Eleftheria Pancyprian SC
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‹ Coaching Points

Dribbling

Beating a defender, running with the ball and keeping possession.

Top 3

  1. 1.Small touches in tight spaces, big touches in open space
  2. 2.Head up — see the space, the opponents and your teammates
  3. 3.Change of speed and direction beats defenders

General

  • Use all surfaces of both feet
  • Instep / outside of the laces for the speed dribble — normal sprinting foot position
  • Small touches in small spaces (soft feet)
  • Big touches in big spaces — self-pass and run without the ball
  • See the ball through the bottom of your eyes
  • Head up to look for space, opponents and teammates
  • Change direction at any speed
  • Receive in an open body position — hips facing forward like a sprinter
  • First touch is your first dribble

Beating a defender

  • Spot the space behind the defender to dribble into
  • Take the first space at speed
  • Usually attack the defender's front foot
  • Read their body language and closing speed — over-committed or under control?
  • Over-committed: move the ball out of their path quickly and go
  • Under control: use a body feint or ball fake to unbalance them
  • Fake or feint about one to two steps away from the defender
  • Change of speed: accelerate into the space past them
  • Low centre of gravity, bent knees, explode off the plant foot with a big touch
  • Separate the recovering defender from the ball with your body
  • Dribble with the foot furthest from a side-on defender to shield the ball
  • Courage to fail — weigh the risk and reward for that area of the pitch and moment of the game

Possession & shielding

  • Know where the open space is — often to the side or behind
  • Move your first touch into space, away from pressure
  • Use the foot furthest from the defender
  • Keep the ball close so you can cut, turn or stop quickly
  • Use different surfaces of the foot as needed
  • Speed up after a turn or stop to escape traffic
  • Balanced body and feet, low centre of gravity, bent knees
  • Use feints and fakes to buy time and space
  • Look up to pass or penetrate when it's on
  • Stay sideways-on, body between ball and defender
  • Slightly raised bent arm nearest the defender as an extra barrier
Say it on the pitch
Head upChange of speedSideways on

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