Soccer Tip

Soccer Tip: 4 Ways to Beat a Defender

“My first question is always, ‘Can this guy dribble?’ I only want players who have that skill…”

- Pep Guardiola

Beating defenders is a skill in soccer that requires consistent training. Players often focus all their attention on passing and possession but forget the importance of training their ability to dribble past defenders. These tips will help you improve your ability to beat defenders so you can create more opportunities for your team to score.

1) Put the defender off balance. Fake like you're going one way and go the other and once the defender's body has shifted to try to catch up to you that's when you go back the other direction. Cut the ball past the standing foot of the defender. If you want to get to the outside touch the ball towards the inside then touch the ball back down the line.

2) Keep the ball close to you so you can cut in either direction. Dribble the ball with each step you take. This brings the defender close to you and allows you to quickly move the ball where you want.

3) Tempt the defender to try to win the ball and then accelerate into space. The key is to go directly at the defender and increase your speed once you've thrown them off balance.

4) Know when it is the right time to dribble. The best dribblers know when it's not on, they start over and wait for another chance to beat the defender. Look for the times when you’re one on one and there is open space behind your defender.

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