1. In-betweens with step-over 180 turn.
   (15 in-betweens up then step-over turn and go back 2 times.)
         First, to do the "in-betweens" stand with the soccer ball between your feet which are about shoulder width apart. Using the inside of the right foot, tap the ball softly to the inside of the left foot. Then using the inside of the left foot, tap it back again to the inside of the right foot. The trick is to keep the ball constantly moving between the feet as the player "hops" from foot to foot to prepare for the next touch. Once you get the hang of it, begin to move forward with each step by tapping the ball slightly forward with each touch. Eventually you should be able to keep the in-betweens going without a miss as you move slowly all over the place.
         Secondly, do the "step-over 180 turn. (This is a very important turn! Watch the pros, you will see variations of this turn a dozen times a game.) Start with the ball between your feet, as it is during your "in-betweens". Put your weight on your left foot as you swing your right foot up and over the ball (turning counter-clockwise towards the left). Plant the right foot down on the left side of the ball and step down. (This is the "step-over" part of the move and will be used in lots of fakes and feints). Now using that right foot as a pivot, spin (turning clockwise this time) around with your left foot, back towards the ball. Once you have turned a 180, take the ball with your left foot and begin the "in-betweens" the other direction. (Click here for another description by Dennis Mueller et.al.)
         Another slight variation is to take the ball back with the outside of the right foot instead of using it as a pivot foot. Here you fake the "step-over" as you turn counter-clockwise over the ball with the right foot, just as before. Then instead of planting that right foot, you just tap it down and then back up as you begin to pivot back clockwise still on the left foot. Then you take the ball with the outside of the right foot (the step-over foot) and move back in the new direction. Personally, I prefer this variation. I think it is quicker and a little easier to do the pivot with cleats on grass fields.
   KEY POINTS: The move becomes effective when the "step-over" looks like a shot or pass or lunge in that direction. This "sells" the "FAKE" and then you take the ball quickly in the other direction.
    
2. Toe touches moving forward.
   (Do 15 up and back 2 times with "pullback" turn.)
         Begin with the ball between your feet and slightly to the front. Lift the right foot and lightly touch the top of the ball with the front (cleat side) of the shoe, underneath the toe. Replace that right foot and do the same with the left foot. Now begin to alternate touches faster until you have to make little hops back and forth with your feet while continuing to touch the top of the ball. Finally, push the ball forward a few inches with each touch as you begin to move forward with each step.
         The trick is to touch the ball forward "just the right distance" and slightly in front of the other foot so you can keep the pattern going without a break. After moving forward about 10 yds. do a "pullback" turn and return to the starting spot continuing your toe touches.
    
3. Toe touches moving backwards.
   (Do 15 up and back 2 times.)
        This is nearly the same as the toe touches moving forward but instead goes backward. With each hop backwards touch the ball back and diagonally toward your next foot. This is a little more difficult to learn but is great for developing quick feet and pull back touches.
    
4. Side hop rolls moving forward
   (a.k.a side drag rolls). first right foot then back with left. (Up and back 2-4 times.)
        This is a shielding and rolling maneuver. Start by facing sideways (e.g. first face to the right) to the direction of travel, with the ball between your feet. Using the sole of your right foot, come up and over the top of the ball from right( the back) to left (the front). This gets the ball rolling to your left and down the direction of travel. After rolling over the top of the ball with your right foot, plant it down and "hop" onto your left foot and repeat. All the touches are with the right foot, rolling the ball to the left with your cleats as you "hop" down the field. You would use this to advance the ball and at the same time keep the defender to your backside. Repeat with the left foot.
   KEY POINTS: Being able to roll the ball in various directions while shielding it from defenders can be crucial to finding space in tight spots. Watch a good winger use this maneuver deep in the corner to defeat a double team. Strikers often use this roll out at the 18 yd. line to protect the ball while searching for the next possible shot or pass.
    
5. Outside foot touches with "fast feet" between touches. (Up and back 2-4 times.)
         Push the ball to the outside with the outside of the foot then take 2 steps behind the rolling ball to prepare to touch it with the outside of the other foot.
   KEY POINTS: Kids learn early how to move the ball around with the inside part of their feet but sometimes do not progress to using the outside part of the foot. This condemns them to countless failed attempts to beat the opponent since they end up in the "fruitless kicking battle" as both players stab at the ball with the insides of their feet. Many of the great fakes (lunge, scissors, Matthews, reverse Matthews, Rivelino, drag swerve etc.) will use the outside of the feet so the players should get comfortable with this touch at an early age.
    
6. Speed Changes with sudden stop, ("Hop-stop"). (Up and back several times.)
         Have the players dribble slowly or do some "in-betweens" and then explode up the field for about 4 steps finally coming to a turning stop. Repeat.
   KEY POINTS: There is little point in making a feint if the space gained is not exploited by a burst of speed. In fact, the attempt at the feint can be poor, but it will still be effective if combined with instant acceleration. I think many young players concentrate too much on the "cut" and forget to "explode" out of the fake.
    
7. Outside to inside roll right foot across body and touch forward with left foot. Alternate. (Do 10 up and back 2 times.)
         This is a very important maneuver that has been referred to in some circles as the "Preki". Start with the ball between your feet. Begin with a little lean or lunge out to the right side of the ball by lifting your right foot and stepping down lightly beside the ball. Do not plant weight onto this right foot. Instead, plan to shift your weight back to the left and then "scrape" your cleats over the top of the ball, from the right side to the left, to begin it rolling to the left. After it has crossed completely in front of your body, use the inside of your left foot to touch it forward. Now repeat the same starting with the left foot.
   KEY POINTS: The little lunge to the right side of the ball sets up the rapid move back to the left and "sells" this fake. Being comfortable "scraping" the ball with the cleats to get it rolling in different directions is essential to close quarters dribbling to find space for shooting and passing. Follow this "inside roll" with the "outside roll" as described below. Eventually, any time you are stopped with your foot on top of the ball, you will be able to instantly move left, right, or backwards into a pull-back and still maintain possession.
    
8. Inside to outside roll right foot to the (right) side  and touch forward with right foot.
   Right foot out to the (right) side, touch forward with right foot. Alternate. (Do 10 up and back 2 times.)
        This is the sister move to the "outside to inside" roll. Start with the ball between your feet. Begin with a rapid movement with your right foot to the top of the ball and stop briefly with your cleats on top. This motion should make it appear like you are passing the ball, or taking the ball to your left side, across your body. Instead, keep your weight on your left foot and "scrape" from the inside to the outside with your right foot. This gets the ball rolling back to your right and slightly behind you. Then turn your hips to the right and touch it with the inside of the right foot to deflect it off to the right on a diagonal. Repeat with the right foot several times and then switch to the left. (This is the basic movement for the key feint known as a "pullback V".)
   KEY POINTS: This move is the backbone of the important fake known as the "Vee" or better yet, the "fake-kick V". Emphasize the fake kick motion up to the ball at the beginning of the move, then rapidly pull the ball back and outside to the right, finally turn the hips to follow the ball and touch it with the inside aspect of the right foot and you have a classic "V".
    
9. Skip touches.
   (Skip forward touching the ball with the front foot, each skip.)
         Start with the right foot in front of the left, and the ball just ahead of the leading foot. Begin by touching the ball forward with the (right) front foot which you then plant on the ground and do a little "hop" (or skip), while your (left) trailing leg comes to the front. When that (left) leg is in front, touch the ball ahead with it, then plant it down for a little "hop" (skip), and continue. Do this for several dozen skips.
   KEY POINTS: Ever watch a basketball guard set up his move to the basket? Many times he will put a little "stutter", "skip", or "hitch" in his movement to freeze the defender and set his own feet. The same thing applies to a football halfback who is preparing to pick his "hole" and dive for the first down. He will literally "skip" for a stride which often times either freezes the defenders, or "wrong foots" them. This concept works in soccer dribbling as well. Next time you are practicing even simple soccer feints,( like "lunges" for instance), add a skip just before the move and watch how well the move works. Notice the extra little jump you get as you complete the move. It seems to "load the spring" in your legs, helping prepare for the quick change of pace and direction.
    
10. "Run Throughs" Smother or trap while running through a tossed ball. (Up and back several times.)
           Have the players toss the ball into the air and slightly in front of themselves. Then they should run through the bouncing ball to "push" it up the field. Contact can be made with head, chest, waist, thighs, shins or feet with just enough of a touch to begin the ball moving away. This kind of drill can be done in pairs, as well, but I think it is important enough to include in every warm-up.
    KEY POINTS: How many games do we see young players standing in a circle watching a high ball bounce between them, their faces bobbing like bobble-heads, unable to take control? Of course there are many ways to trap high balls but simply running through the bounce is often times as good as any, and it begins the ball moving away from the defenders into space.
     

II. Turning Fakes

1. Pull backs.
   Turn with Pullback
   Turn Away with Pullback    
         This is a cousin to the "outside and inside" rolls as discussed above but it "scrapes" the ball backwards. Start with the ball between your feet. Fake up to the top of the ball with your right foot in a kicking motion, but stop with your cleats on top of the ball. Then "pull-back" the ball by "scraping" your cleats backwards to get the ball rolling behind you. Now you can turn either clockwise or counterclockwise to face the ball again. If you used your right foot to "pull-back" and you turn clockwise or towards the pull-back leg it is a "turn-with pull-back". If however, your turn counterclockwise away from the right leg, it is a "turn-away pull-back".   You should learn them both. The "turn-away pull-back" is the better of the two since you can continue to face a defender while you change direction and not "spin" away from him and risk losing site of him and his attempt at a steal.
   KEY POINTS: The pull-back moves are some of the first moves kids learn and initially they get a lot of mileage out of them. Unfortunately, they get overused and often times used in the wrong places, especially against older and more skilled defenders. They are best used deep in the offensive third of the field, usually off to the sides to quickly change directions on a slashing attack. They should not be used anywhere near one's own penalty area or anywhere in the middle of the field where an alert defender could begin a dangerous breakaway. The shielding turns like the step-overs, 3/4 shield turns and the "sharp inside/outside cuts" are safer in these areas.
    
2. Fake kick into inside/outside cuts.
   Fake Kick with Inside Cut
   Fake Kick with Outside Cut
          Everyone knows how to cut the ball with the inside and outside of the feet. The difference in this move is to cut the ball very "sharply" backwards to the inside or outside, and set it up with a fake kick.
         Begin by dribbling forward. Touch the ball a little in front of your feet, plant your left foot near the ball and wind up with your right leg like you are going to shoot (or kick the ball hard). Instead of shooting you bring your right leg down in a "chopping" motion to cut the ball backwards across the front of your body. It has to be a very sharp cut back towards your left foot and maybe even in towards yourself. You may even have to hop out of the way with your left foot. Then continue in that new direction and do another with the left foot. This is known as the "inside cut".
         The "outside cut" begins the same, but after the fake right kick, instead of "chopping" down of the ball, you "sweep" it away with the outside of your right foot away from the defender. This is a less aggressive move and actually shields the ball as well.
   KEY POINTS: Cutting the ball with the inside of the foot is the most basic maneuver in soccer. If it is done without some sort of a "fake" or violent change of pace, it is doomed to end up between you and the defender in another frustrating and purposeless kicking battle. What makes this move work is that it is preceded by the fake kick which "wrong-foots" the defender and then the cut has to be extremely sharp, literally a "chop" backwards and maybe even slightly into you.
    
3. Step-over 180° turns.
   Step-over 180° Turn using inside of the foot
   Step-over 180° Turn using outside of the foot
         (This is a very important turn! Watch the pros, you will see variations of this turn a dozen times a game.) Start with the ball between your feet, as it is during your "in-betweens". Put your weight on your left foot as you swing your right foot up and over the ball (turning counter-clockwise towards the left). Plant the right foot down on the left side of the ball and step down. (This is the "step-over" part of the move and will be used in lots of fakes and feints). Now using that right foot as a pivot, spin (turning clockwise this time) around with your left foot, back towards the ball. Once you have turned a 180, take the ball with your left foot and begin to move in the other direction. (Click here for another description from D. Mueller et.al.)
         Another slight variation is to take the ball back with the outside of the right foot instead of using it as a pivot foot. Here you fake the "step-over" as you turn counter-clockwise over the ball with the right foot, just as before. Then instead of planting that right foot, you just tap it down and then back up as you begin to pivot back clockwise still on the left foot. Then you take the ball with the outside of the right foot (the step-over foot) and move back in the new direction.   Personally, I prefer this variation. I think it is quicker and a little easier to do the pivot with cleats on grass fields.
   KEY POINTS: The move becomes effective when the "step-over" looks like a shot or pass or lunge in that direction. This "sells" the "FAKE" and then you take the ball quickly in the other direction.
   
    
4. Shield turns. (a.k.a. the 3/4 turns or spin turns)
         If the inside cut is the most basic move in dribbling then the "shield turns" sometimes referred to as "3/4 shield turns" are a powerful way to use it. Start by dribbling forward towards a cone or mark that represents the defender. Just before reaching the mark, begin a series of sharp inside cuts with the inside of the right foot. The first cut turns you to the left, then immediately follow with another to be facing backwards, and immediately with another cut to end up facing to what initially was to your right. The entire time the ball was shielded and multiple opportunities for lateral and trail passes are available. When done properly the dribbler can actually "shake-off" the defender and continue downfield.
   Outside Shield Turns (a.k.a. Outside "Spin Turns).   
         This move involves 2 or 3 quick turns like above, but this time cut the ball with the outside of the foot.
   KEY POINTS: Many defenders are taught some variation of the "3-ways" approach to 1v1 defense.. First get in the way, second turn them away, and third take it away. Modern defenders are some of the best athletes on the field and are experts at turning or "herding" the strikers to the sidelines. This is where the "3/4 shield turn can really work. The first cut is with the "herding" defender (in the same direction), but then suddenly after 2 more sharp cuts, the striker is free again, or has made a pass.
   It is a speed move and works best at a full run. If the first cut to the left is emphasized, the defender often over-reacts and when the second and third cuts quickly follow and they may lose contact completely.
   The outside shield move (among others) was often used by soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer and some still call it the "Beckenbauer".
   
    
5. Cruyff turns.
          OK, I will admit that the "Cruyff move could easily be listed under the next heading - "Fakes to beat the opponent", but it is still a move that turns the player 180 in the opposite direction and has some similarities to both the "turn-away pull-back" and the "inside cut".
           Start by dribbling the ball forward and plant your left foot near the ball as your right leg "winds-up" for a big kick or shot. Instead of shooting however, bring the right foot down and "chop" the ball backwards and underneath your left leg. You may even have to do a little "hop" or "skip" with your left foot to get it out of the way.
           The difference between this move and the "turn-away pull-back" is that the "Cruyff" uses the "chop" with the inside of the foot while the pull-back uses a "scrape-roll" with the sole of the shoe.
   KEY POINTS: This move takes a little practice. The classic Cruyff highlight clips show him moving diagonally to the right across the field near the opponents penalty box. He fakes a pass/kick towards the right flag but instead "chops" it underneath his left leg giving him space for a shot.
    
6. Stop-hop. (a.k.a. "Half Garrincha")   
         From a full run, stop the rolling ball by briefly tapping the top of it with the sole of the right foot. Allow your momentum to sway a little forward as you lift the right foot off the top of the ball and "hop" onto the ground (just beyond the stopped ball). Now your left foot comes up and rests on the ball with the cleats as you turn to the side.
   KEY POINTS: This little move allows the player to come to a screeching halt, then turn just a little and switch feet to prepare for the next move or pass. In the process, the defender usually flies by and when he returns you have the ball nicely "shielded" and your head is up for the next play. If you were to continue into a full spin with a left footed ball drag, then it would become more like a "true Garrincha".
    

See also:

defending for U10s
defending for U9s
dribbling for U10s
dribbling for U8s
dribbling for U9s
passing for U10s
passing for U8s
passing for U9s
shooting for U10s
shooting for U8s
shooting for U9s
U10 games and drills
U14 practice plans and coaching advice
U6 - U14 soccer coaching practice plans from MYSA
U6 - U14 soccer coaching practice plans from MYSA
U6 balance and co-ordination
U6-U8 basic foot skill games