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C h a p t e r 4
Teaching Soccer Technique
Players often turn their backs to the defenders and keep the ball directly in front of their
bodies. This leaves the ball exposed between the attacking player’s legs, allowing a defender
an opportunity to poke the ball away. Players who shield this way are often called
for obstruction because they tend to bend over the ball and back into the defender.
Turning away from an opponent will help a player get away from direct pressure and
maintain possession of the ball. Players should learn to become adept with their feet
to make different turns with the ball. The attacking player must have the ability to
change pace and accelerate quickly after the turn. A player must explode into the open
space after the turn to elude the defender and create space to pass or shoot.
DRIBBLING FOR PENETRATION
Dribbling for penetration simply means to attack the defender using the dribble as
a way of advancing toward your opponent’s goal. Players should attack the open space
behind the defender in a manner that takes them directly toward the opponent’s goal
by being creative and using different dribbling feints to beat the defender. Emphasize
the importance of exploding, or accelerating, into the open space that was created
by the feint. This change of pace allows the player with the ball to leave the defender
behind and penetrate toward the goal.
The best dribblers in the world are creative. Encourage your players to try new moves
at practice. Teach them to use the body as a way of deceiving the defender by dropping
a shoulder, lunging at the opponent, and using their eyes and voice. When teaching
your players different feints and fakes, remember to begin with simple moves. Once
players are comfortable, move on to more difficult feints. Players tend to use moves
they feel they can execute well in games, so make sure to practice feints regularly.
Teach your players to dribble straight at a defender so they will be able to make a
penetrating move on either side of the opponent. The attacking player must time the
move correctly. Committing too early allows the defender time to respond and cut off
the open space. A move made too late usually results in a strong tackle and a turnover.
A well-timed move creates space for the attacker to penetrate. It is essential that the
player with the ball use feints and fakes to entice the defender into committing first.
Once the defender commits to one side, either by leaning or moving into the space,
the attacker must accelerate past the defender into the unoccupied space.
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