How To Learn Soccer Dribbling Moves

Soccer dribbling moves allow you to get out of jammed areas of the field or to fly past the last defender. At the beginning of your soccer career, you don't have to be among the greatest dribblers, such as Roberto Carlos of Brazil or Zinedine Zidane of France, and put on a double or triple fake to get past your opponent. But you'll need a bit of trickery to avoid giving up the ball if a defender finds your dribbling moves easy to read.

Step 1

Pair up with a defender. Face her with knees bent and torso leaning slightly forward. Gently push the ball with your instep toward the goal and your head up so you can keep your eyes on the defender. Speed up and fake with your head and shoulders one way to throw off the defender's balance, recommends soccer coach Joe Luxbacher in "Soccer: Steps to Success." Push the ball past the defender the other way, accelerating as you do so, and take the most direct route to the goal.

Step 2

Position eight cones 2 yards apart to practice the slalom dribble, Luxbacher says. Dribble in and out of the cones until you reach the last one, and then return, weaving the whole time. Use the inside and outside surfaces of the foot to cut the ball sharply and keep your head up to see what is coming next. Work for close control combined with speed. Rest briefly while a partner dribbles the circuit. Repeat 20 times. To increase the level of difficulty, place the cones 1 yard apart or in a random pattern.

Step 3

Work with a ball in a small space to practice the components of dribbling moves, recommends John P. McCarthy in "Coaching Youth Soccer: The Guide for Coaches, Parents and Athletes." Tap the ball gently about 6 feet ahead of you. Run after the ball and plant the instep of your foot to block the ball and turn. This is called the chop move. Repeat for a minute. To practice the scissors fake, pretend to contact the ball with the outside of one foot, plant the foot and sweep the ball the other way with the outside of the foot. Repeat for a minute.

Step 4

Mark three squares 10 yards by 10 yards on a side and place a defender in each to conduct a "run the gauntlet" drill, described by Roy Rees and Cor Van der Meer in "Coaching Soccer Successfully." Dribble through each square, proceeding at a controlled speed, using fakes, feints and dribbling tricks. Keep the ball close to your feet at all times.