Dribbling

Dribbling is nothing more than moving with the ball across the field. It is a skill used to relocate a player into desirable positions where he can shoot or pass the ball. What transforms dribbling into an art are the defenders whose sole purpose is to limit the options of the player with the ball.

How to move with the ball
Before you can take on defenders, you must learn the proper mechanics of dribbling. Dribbling can be done with the inside, outside, instep, and sole of the foot. You should be able to run with the ball or change direction, while keeping it under your control. When you want to pick up speed, do not kick the ball farther away. Instead, move your feet quicker thus pushing the ball more frequently. When dribbling into space, don't just fix your eyes on the ball. Learn to simultaneously dribble and scan the field around you.

-cone drills
-basic dribbling moves
-intermediate dribbling moves
-advanced dribbling moves

Taking on defenders
You should always be the person with most immediate access to the ball. If you don't keep it close to your body, you will lose it. Be patient when confronted by a defender. Look at his stance and try to exploit his supporting foot.

-360 spin by Zidane
-cruyff move
-complex spin by Riquelme
-double cut move by Ronaldo
-double scissors move by Ronaldo
-fake kick move by Schneider
-double lunge by Ronaldo
-matthews move
-nutmeg by Boukharii
-reverse scissors by Zidane
-ronaldinho move
-ronaldinho move (advanced version)
-sombrero move by Okocha
-stepover move by Pele
-stepover turn by Ronaldo

The creative dribbler by Darrell
The creative dribbler has flair and creativity which he learnt unconsciously by going past opponent and leaving them "wrong-footed".
The creative dribbler often dribbles wherever he goes: walking on his way to school, playing one-two's off curbs, tree trunks, buildings... and when he gets home he can't wait to play in small-sided games where he gets lots of touches on the ball or tries a new move he saw on TV. He goes out and tries to learn the mechanics and the balance so he can then execute the move at game speed against opponents.
Whenever he doesn't have anyone around, he usually challenges trees to 1v1 battles or dribbles around them one by one, in a slalom. This way, he can practice the fundamentals of beating opponents in a game-like situation. The dribbler does a move on one tree and explodes to the next.
The dribbler then develops perfect technique for beating opponents and leaves them wrong-footed whenever he is challenged to an 1v1 duel.

-what kind of dribbler are you?

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