Improve the individual skills of your players and you will improve your team. In this post Charlie Cooke, Director of Coerver Coaching USA, teaches four change of directions moves that will make your players more effective with the ball.
Coach Cooke, instructs players during his Creating and Converting Goal Chances demonstration at a recent Glazier Soccer Clinic. There are players split up into groups of three in multiple 10 x 10 grids on the field. The first player in each group performs the move in the grid and then dribbles or passes back for the second player to go. This continues for each partner and then the next move is explained and shown to the players.
Coach Cooke demonstrates four change of direction moves that the players perform during his demonstration:
Inside foot cut
This move is done by using the inside part of the foot when turning at the end of the grid. Coach Cooke points out that he wants players to perform this cut in one touch rather than using multiple touches.
U-turn
The U-turn move is done by taking the toe and bottom part of the cleat to turn quickly in a U shape. Players can add a fake pass or shot to make this move more realistic and be more effective during a game.
Step-Over
This move involves “stepping over” the ball with the outside or foot farthest from the ball. This is repeated with the opposite foot in the opposite direction to practice both sides. This move can be very effective in games with changing directions to get away from a defender. A key part to the step over is making sure it is performed all in one movement.
Hop and Hesitation
The hop and hesitation or hi-wave move involves a player bringing their knee and leg up over the ball while dribbling and slowing down, then back down to change speeds and dribble quickly away. This move should be done without ever touching the ball with the key parts being the fake and then changing speeds to get away or around a defender.
This clip is just a sample from Coach Cooke’s presentation. For information about how to gain access to the entire presentation, as well as hundreds of other great clinic presentations, click the link Glazier Soccer Clinic.