Can You Dribble the Ball Like a Pro?

You’ve seen it before: A player gets the ball and gracefully weaves in and out of three or four players before cutting
the ball back one more time to bend the ball into the far corner. The ball tethered to their foot the entire time.
Think Lionel Messi's dribbling run against Getafe, which was very similar to Maradona's run against England in the
1986 World Cup.

You don’t get skills like that with luck. It takes talent, technique, and perseverance. In other words, practice, practice,
and more practice.

Getty Images: Lionel Messi on the dribble against Inter Milan.

First off though, the best dribblers of the ball, like Messi, touch the ball with every step they take, so they can cut in
any direction at anytime. It's only when you're able to dribble the ball with every step and cut the ball to either side
can you look at trying out some soccer moves. 

So, as long as you're able to dribble at speed with the ball and keep it close to you can you proceed to try to the range
of soccer moves and tricks that are outlined below.

Impove Your Dribbling Vocabulary

The Stop and Go

For this move, change of pace is key. Jog slowly with the ball, usually when a defender is along side of you, stop for a
second, and then burst past the defender.

You can also put the sole of your foot on top of the ball for a second when you stop the ball, and then push it forward
with your instep when you break off on the dribble again to escape the defender.

The Cut Back (The Cruyff)

With the inside of the foot, cut the ball back behind your body. For example, when using your right foot to cut the ball
back, plant your left foot to the side of the ball and then bring your right foot up to cut the ball back. Do the reverse if
you are cutting the ball back with your left foot.

This can often look like a fake shot. Dribbling away from a defender into space, you chop the ball back with the inside
of the foot, then dribble off in that opposite direction. 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.

Watch the master do it in the 1974 World Cup.  See how Cruyff sells the cut back with a wonderful fake cross.

The Sweep

This move is more than just a cut.  It's almost a sweeping motion with the ball.  Dramatically sweeping the ball over
to the other foot to sell a shot or make it look like you're going to shoot but dragging the ball to the other foot.  Robin
Van Persie does this move extremely well.  Check out this move by Van Persie versus Inter Milan and then these cut
backsthat are very similar.

The Fake Shot or Cross

Bringing the leg back like you‘re going to take a shot or make a pass can help buy you time, stop just in front of the
ball. Cut the ball to the left or right to set yourself up for your next play.

For example, you could be dribbling fast down the left side with your left foot, your body between the defender and
the ball, trying to sell the fact that you want to get an opening to cross the ball. You would most likely look to swing in
a cross with your left foot, but instead, you fake the cross and cut the ball inside past the defender just when they’re
trying to block or get a touch on the cross.

It’s a very subtle cut, done all in one motion, bringing the leg back to cross but deftly cutting the ball inside. If the
cross or shot is not sold, you can then cut the ball back again to swing in the cross or take the shot. However, don’t
get caught up in doing too many moves. The goal is to get the ball in the box and get a scoring opportunity, so make
that your main target.

The Step Over

Take your right foot over the ball and take the ball away with the outside of your left foot. This move is often called
“the scissors.”

Check out Ronaldo against Ghana in the 2006 World Cup. Watch how he beats the keeper with a beautiful step over
move.  Then there's Del Piero's one footed step over move that results in a goal. See how he keeps the ball close to
him, dribbling with each step of the foot directly at the defender before he performs the move.  The new master of the
step over might just be Robinho, take a look his step over moves.

Reverse Step Over

Bring the right foot up and around and over the ball and take the ball away with the outside of the right foot. Again,
accelerate after doing the move.

Double Step Over

If the defender doesn't go for the first step over, it's time to try the double. This time, take your right foot over the
ball and then swing your left foot over the ball as well and take the ball away with the outside of your right foot.

Ronaldo and Robiniho, both of Real Madrid and Brazil, are masters of this move. Catch a game of theirs to see this
move done to perfection. As with all moves, the key is the change of pace after you do the move. In this case, it’s
bringing your leg over the ball and then shooting off at speed past your defender.

 See Ronaldo's double step over move here against Germany.

 Check out Mancini's step over goal.

Inside Outside

Fake like you’re going inside and then rush to the outside. With the inside of your foot on the ball, carry the ball a few
touches to the inside a few steps (leaning to the inside), almost teasing the defender, and when you think the
defender is off balance or not ready, push the ball to the outside (with the outside of your foot). You then have more
space to cross the ball, make a pass, or shoot.

Outside Inside

This time, use the outside of your feet. This is usually more difficult because you don't have as much control over the
outside of your feet in terms of surface area, so make the dragging of the ball to the outside a little shorter in distance
(not touching the ball too far away). Basically, this is the same as the previous move, “inside outside,” but starting
with the outside of your foot.

Dropping Your Shoulder

Dribble slowly at a defender and then feint with the shoulder, ducking or leaning your shoulder down a little bit one
way, and taking off the other way.
You want to try to get the defender on their heels, as though they’re going to fall down. One way to do this is to
dribble dead on at them at a pretty good pace, then dip the shoulder one way and take off in the other direction,
switching the ball to your other foot – the opposite direction to which you are faking with the shoulder. Make sure to
touch the ball with each step as you’re dribbling at the defender. Keep the ball close to you.

Sole of the Foot Turn

Pull the ball back with the bottom of your shoe and burst away with a change of pace.  Watch the maestro, Juan
Riquelme, use the sole of his foot to turn defenders inside and out.

The Scoop

Lift the ball over the defender's foot. This is usually done while feinting one way and then scooping the ball the other
way just over the defender’s planted foot.

After you lift the ball over the defender’s foot, make sure to take off with a burst of speed. Often, you want to scoop or
lift the ball over the defender’s foot and to your other foot so your body will be between you and the defender after
you make the move. For example, if you are dribbling with your right foot, scoop the ball over the defender's foot to
your left foot.

This move is also usually done when you are in an almost standing position and the defender is rushing at you.
Essentially, you’re suckering the defender in and then lifting the ball over their foot as they come in towards you too
fast. You then slip away by scooping the ball over their foot.

The Lean

Lean to one side, dragging the ball along with you as if you’re going to dart off with the ball. When the defender
doesn't expect it, take off in the opposite direction.

Sucker Them

Entice the defender to try to go for the ball by exposing it. When the defender thinks he or she can steal it or when he
or she makes a move to go for the ball, you cut the ball away and take off. Again, change of pace is the key when
beating a defender on the dribble and with this move.

Nutmeg

Put the ball between an opponent's legs, but which is much easier said than done. You can look brilliant when you're
successful but also lose the ball quite easily and put your team in a bad position if you fail. This is a subtle move and
should only be done on rare occasions. Do this move when your opponent is rushing in on you too fast or on their
heels (when they least expect it). Take a look at how the pros do it by watching this video: the Nutmeg.

Touch the Ball Around the Defender

If you see the defender is coming to close you down too fast, touch the ball around the defender on the side and go
around the other way.  Take a look at Joseph Ngweny doing the move and scoring an amazing goal to boot.
Or, if you're going at a defender at speed, and there's a lot of space behind the defender (who's flat footed or diving
in) touch the ball around the defender and use your momentum and speed to catch up to the ball before the defender.

Swinging the Ball to the Side

Quickly transfer the ball from the right foot to the left or vice versa.  For example, push the ball to the left with the
inside of your right foot and then push the ball past the defender with the left foot. 

Here, Robinho, after doing a few step overs, entices the defender and then swings the ball to his left foot and goes by
the defender.  He actually first pulls the ball back with the sole of his foot but then swings the ball with the inside of
his right foot to the inside of his left.

The Sombrero

This is when you scoop, juggle, or flick the ball over a defender's head and keep possession of the ball.  Take a look
at Maldini or Robinho as they work the move on an opposing defender.

The Seal Dribble (Incredible)

Another wonder kid from Brazil, Kerlon Moura Souza (now 18), is known for his Seal Dribble. He can flick the ball from
his foot onto his forehead in heavy traffic so that defenders can't get the ball from him.

In addition to learning about all of the moves listed above, you also need to develop the skills that are necessary to
execute them…