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How to Master Soccer Dribbling

How to Master Soccer Dribbling

Sports Performance

Dribbling is one of the most fundamental skills in soccer. It’s not just about moving the ball down the field; it displays control, creativity, and precision. Whether you’re gearing up for soccer tryouts, looking to enhance your soccer skills, or want to improve your dribbling game, this guide is for you. We’ll cover the ins and outs of dribbling a soccer ball effectively while incorporating valuable evaluation tips and insights.

What is Soccer Dribbling?

soccer dribbing against an opponenet

Soccer dribbling is when a player moves the ball along the ground with their feet in front of them but keeps control. By so doing, they should be able to get around their opponents, move the ball up the field, and create scoring opportunities. Effective dribbling combines footwork, speed, balance, and agility. Key elements include:

  • Close Control: When one keeps the ball close to his feet to eliminate any clear first touch by defenders that might take the ball away.
  • Change of Direction: Quick turns or turns with feints to deceive opponents.
  • Speed Variation: Involves quick changes between fast and slow movements to beat defenders.
  • Body Movement: The soccer player’s body swerves and fakes, misdirecting the opposition. The ball may be dribbled by different parts of the foot, for example, the inside, outside, and sole of the feet.

The Basics of Soccer Dribbling

Maintain a proper stance

Before getting to the point of dribbling techniques, let’s work from the ground up. Stand easy with your knees a bit bent, feet shoulder-width apart, and your body slightly bent forward. This stance provides stability and agility, making it easier to manoeuvre the ball.

Soccer dribbling practice

First touch control

First touch is very important in the game of soccer; it’s also referred to as ‘first touch football’. It requires receiving the ball with control and setting it up for your next move. The difference between a soft first touch and an exact one can make all the difference in your dribbling game.


Ball mastery

Ball mastery is the basis of effective dribbling.

Spend time perfecting your ball control skills, and get to know the different parts of your feet inside, outside, and inside. The more comfortable one is with the ball, the better the dribbling.

Learn more about Ball Control here.

Soccer Dribbling Techniques

soccer dribbling practice drill

Use your instep

Use the inside of your foot, the instep area is for close control when dribbling. This region in your foot provides maximum control, thus giving you the opportunity to move the ball around in a smooth style. Keep the ball close to your feet for improved control.


Practice ball shielding

One very important point on dribbling is to protect the ball from opponents. Protecting means using your body to block your opponent from the ball. Your body should always be between the defender and the ball in order to retain it.


Change pace and direction

Effective dribbling involves changes of pace and direction. Catch opponents by surprise with sudden increases in speed or changes in direction that will sometimes leave them guessing, hence unable to anticipate your moves.


Dribble with confidence

Success in dribbling requires confidence. Believe in yourself; take the defenders head-on. Be very clear and firm in your decisions. Indecision will lose you the ball.

Soccer Dribbling Drills

Cone dribbling

Space several cones straight across or in a zigzag pattern. Dribble through the course, keeping control of the ball. This drill will improve your accuracy in dribbling and make you more agile.


1v1 drills

You can do some solo dribbling against a defender one-on-one. This will give you the skills that enable you to take opponents on during games. Note the shielding of the ball and changing directions.


Small-sided games

These small-sided games help you face more complex defense situations and practice dribbling under pressure. Small-sided games are ways in which players are exposed to reality; the soccer they offer is evaluated as the best in soccer.

Conclusion

Dribbling in soccer is an art that requires lots of practice, great devotion, and skill. Soccer players can elevate their game by mastering the basics, improving their techniques, and applying soccer dribbling drills.

FAQ — Mastering Soccer Dribbling

Dribbling is one of the most basic, yet most important skills to possess in playing soccer. This is not about being able to move the ball down the pitch but about control, creativity, and precision. Effective dribbling will help you beat opponents, maintain possession, and create chances through which you can score.

Maintain a low stance, with your knees slightly bent and your feet wide apart in a shoulder-width stance. Maintain your body a little forward to keep the perfect balance on your feet, since such a stance is going to give you stability and agility to move the ball around easily.

In soccer, the first touch is often called “first touch football”. It includes receiving the ball with control and then setting it up for your next moves. A soft and clean first touch can make a huge difference for your dribbling game.

Ball mastery forms the basis of successful dribbling. It basically means getting familiar with the different parts of one’s feet like the inside, outside, and instep. The more comfortable you are with the ball, the better the outcome of your dribbling will be.

During dribbling, the inside of the foot may be used for close control. Practice shielding in order to stop opponents from taking your ball. Change your pace and direction so that opponents don’t know which way you will go in, and always dribble with confidence.

Certainly! Incorporate drills like Cone Dribbling, 1v1 Drills, and Small-Sided Games into your practice routine. These drills enhance your dribbling accuracy, agility, and ability to take on opponents.

Sports assessment apps, like SkillShark, provide strategic resources to soccer players. Among them is the tracking of player performance and video AI analysis, customized with feedback and easy tracking for soccer tryouts and processes related to team selection.

Yes, sports evaluation apps can be used by every player or any team at any level in soccer. Included in that will be the youth soccer players and teams. Sports evaluation apps provide not only an advanced level of assessing and improving individual and team performance but are also useful to every soccer player, coach, parent, and evaluator.

Integrate a sports evaluation application into your training by downloading the application, recording practice sessions or games, and then analyze using the various features of the application. You can further aid yourself in perfecting the skills by requesting feedback from the coaches or peers through the application.

Lucy Jakoncic

Lucy is a strategy and results-driven e-commerce & digital marketer, equipped with her BBA in Business Admin & Marketing. She brings in knowledge and experience from both startup and corporate environments. Aside from her professional pursuits, Lucy is an admitted sports fanatic, she feeds her addiction through active involvement and her passion for the sport of MMA. Her sports-minded entrepreneurial spirit has been a strong addition as both a writer and marketing strategist at SkillShark Software Inc.