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