| Soccer is a great game to be played, but it's also a | | | | open space unhindered. |
| great game to be watched. Someone that's not | | | | Soccer Dribbling - Skill Factors Involved in Dribbles |
| familiar with soccer might wonder what exactly it is | | | | You're probably tempted to say that ball control is the |
| that makes it the most popular sport on the planet. | | | | only skill involved in dribbling, but in truth there are a lot |
| Just like basketball has its slam dunks and alley oops, | | | | more factors that need to be added up for a |
| baseball its home runs or boxing its knockouts, soccer | | | | successful dribble. Let's take'em step by step: |
| has several key elements that make it a highly | | | | Ball Control - Indeed, ball control is a general principle |
| entertaining game: goals, passes, tackles and dribbling. | | | | that is required for almost all types of dribbles. Ball |
| It's the last one that I value most, since I believe that a | | | | control is the ability to move with the ball, without losing |
| good dribble is not only spectacular, but it can be | | | | possession, so it basically requires you to know how |
| extremely efficient in a game, so I'm going to dedicate | | | | hard to hit the ball when moving forward with it, as well |
| the following article to explaining how soccer dribbling | | | | as organizing your body movement in such a way that |
| works, how you can train it, focus on a couple of | | | | allows you to follow up and get the ball to your feet |
| special dribbling moves and see what soccer abilities | | | | again. |
| affect your dribbling skill. | | | | Ball control also refers to being able to trap or receive |
| Soccer Dribbling - Introduction to the World of Ankle | | | | a ball without pushing it too further away from your |
| Breakers | | | | body, which, in our case, is extremely useful in receiving |
| By definition, soccer dribbling is a method used by the | | | | dribbles. Ball control is important for all types of players |
| ball carrier to pass the ball past a direct opponent, | | | | when dribbling, regardless of their position on the pitch. |
| without conceding possession. This may be a tight | | | | Strength - Strength is a major factor in receiving |
| dictionary-like statement, but in truth soccer dribbling is | | | | dribbles and positional ones, since it allows you to use |
| as simple in concept as that: do anything you can (in | | | | your body as a wall between the ball and your |
| the boundaries of the soccer laws) to get past your | | | | opponent, repositioning him or her so you create an |
| opponent and keep possession of the ball. But "getting | | | | advantage towards the enemy goal. |
| past your opponent" needs a little explaining. | | | | If you look at some of the players that are considered |
| At a first glance, that might seem restricted to | | | | the best dribbles out there nowadays, such as |
| vertically surpassing your opponent on the pitch, when | | | | Ronaldinho or Zinedine Zidane, you'll notice that they |
| in truth dribbling can be done sideways, or even back | | | | very often use their body in dribbles, in order to |
| towards your own half (when you want to avoid a | | | | surpass an opponent or relieve themselves of |
| tackle for example) and in many cases it's just a | | | | pressure and find a pass or a shot. |
| means of clearing up the space to get a pass or shot | | | | In what regards soccer dribbling, strength is mostly |
| in. This doesn't necessarily get the ball on the other | | | | important for central midfielders, who are under |
| side of your opponent, but it does avoid him, allowing | | | | constant pressure from the opposing team and for |
| you to continue the play to your teammates. | | | | attackers who will have to use their bodies to shield |
| Soccer Dribbling - Types of Dribbles | | | | the ball before they can unleash a dribble in the box. |
| There are several types of dribbles that have different | | | | Speed - Being faster than your opponent is one thing, |
| purposes in the game and by types of dribbles I don't | | | | but knowing how to get the ball past him AND gain |
| mean specific moves, or specific tricks, but rather | | | | back possession is the key to a successful speed |
| game mechanics involving dribbles that have a certain | | | | dribble. If the speed difference is greatly in the favor of |
| end-goal. | | | | the attacker, he can simply push the ball forward along |
| Pressure Avoiding Dribbles - This is probably the most | | | | the pitch in an empty area and run for it. |
| common type of dribble in the game and as a central | | | | If the space is limited, or if the speed difference is not |
| midfielder almost every touch of the ball you get will | | | | so great between the ball carrier and the defender, the |
| have to be followed by a pressure avoiding dribble. | | | | moment you start the dribble is extremely important. |
| This involves a quick flick of the ball in an area with | | | | You need to start upping the pace when the defender |
| some empty space when being under pressure from | | | | is off balance (possibly after you throw him |
| an opponent and its goal is to give you a few seconds | | | | off-balance with a movement from your body) and |
| to execute a pass, or in some cases a shot. | | | | make sure you have enough space to maneuver |
| The most important aspect of pressure avoiding | | | | around him. |
| dribbles is knowing where you're going to move the | | | | Weaker Foot Ability - Dribbles often involve using both |
| ball even before you actually get to it. Take into | | | | feet and various parts of the foot (the sole, the instep, |
| consideration that you will probably only have a couple | | | | the backheel, the front, the outside or the inside) in |
| of seconds to pass or shoot the ball after such a | | | | order to work properly and your weaker foot can |
| dribble, since the defender will be quick to position | | | | often cause you problems. |
| himself in front of the ball again, or try to tackle you | | | | Being unsure of your weaker foot will leave you very |
| decisively. | | | | vulnerable in front of an intelligent defender, since he'll |
| Great examples of players who use this kind of dribble | | | | know there's only one direction you can dribble |
| effectively include Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf or | | | | towards using your strong foot. |
| Michael Ballack. | | | | Soccer Dribbling - Training Your Dribbling Skill |
| Speed Dribbles - Speed dribbles are mostly popular | | | | You can train dribbling individually, with a teammate or |
| with wing backs, since the wings are usually more | | | | in a group. Individually, you can set up an obstacle |
| open and free and they allow a fast player to virtually | | | | course, then wave your way through the obstacles |
| throw the ball forward and run for it again, smoking | | | | like a skier would through flags. Make sure you use |
| one or two opponents in the process. | | | | both feet, so you learn how to dribble in each direction |
| Speed dribbles aren't very fancy in terms of ball | | | | and using your weaker foot as well. |
| control, however the dribbler needs to focus on | | | | Pairing up with a teammate is also a great way to |
| pushing the ball forward just right so that he doesn't | | | | practice your soccer dribbling. This method has two |
| loses possession to an opposing defender or throw | | | | advantages: first of all, it allows you to train your |
| the ball out of the playing bonds. A few examples of | | | | dribbles against a real opponent, which changes quite |
| great speed dribblers include Arjen Robben, Cristiano | | | | some parameters in how you train in comparison to |
| Ronaldo, Marc Overmars or Dani Alves. | | | | avoiding ground obstacles. |
| Receiving Dribbles - This is probably one of the most | | | | Secondly, assuming you change roles with your |
| effective ways to dribble, but it can also be the | | | | teammate every now and then, allowing him to |
| hardest: going around your opponent straight from | | | | become the dribbler, you will also act as a defender |
| receiving the ball. It can throw an entire defense off | | | | and will learn how defenders think when having to |
| balance and create havoc for the opposing team, but | | | | cope with an opponent's dribble. |
| you truly have to be a skilled player to produce great | | | | Knowing your "enemy" will help you read your match |
| receiving dribbles. | | | | opponents like an open book and you'll soon know |
| First of all, you need to have impressive vision on the | | | | what to do in any match situation where a dribble is |
| pitch, knowing exactly where your opponents are and | | | | required. |
| where you can find some open space on the field, | | | | Group dribbling training sessions mostly focus on |
| even before the ball gets to your foot. | | | | pressure avoiding dribbles rather than individually going |
| Secondly, you need to be in perfect control of the ball | | | | around a single opponent. Practicing in a group |
| receiving technique, since pushing it too soft or too | | | | simulates match conditions best and it's a solid way to |
| hard will ruin the dribble. Last but not least, you need to | | | | work out your dribbling skill naturally, rather than forced |
| use your body to trick your direct opponent off | | | | like you would have with individual or paired training. |
| balance, allowing you to turn and push the ball into | | | | |