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DRIBBLING
The most important aspect of dribbling is ball control.
While you are dribbling you should keep the ball close to
you so that you are able to quickly change the direction
of the ball at any moment. Practice dribbling with using
the inside and outsides of both feet making sure that the
ball is always at least within one stride of your run. When
you feel comfortable controlling the ball with all parts
of your feet it makes you a more dangerous player. Your
opponent will have to respect your ability to get out of
tricky situations.
Once you feel comfortable dribbling with all parts of your
feet you should work on varying the speed of your dribble.
You can trick defenders to over commit by varying your speed. A good trick
on how to fool a defender by varying your speed is to slow
down your dribble for a step or two as a defender approaches.
This will trick your defender to thinking that you are slowing
down. Once the defender lurches towards your position to
stop you, touch the ball to the open space and move down
the field at full speed. Because the defender has committed
to where you were, he is now off balance and will only be
able to watch you fly by him.
Finally, once you have mastered dribbling with all parts
of your feet and varying your speed, you are ready to practice
misdirection (or faking). Misdirection is the art (and it
really is an art) of freezing your defender so he is unsure
of which way you are going until you are already by him.
The misdirection can be as simple as leaning one way and
then going the other, or using a head fake to confuse the
defender. The move I like is when I'm facing a defender
one-on-one, I stand with my right foot behind the ball and
lean to the left, away from the ball. To the defender it
appears I am favoring one side and that I will probably
kick the ball down field and attempt to run on to it. While
this is a possibility, I also have the option of leaning
left and then scooping the ball to the right with the outside
of my shoe. Since I know which way I'm going I can gain
a half of step on the defender and race past him.
Strong stomach muscles, and mid-section in general, will
help you keep your balance as you attempt to fake out your
opponent. I recommend players focus on crunches and other
mid-section exercises before and after each practice.
Now, it will take time to learn these moves, but practice,
follow the advice of your coach and watch the Professionals
and it will come to you.
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