Skills, Techniques, progression and Tactics in Football

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Skills, Techniques, progression and Tactics in Football

Dribbling Skills

Dribbling flicks and tricks in football are fun to do, and great for getting past defenders, creating space and showing off. The aim is to move the ball from one foot to the other as quickly and as accurately as possible.

There are many types of dribbles here are a few examples:

The football body swerve - is a close control, dribbling skill used for running at and beating defenders, and creating space to shoot or pass the ball. The aim of the body swerve is to dummy the defender into moving the wrong way. The body swerve builds upon basic turning skills, so player should be able to turn with the ball under close control to the left and right. With the ball on your right foot, dip your left shoulder, and start to transfer your body weight as if you are going to the left. However, instead of turning to the left, quickly lean to the right transferring your weight to the right, and use your left foot as a springboard to accelerate away to the right. Acceleration is of great importance when dribbling, and trying to beat opponents. Speed is important, but it is often sudden changes in speed that beats the defender.

The step over - is a dribbling trick that is used to put off and dummy defenders. Transfer the body weight to one side, and move the foot towards the ball as if to turn to that side, but at the last moment step over the ball, and keep going in the same or opposite direction. Sometimes this trick is used to put off or intimidate defenders as well as to dribble past them. A variation is to move the foot around the ball instead of over it.

The dummy backheel - is designed to cause the defender to stop suddenly, whilst the attacker keeps going. It is only effective on the move when running at defenders. The foot is brought forward over the top and in front of the football as if to backheel the ball to somebody behind. However, the ball is deliberately missed on the pretend backheel with the foot passing over the top of the ball, and the front of the foot is used to drag the ball forward without stopping or losing speed.

Passing Skills

Football passing techniques are vital for keeping possession and controlling the game by moving the ball around the pitch from teammate to teammate trying to make space. Accurate short passes with supporting runs into space allows a team to keep possession, and build an attack. Many parts of the foot can be used sending the ball in different directions. Corner kicks, crosses and long balls played over fifty or sixty metres into your opponents' penalty area are also passes if they reach one of your own players. Here are a few variations of a pass:

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The backheel technique - is to make contact with the heel dead-on to the ball, that is, with the middle of the heel striking the centre of the ball. The non-kicking foot is kept close to the ball for support. As well as using the heel, the ball can also be played behind us by using the sole (underside) of the foot. Use as large an area of the sole as possible, dragging over the ball from around the toes to the heel. This technique is generally more accurate than using the heel, but has less power.

The side volley ...

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