How to Dribble a Soccer Ball

Everyone loves to see a goal scored in soccer, it is one of the most exciting parts of the sport. What many fans fail to realize is the importance of dribbling the soccer ball on the way to scoring that goal. Dribbling in soccer is a controlled method of moving the ball from one foot to another as you travel down the soccer field. The only two ways to move the soccer ball forward are passing to a teammate and dribbling as you move with the soccer ball.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer ball
• Pylon cones
• Opponent

1. Practice making short kicks of the soccer ball to yourself. This involves kicking the ball softly with the front instep of your feet. The goal of dribbling the soccer ball is to move the ball up the field, while keeping it from your opponent. This means your kicks for a dribble must be very short and controlled.

2. Kick the ball no longer than one foot in front of you when dribbling. If you are near an opponent this distance might be reduced to six inches. Kick it at about a 45-degree angle towards your opposite foot. In general all kicks during dribbling should be made with the instep, but occassionally can be made with the outside of your foot.

3. Practice dribbling for soccer with drills. Set up orange pylon cones approximately two to three feet apart. Practice dribbling between the cones, moving in a weaving or figure eight pattern. For the first drill, just try to get through the cones successfully. If you kick the ball more than a foot in front of you, your opponent can declare your turn as being finished. Your opponent will then participate in the drill. Whichever of you dribble further through the cones without losing control of the soccer ball wins the drill.

4. Increase the difficulty level of your soccer dribbling drill. After you and your opponent become skillfull in dribbling the soccer ball between the cones, add a timer to the drill. Each of you take turn dribbling the ball between the cones in a a figure eight pattern, seeing who can get through the cones fastest without losing control of the ball.

5. Steal the ball from your opponent when performing dribbling drills. The final skill with dribbling is keeping the ball away from an opponent. Have one player dribble the ball, and the other try to steal the ball with their feet. Have the defender, who is trying to steal the ball, start two feet away from the person who is dribbling. Set a goal for the person with the ball to dribble to. Alternate turns. A turn begins when your opponent reaches their goal, or you steal the ball from them. Whoever reaches their goal the most wins the soccer dribbling drill.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember, dribbling is a short and controlled passing of the soccer ball from one foot to the other. If you dribble too far in front of you, an opponent will steal the ball.
• When playing the roll of defender, remember to use your feet only. Physical contact in soccer is considered a foul.

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