass.
Only practice will give you the sensitive touch you need to guarantee accuracy.
In lobbing the ball up over your opponents - a la the screen pass - remember to keep the inside of your foot facing upward and swing your leg up.
Even in playing a ball to a teammate's feet 1 advise inclining the foot slightly upward to make the ball travel in a gently arc. This kind of pass is much easier to receive than a hard line drive. You can practice a modified version of the volley lob pass by having a teammate toss the ball to you so that it lands in front of you and play it back on the bounce. After you get the feel of it, have your partner toss the ball around knee height and you volley it right back to him. As you get better try varying your return passes. One time give him a gently pass to his feet. The next time practice lobbing it over the head of an imaginary opponent.
Clearance Heading
By Hubert Vogelsinger
Either you get it out or they get it in.
That's the one unnerving, irreducible fact of all defensive play. One of the best ways of getting the ball out of danger is the defensive or 'clearance' header. Unlike a head shot on goal, the defensive header emphasizes power over accuracy. When you've got to get that ball away from your goalmouth, accuracy may be nice but height and distance are essential.
The clearance header is used chiefly in cutting off high crosses. It requires that you get up high and head the ball powerfully, even when working against aggressive opponents.
One advantage to a defensive head is that you will almost always be facing the ball and so will have a slight edge over the attacker who may be trying to play the ball as it comes from the side or behind. However, you will sometimes he backpedaling as the ball goes into the air, thus giving you the problem of getting lift and power despite your running backward or sideways.
There are two positions from which you will head the ball out-either with your feet on the ground or off the ground.
When you have the luxury of clearing with both feet on the ground, you should start the heading action down in your legs. Fight to get into position where you can shift your trunk backward and forward without danger of imbalance. Keep your eyes on the ball, your trunk bent back, and your forehead drawn back. Face the ball squarely. Now drive off your back foot and throw your forehead at the ball, straightening your body at the same time. Your leg drive should cause your hips, trunk, and head to move forward in whip-like sequence. Try to hit the ball at your hairline and drive through the lower half of the ball to get it into the air and out of danger. It's tougher when you have to get both feet off the ground and find yourself crowded as well. Here, timing is important but determination is the clincher. You've got to want it.
Don't wait for the ball and don't draw your head down into your shoulders. This is no time for self-preservation. Try to jump first so the attacker can't block you from the ball.
You’ll likely only have time for a two or three-step run-up. Make the last stride long while gathering your body for the jump. Rock over your well-bent takeoff foot and drive forward. Kick both heels well backward and upward so your body is arched in the classic header position.
When the ball gets just above your chest, jack-knife forward and get that hair line on the lower half of the ball. Your body thrust ensures power and the angle of your head determines the height. You need both.
Any heading drill is bound to improve all your heading skills but there is one drill in particular that is helpful for defensive headers. Have several teammates, scattered around the field, serve balls to you as you head them out. Vary the frequency and angles of the serves. Work for height and distance. And remember, either you get it out or they get it in.
CHARGING-THE
LEGAL USE OF THE BODY
By Hubert Vogelsinger
Most people think of charging as something done in hockey, basketball and department stores. A costly habit.
In soccer, charging is neither illegal nor costly but is an essential defensive tactic, one that lets you meet strength with strength and gain quick physical dominance over an opponent.
That charging is legal does not mean you can go out and blast the first opponent you see. Strict rules govern use of the charge and knowing the rules is as important as mastering the technique.
You are allowed to use your shoulder or any part of your upper arm against an opponent. You may also charge an opponent from behind if his is obstructing (i.e. shielding) the ball. In this case contact must be shoulder against shoulder blade. Any other contact, for example chest to spine or hip to hip, is illegal.
Any charge must also be made within playing distance of the ball - that is, against an opponent who has or is about to gain possession or when two of you are fighting for possession. The charge must not be violent or dangerous and you cannot charge an opponent whose feet are off the ground as he tries to head the ball.
I think the real key, in the eyes of the referee, is that both you and your opponent are truly playing the ball and not simply teeing off on each other.
The best charge is not a big hit but a nudging or riding action in which you use your body weight to throw your opponent off balance an force him to lose control of the ball. The shoulder charge is usually used to ride an opponent off the play when you are running alongside him chasing a loose ball. Timing, not force, is crucial. Sometimes a well-timed brush is all you need to knock him off balance.
The first thing you want to do is try to adjust your rhythm to his so that your charge will be a legal charge and not a "push". Make your final thrust - the charge itself - when your weight is over your outside foot. Pushing off a well-bent outside leg will add power to your charge and will also lower your center of gravity, giving you better balance.
Pushing off the outside leg also offers a fail-safe mechanism since, if your charge misses, you can quickly recover by transferring weight to your inside foot. And don’t overlook the fake charge. By faking a charge and withholding it at the last second you may force your opponent to brace himself or flinch and stumble off balance.
One other tip: The goalkeeper is fair game for a charge if he is obstructing or outside the penalty area. There are several obvious ways to practice charging, most of which are easily arranged two-man contests in which you and a teammate fight for possession with one of you as ball carrier and the other challenging for the ball via charges.
But my favorite practice for timing and technique is the rooster fight. You and a partner hop on one foot, arms folded in front. They try to knock each other off balance by shoulder to shoulder charges or fake charges. No elbows. Change from one foot to the other at agreed upon intervals.
WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO TACKLE
By Hubert Vogelsinger
Fools rush in - true in love, war and tackling. Tackling, while an important technical and tactical weapon, is still a gamble. Like any good gambler you want to put the odds as heavily as possible in your favor.
And I’m not just talking to the defenders and midfielders. You forwards should pay attention, too, because today’s game puts new emphasis on the interchanging of positions. Anyone on the field can end up tackling. The big questions are how and when.
How - that is, how to executive a good tackle - is a technical matter. We’ll talk about that in the next two columns. When, and more important, when not to tackle are tactical matters. If you don’t know when, knowing how isn’t going to help.
First, you want to study your opponents strengths and weaknesses. Is he right or left-footed? What are his favorite moves. These are clues as to how he will try to beat you.
The tackle must follow a fail-safe philosophy. That is, your challenge should take place in an area and a time when there is least danger should your tackle fail. Timing is the key. You must be alert to the flow of the game and have speed off the mark to be in the right position at the right moment. Ideally, this is just when your opponent is playing or receiving the ball.
The genius of a good tackler is that he strikes in that eye blink of time after the ball carrier commits himself to his move but before he has full control. It is then that a good tackle is devastating.
But the ball carrier isn’t your only concern. You must know where your teammates are and hold off on the tackle if necessary until there is cover behind you (the exception is a last-ditch situation).
If your opponent has control, if there is danger of leaving your teammates exposed, then you must be cautious. To rush in is foolish. A nimble ball carrier could leave you stranded.
Wait. Stalk your opponents’ every move and try to pressure him into an error of control. You must be aggressive. Don’t let the attacker dictate the situation or the area into which he moves. Shepherd him away from the goal and toward the touchline. The closer you get him to the touchline the less room he has to work.
Keep him moving and be ready to pounce on any mistake. If its your teammate who’s preparing for the challenge, give him cover and call to let him know you’re there to support him.
One last word. Try to make your first tackle a good one. This is psychologically important. Show the player you are making with absolute determination and the strongest possible resistance. Such strength (within the limits of the rules) can have your opponent looking for you instead of the ball when he should be trying to control it. This makes it easier for you to dispossess him of the ball and clear the danger.
BASIC FRONT BLOCK
TACKLE
By Hubert Vogelsinger
Few defensive moves take the starch out of your opponent like a successful tackle. In a flash you force him from offense to defense without even getting a shot.
One of the best bread and butter tackles is the basic front block tackle. Its like a defensive version of the push pass. That is, your tackling foot is turned outward, toes pointing up and sideways and ankle locked. The idea is to make the tackle with the largest blocking surface - the full inside of your foot.
You must show yourself quickly on the ball, putting immediate pressure on the ball carrier. Force his attention to the ball, block his direct path to the goal, and cut off his passing angles. If you set him up right, even though your tackle might fail, you will cost the ball carrier valuable time by forcing him to go around you.
You prepare for the tackle by getting into a position from which you can pounce on the ball like a tiger, explosively and without warning. Be in a crouched position, legs comfortably apart and well bent, weight on the balls of your feet. Keep your feet moving. If you get too heavy on your feet or get caught upright, you can be put off balance and left stranded. Even if you're lucky enough to make contact with the ball you can be easily brushed aside.
Always stay within striking distance, because strike you must at the slightest opportunity. The tackle itself must be fast and smooth. Get your non-tackling foot beside and as close to the ball as possible. Then, almost simultaneously, come through with the tackling foot.
Put your weight behind the tackle, driving the inside of your foot through the center of the ball, brushing aside you opponent's foot and stealing the ball. There's nothing like combining this with a good shoulder charge to knock your opponent off balances as you follow through with your tackle.
Position and support become critical when the ball gets wedged between you and the ball carrier. Good body balance on your supporting foot will allow you to keep firm pressure on the ball while exerting a second effort to drag the ball over the opponents foot or pull it out sideways.
Good tacklers don't pussy-foot around. Go whole-heartedly or don't go. The most common tackling error is a tendency to stick out a foot tentatively, either to avoid injury or to sort of hedge your bet. This is the worst way to tackle and best way to get hurt. A leg dangling without good support is easily brushed aside. You're more likely to come away with an injured ankle than with the ball.
The best way to practice the front block tackle is in a situation like a hockey face-off. Put a ball between you and a friend. On a signal both of you try to win the ball. Later you can both stalk the ball, with each trying to beat the other to the punch.
SOLE OF THE FOOT
TACKLE
By Hubert Vogelsinger
In football you tackle the ball carrier. In soccer you tackle the ball. This is consistent with the philosophy of soccer that says the game should be a contact sport but one placing skill ahead of violence.
Tackling is deceptively difficult. Yet great tacklers generally go unapplauded. The skill itself gets short shrift in instructional books and practice sessions. The excuse given is that tackling can only be learned in genuine game situations, and not in practices. Don't believe it.
Tackling is a technique. It can be practiced just like any other. Take, for example, the sole-of-the-foot tackle.
This tackle is almost identical to a good trap with the sole of the foot. Timing is crucial. You move in close enough to be within easy reach of the ball, well balanced on your support foot with that knee and hip bent and your trunk crouched forward. Just as your opponent is about to kick the ball you put the sole of your foot up against it, toes up and heel down. On impact - and it might be quite a jolt - give gently. Let your knee act as a shock absorber.
After preventing the shot or pass you have a choice. Either force the ball through your opponent or take possession right away. If the ball gets smothered between your sole and the turf, pull it back with the sole of your foot and immediately screen it with your body.
The sole tackle is one of the simplest and safest because the force of the kick is directed against the bottom of your foot and the foot is further cushioned by the well-bent knee. The key is to be close enough to be able to reach out and put your sole on the ball.
Since coming in with a straight knee is illegal, you cant just stick out your leg. You have to put the weight of your body behind your foot and your tackle. But there are drawbacks. The sole-of-the-foot tackle can only be used effectively in face-to-face confrontations and only when the opponent is committed to go through with his kick.
But the real drawback is that it can be dangerous to the man whose kick you are trying to block. Here you must walk the tightrope between violence and skill. Be absolutely certain not to come in with a straight knee. And, though you must keep your toes up, be sure your foot doesn't go over the ball into your opponents shin. And of course the move must be executed with finesse - you cant barrel in like you're trying to break your opponents leg.
But you can practice it. Make sure you're wearing shin guards. Then have a friend wedge the ball between the sole and ground while you strike at the ball with full instep. When you've both got the idea be more forceful and start moving toward each other. Because timing is crucial you might synchronize on a set rhythm - one, two, three, go. One sole-tackles while the other strikes the ball. Then try it in regular play.
Attacking 1v1 Moves
(A summary by Steve Bath, a professional coach
formally with Club Columbine.)
Drop shoulder -simplest, easiest and, because of this, the most important move to master; fake kick, dropping opposite shoulder of the faking foot, push off of standing foot and explode outward with outside of foot; or, with inside of foot, explode turning inward across the body or, chip or lift while exploding in either direction using upper toe area
Cruyff -fake cross, using faking foot touch behind standing leg with inside of faking foot, shift weight to faking foot, turn toward standing foot then explode with instep of standing foot in any direction depending upon the placement of the defender; great simple move on the wing and when dribbling laterally across the field
Stepover turn -fake instep kick or inside of the foot kick, continue moving foot around the front of the ball to the other side and back several inches, step down, shift weight to this foot and turn body back toward the ball and explode with other originally standing foot using inside of foot or instep (shoe laces area); great move on the wings or when pinned into a tight space
Stepover chip -after tuning the body back toward the ball after step over turn, jam toe under ball chipping ball to self
Stepover flick -after one foot executes step over, body shifts weight to other foot and ball is flicked with outside of same step over foot as body and ball change directions
One foot Stepover lift -after turning the body back toward the ball after step over turn, explode with the outside of the same foot that stepped over the ball
Double Stepover -execute step over turn and instead of exploding in opposite direction, use other foot to execute another step over and explode into original direction
V-cut -with sole of foot farthest from the ball pull the ball back across the body and explode away with outside of same foot
Pull turn -with sole of foot pull the ball back toward same foot and behind body as body turns toward ball and explode with instep of same foot
Fake V-cut -after pulling the ball across the body, push the ball back into the same direction with inside of the foot
Fake V-cut chip, lift -same as fake V-cut except instead of using inside of foot, chip or lift the ball to yourself (lift the ball by bringing knee up)
Full chip, lift or flick -fake toe kick the ball resting the sole of the foot on top of the bail; pull ball back and push ball to left, forward or to tight with chip, lift or flick (flick the ball by thrusting the foot forward after allowing ball to roll up the foot no further than the toe area); great but risky move, for use inside opponents penalty area or when in pinned into tight space
Scissors turn -with foot nearest to the ball lift foot toward other foot behind the ball then in a circular motion around and in front of the ball and out to the side, shift weight to this foot and explode away with outside of other originally standing foot with instep chip or outside of foot push
Double scissors -after shifting weight on first scissors, use other foot to perform 2nd scissors shifting weight to this foot and exploding away with other (1st scissors) foot
Scissors drag -after shifting weight on scissors, drag ball with inside of standing foot across the body
Scissors drag turn -after scissors drag, bring foot which is dragging the ball around the back of the ball and explode in opposite direction with outside of this same foot
Scissors roll drag turn -after shifting weight on scissors, drag ball with sole of standing foot making the ball roll and with outside of this same foot change directions and explode away with outside of foot
Side roll and push -with the ball of the sole of the foot role ball across the front of your body, step down, shifting weight to this same foot, explode going forward with inside or instep of originally standing foot
Stand and role -fake toe kick, rest sole of foot and weight of the entire body standing on ball; your forward momentum will let you fall off the front of the ball at which time you pinch the front of the ball with your heel, forcing forward ball spin and the ball roles past you; nice change of speed and good deception here
Inside of foot turn -fake instep kick, turn the ball with your inside of foot back across front of the body, shift weight to this foot, explode with outside of other originally standing foot
Double inside of foot turn or Swivel Hips -execute inside of foot turn and, after shifting weight, use other foot to do another inside of foot turn which will return you to traveling in your original direction; great move when defender running along side you and you want to make him hesitate; remember to turn your hips facing the defender during the first half of this move and return your hips forward during the second half
Outside of foot turn -fake toe, instep or outside of foot kick and turn ball with outside of foot 180 degrees back, shift weight to this foot and explode with inside or instep of other foot
Heel turn -fake forward kick, continuing faking kick past the ball, heeling ball back behind you, turn toward standing foot to get ball, explode with instep or toe
Matthews -with ball on the instep toe area, toe pointing down, drag the ball a few inches in toward other foot and explode out; or drag the ball a few inches out away from body and quickly drag back across body; or chip, lift or flick at forward angles; the small drag to one side and the lightning fast explosion in opposite direction is the key to Matthews moves
Beckinbauer -fake instep or toe kick, bring ball of foot to top inside of ball, move ball forward, out and back with ball of the sole of the foot, touch ball behind standing leg with inside of same foot, shift weight to this foot, explode with outside or instep of originally standing foot
Baggio -take instep or toe kick, pull ball very briefly back with bottom of toe to back foot while body suspended in air; explode forward with instep, inside or outside of back foot; great for sprint dribble to goal and one defender to beat
Maradona (Spin Turn) -fake kick over the ball; while body suspended in air using ball for balance but no weight on the ball, spin in the opposite direction of the balancing foot; switching feet midair on the ball, pull the ball in a continuing forward direction or to slight angle; ball continues while body rights itself facing forward again; explode forward with either foot
Pele' (The Hat) -fake kick, pull the ball back with sole of the foot so it roles on top of the toe area, flick the ball up about 1 to 2 feet high, instep volley the ball up and back over your own head or forward over opponents head or to the side and second touch over opponents head, retrieve ball before it lands, explode with any surface (chest, head, thigh, foot); the sheer joy when you succeed with this move is worth the risk; when in a tight spot give it a try; you have nothing to lose but possession of the ball which, since you are in a tight spot, you were probably going to give up anyway; superb when defender on your back, keeper coming to tackle or defender patiently containing