| Let's face it, even if you're not much | | | | try out those special few that are |
| of a soccer player, knowing how to | | | | extremely hard to master. Obviously, if |
| handle a few soccer tricks can mean a | | | | you're practicing these moves by |
| world of difference in your friends | | | | yourself, or with the help of a friend, |
| circle. Improving on your soccer tricks | | | | you'll be able to perform them with no |
| and skills isn't just for impressing | | | | or little resistance, which is rarely |
| your friends and the ladies though. They | | | | the case in a real match (and if there's |
| can also get your match performance to a | | | | no resistance, why would you perform |
| higher level, because they're surprising | | | | them in a match anyway?). So besides |
| and effective. I can give you a lot of | | | | practicing the actual move, you'll also |
| examples on that part: remember when | | | | have to work on the timing of your |
| Ronaldinho first started to perform his | | | | soccer tricks and skills. A couple of |
| famous Elastico move? (flicking the ball | | | | basic moves could include: the Zidane |
| with his outside of the foot to the | | | | 360 spin, the stop and go, the Puskas |
| left, then quickly cutting it with his | | | | V-move or the fake shot dribble. Under |
| inside) Nowadays, a defender that's | | | | the advanced category, you could try the |
| facing Ronaldinho in a one versus one | | | | Cruyff move, the stepover and double |
| duel will surely be careful against this | | | | stepover or the Scotch. Moves that are |
| move, but when the Brazilian had just | | | | quite difficult to master and are better |
| invented it, it was extremely surprising | | | | off left for last, include: Ronaldinho's |
| and he managed to create havoc whenever | | | | Elastico move, the "Brazilian" rainbow |
| his Elastico would work. I'm not saying | | | | move or the Van Persie sweep. Start off |
| you'll be able to perform as well as | | | | with the basic ones and practice them |
| Ronaldinho after you learn soccer tricks | | | | thoroughly, until you feel you've |
| like that, but it can definitely give | | | | mastered these soccer tricks. Of course, |
| you a surprising edge in a match | | | | when you move on to the advanced moves, |
| situation. Another great example of | | | | these will take a lot longer to get a |
| soccer tricks and skills that can make a | | | | solid grip over, but you will have had |
| difference is Zidane's 360 spin. | | | | already built some basic ball control |
| Although it's a very effective and | | | | skills from the basic dribble. More |
| simple move, it wasn't until Zizou | | | | difficult dribbles like the Elastico, or |
| popularized it that players all over the | | | | the rainbow kick will take a while to |
| World actually used it in matches. So, | | | | get a grip on, but don't get discouraged |
| if you learn soccer tricks, you'll be | | | | if you keep failing on executing them! |
| able to gain an edge on your opponent, | | | | With enough practice, there's no trick |
| but that probably wasn't that hard to | | | | that you won't be able to handle. The |
| figure out anyway. The real question is | | | | only thing that kills learning a |
| HOW to do soccer tricks and how to learn | | | | specific trick is saying "I can't do |
| them correctly. Here's what I would | | | | this" and cutting it off your list. |
| suggest. Try to have a step-by-step | | | | Niv Orlian is the author & the owner of |
| approach when you learn soccer tricks, | | | | a Soccer Fans website that provides info |
| categorizing them on difficulty levels. | | | | on various topics related to soccer. For |
| Start with the basic ones, move on to | | | | more info on how to play soccer like the |
| advanced moves and once you get both | | | | pros click here. |
| these categories well under your boot, | | | | |