| Here are the 5 important steps to beating a player in | | | | move and want to show them off in a game whether |
| soccer, brought to you by Paul Walmsley at Let's Talk | | | | they are needed or not. |
| Soccer: | | | | Instead the player should perfect a couple of moves |
| 1. ANGLE OF APPROACH | | | | they can use with both feet and can use to go both |
| As the player with the ball approaches the defender, | | | | inside and outside of the defender. |
| he needs to look for the space he wants to exploit. | | | | 4. EXPLOIT THE SPACE CREATED |
| Remember to dribble with the head up. Then the | | | | The whole reason for dribbling and producing a move |
| player attacks the defender with such an angle of | | | | is to create space past the defender that can be |
| approach away from the desired space so that he | | | | exploited. |
| makes the desired space even bigger. | | | | Remember once the move has been completed, the |
| For example, if the player is going down the right wing | | | | player must immediately move the ball into the space |
| and wants to go past the defender on the outside, he | | | | created and accelerate away into the desired space. |
| should approach the defender at a diagonal away | | | | Do not give the defender time to recover. |
| from the touch line so that he makes the space | | | | 5. THE END PRODUCT |
| between the defender and the touchline even bigger. | | | | The idea beating a player is to produce an end |
| This will also put the defender on their weaker foot as | | | | product such as a shot, a pass or run with the ball and |
| well. | | | | keep possession Many players beat a player |
| 2. SPEED OF APPROACH | | | | successfully then don’t produce, instead they end |
| The player with the ball should not run at the defender | | | | up having to beat the player again. |
| at top speed because this will make controlling the ball | | | | Remember, beat the player and go for a quick and |
| more difficult and there will be no opportunity to | | | | accurate shot, if that is not on, play a quick and |
| accelerate away from the defender. | | | | accurate pass, if that is not on, run with the ball |
| Instead approach the defender at roughly 75% speed, | | | | creating space and time and wait to produce either a |
| fast enough to put the defender under pressure and | | | | shot or a pass. |
| fast enough to stop his teammates regrouping, but the | | | | Have players practice these important steps so that |
| player needs to have some extra speed available | | | | they come naturally, can be carried out with the head |
| once he has beaten the defender with a move so that | | | | up and that when the player receives the ball, he is |
| he can accelerate away. | | | | confident and wants to take on the defender. Visit |
| 3. THE MOVE or DRIBBLE | | | | Let's Talk Soccer. |
| Too many young players want to learn every possible | | | | |