How to Dribble a Soccer Ball
Knowing how to dribble a soccer ball is very important when playing the game. Here are some tips to help you improve your skills.
Dribbling Basics
Touch the ball using the insides of your foot. This will give you better ball control.
Don’t look down. The most common mistake players do is to look down on the ball while dribbling. When you do this, you don’t see the direction you’re going and lose focus on what is happening around you. You’ll be caught off guard when a defender attacks and tries to get the ball from you.
When you’re not guarding the ball from an opponent, kick the ball a few yards away.
Run towards the ball as quickly as you can and kick it for another few yards.
You should be able to increase your speed while doing this. An opponent will have a hard time catching up on you if you move with increasing speed.
Dribbling Past Another Player
Kick the ball lightly without losing control. Remember to keep the ball as close to your feet as possible.
soccer dribbling
Extend your arms to block your opponent. Doing this will help you gain more balance and keep your opponent away from the ball.
Pretend to be going in one direction and quickly kick the ball to the opposite direction. Turn and recover the ball as fast as you can.
To move past another player, make sure to keep yourself between your opponent and the ball. Use your body to prevent the other player from advancing and getting the ball.
When turning, remember to turn away from your opponent. If he is on your left, turn on your right side. Use the inside or outside of your foot to control the ball. This will depend on the direction the pass is going to come from.
Dribbling Moves
These are some of the moves you have to learn.
Cruyff Move
This is used to distract your opponent. Lean on one side to make the impression that you’re going towards that direction and quickly run to the opposite direction. Pretend to kick the ball with your right foot and advance forward with your left foot. Touch the ball using your right instep so that the ball goes towards your other foot and then kick with your left foot.
Scissors Move
In this technique, the ball should be positioned on your right foot. Step over the ball with the same foot and transfer your weight to the opposite foot. The ball should now be positioned near your left foot. Dribble using the outside of your left foot.
Zico Move
Pretend to kick the ball. Step over the ball using your right foot. The ball should fall in front of your left foot. Turn to the right. Control the ball with your left foot and increase your speed.
The secret to dribbling is timing and alertness. Focus on the ball and the playing field as you dribble. Practice is very important. To be a good soccer player, you have to be able to execute dribbling correctly. Keep in mind the old cliché “practice makes perfect”. If you want to create your own soccer ball, read how to make a soccer ball and as a bonus here’s a tip on how to balance a soccer ball on your foot.