How to Improve Your Soccer Dribbling Skills

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Learn to dribble a soccer ball like a pro with these easy exercises
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In soccer, it's important to control and manipulate the ball. Dribbling well sets you up for passes and shots. Want to get better at this fundamental skill? We talked to soccer coaches Walter Merino and Bernat Franquesa to help you nail the basics and practice all the best drills, so you can dribble past even the best defenders.

Best Soccer Drills

Practice alone by kicking the ball against a wall, or dribbling the ball through cones, paying attention to using each foot equally. Or, ask a friend to practice passing while you dribble down the field, or ask them to play goalie as you dribble up and shoot on the goal.

Section 1 of 2:

Developing Your Basic Dribbling Technique

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Every time you contact the ball in soccer, it's called a “touch.” By using smaller, more gentle and fine-tuned touches, you contact the ball more often, which allows you to advance quickly and with more control over the ball. A lot of dribbling comes down to speed, and it’s better to make many rapid touches than just a few forceful touches. [1]
    • The more your foot touches the ball, the more control you have over the ball's movement.
    • On the other hand, if you’re only touching the ball every so often, you have much less control over the ball’s moment-to-moment position.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    When the ball is close to your feet, you maintain control, and can more easily maneuver the ball where you want it to go. [2] Keep your knees bent and the ball always within reach of your feet. Against an opponent, your body should be between the defender and the ball. You'll also be able to change direction faster. [3]
    • When you keep the ball close to your feet, defenders have a more difficult time intercepting the ball.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    If you need to cover a lot of ground, aim to dribble the ball with the laces of your shoes, or with the outside edge of your toes. [4] While running, “gallop” with the ball by kicking it with the same foot each step: step-kick-step-kick. This keeps the ball close to your foot at all times, even as you pick up speed.
    • Keep the leading edge of your foot forward as you're running. This keeps contact between the ball and the leading edge of your foot, giving you the most speed and balance.
    • This doesn't apply to making cuts, stops, direction changes, etc. This is just for moving the ball downfield with as much speed and control as possible.
  4. Franquesa says to use the inside of your feet mostly to change directions quickly, like when you need to dribble past someone. When you’re mostly dribbling with the inside of your foot, you’re constantly pivoting your ankle outward, which slows you down and can lead to injury. Save the inside of your foot for when you need to quickly change the ball’s direction.
    • Aim to dribble mostly with the outside edge of your foot, or with the laces of your shoes.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Franquesa tells us that for soccer players, it’s “super important…to dribble at the same time that they are able to look, at the same time that they are able to see a teammate, to see the field, to see the next options.” If you’re only looking at the ball, you’re not seeing the player coming to steal it! [5]
    • Think of it like riding a bike. Instead of looking down at your wheels, look at the field in front of you, and practice glancing around you as you dribble, keeping the ball in the corner of your eye.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Just running in a straight line down the field at the same speed makes you an easy target. When you come to an opponent and you can’t outrun them, slow down to keep control of the ball and get ready to juke. Then, be ready to speed back up once you out-dribble them. [6] As you train, practice changing your dribbling pace.
    EXPERT TIP

    Bernat Franquesa

    Licensed Soccer Coach & Head of Methodology at APFC
    Bernat Franquesa is the Co-Founder and Head of Methodology at APFC (Albert Puig Football Concepts), a youth development program for players and coaches with headquarters in San Diego, California. APFC provides soccer training for youth and educational content and consulting services for coaches, academies, and clubs. At APFC, Bernat is responsible for co-developing and applying technical guidelines for player development programs. He has been coaching soccer in Catalunya and the US since he was 15 years old.
    Bernat Franquesa
    Licensed Soccer Coach & Head of Methodology at APFC

    When we change directions it is super important to get low , when we are dribbling a long distance it's important that the body is straight. Also super important, dribble with farthest leg from where the opponents are coming.

  7. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Shield the ball with your body when a defender gets close. [7] Put yourself between your opponent and the ball, either dribbling at an angle, or dribbling away from them. Use your arms, legs, and shoulders to keep the defender away from the ball. Also aim to keep the ball on the foot that is furthest from the defender.
    • Remember that soccer isn’t a contact sport! It’s okay to use your body as a wall, but avoid pushing or shoving your opponent.
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Section 2 of 2:

Dribbling Drills

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    As you’re starting out and improving , find a long open space where you can practice sprinting while using gentle, leading edge touches. Keep the ball within a few feet of you rather than several yards ahead. Get comfortable just handling the ball. As you progress, practice keeping the ball within a section of the field to practice dribbling with different amounts of open space. [8]
    Lionel Messi, Professional Soccer Player

    Practice as much as you can, and push your boundaries to keep improving. "I’m never satisfied. I always push my limits and try to get better every day."

  2. The name of the game is getting to a point where dribbling feels totally natural—that’s how you get better at soccer . Merino recommends practicing at home. Keep the ball near your feet as you move around inside, through tight spaces, until it feels second-nature, and you can handle the ball without even thinking.
    • Of course, keep in mind this can be dangerous! Don’t do this around stairs, or where other people are moving around. Keep the ball in control, and put it away if you need to do something that demands your attention.
  3. Merino says this is an excellent drill to practice if you don’t have someone else to help you. Kick the ball against the wall and let it come back, then repeat. Aim to mix up how high you bounce it, your speed, and which foot you use. This gives you a super versatile and unpredictable way to practice passing, receiving, and controlling the ball.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Speed dribbling refers to moving the ball downfield with speed and control. For a proper speed dribbling technique, your foot should be slightly turned in at the ankle with the front of the foot down. This way, the front-outside of the shoe contacts the ball just above the middle toe. Time how long it takes you to dribble the ball from one end of the field to the other, and aim to shave seconds off that time.
    • Aim to touch the ball with your foot every 3-4 steps to stay in control.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Set up 5 cones, each roughly 3 ft (0.91 m) apart, and dribble with only 1 foot to weave the ball through the cones. Alternate between the leading edge of your foot and the inside part of your instep to pass the ball back and forth between the cones. [9] Once you reach the end of the cones, simply turn around and start back through them in the opposite direction. Do this drill in several bursts such as down and back 3 times before taking a break.
    • If you knock the cones over, you're going too fast or don't have enough control of the ball. Slow down until you don't knock the cones over.
    • Since being able to use both feet is extremely important in soccer, make sure to alternate which foot you’re using to strengthen both of them.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Now, as you zigzag between the cones, stop and turn the ball with the inside of your outer foot, then use the outside of your inner foot to budget the ball between the cones, and repeat. [10] This drill engages both sides of both feet and helps with your coordination.
    • If you don’t have cones, simply practice dribbling the ball from one foot to the other as you move forward. Or, find a line on the field and practice dribbling back and forth over the line.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    “Rolling” is a great dribbling move that lets you quickly pivot the ball instead of just knocking it in a new direction. Place your foot on top of the ball, like you’re going to step on it, then roll the ball between the cones. Roll at such an angle that the ball passes in front of the foot you use to roll when the foot comes off. Then catch the ball with the inside of your opposite foot, and roll it through the next cones. [11]
    • Take another step with the original rolling foot between the foot stop and the next roll movement. This allows you to position yourself correctly.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Set up several cones in a zig-zag pattern about 3 ft (0.91 m) apart. Practice dribbling the ball along the zig-zag, around the outside of each cone. [12] As you do, focus on changing the ball’s direction with the outside edge of your inside foot. Then, practice dribbling with the inside edge of your outside foot. This side-to-side motion is great practice for changing direction of the ball on a moment's notice.
    • Keep the ball in control and practice doing the drill with as much speed as possible. If you have to look down at the ball while moving through the cones, keep working at it so you know where the ball is without looking.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Develop Good Soccer Dribbling Skills
    Merino says practicing approaching a goalie helps with your ability to change direction, to manipulate the ball, to fake one way and go the other way.” Grab a friend and have them play goalie. Then, start from midfield, dribble up to the goal, and attempt to score .
    • As you approach, focusing on faking the goalie out and being unpredictable. The less predictable you are, the easier it’ll be to score.
    • This drill also has you practicing real game situations, instead of practicing just a rigid and monotonous movement.
  10. Grab a few friends. Every player but 1 gets a ball, and lines up on one side of the field. The last player is the shark, and tries to steal a ball while everyone else dribbles to the opposite side of the field. This drill helps you practice real game scenarios where you must keep the ball away from an opponent. [13]
    • If the shark steals the ball from a minnow, that minnow becomes the new shark.
  11. The best dribblers aren’t the ones who are always dribbling—they know how and when to pass the ball , too. [14] Grab a friend and jog down the field together, keeping about 10 ft (3.0 m) apart. Take turns dribbling the ball for 5-10 steps, then pass it to your partner. This helps you with your game awareness as you dribble.
    • As you practice, pay special attention to your “first touch,” when you first touch the ball. Controlling the ball even when you touch it for the very first time is important!
    • Take care to pass mostly with the outside of your foot.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do you learn how to dribble?
    Bernat Franquesa
    Licensed Soccer Coach & Head of Methodology at APFC
    Bernat Franquesa is the Co-Founder and Head of Methodology at APFC (Albert Puig Football Concepts), a youth development program for players and coaches with headquarters in San Diego, California. APFC provides soccer training for youth and educational content and consulting services for coaches, academies, and clubs. At APFC, Bernat is responsible for co-developing and applying technical guidelines for player development programs. He has been coaching soccer in Catalunya and the US since he was 15 years old.
    Bernat Franquesa
    Licensed Soccer Coach & Head of Methodology at APFC
    Expert Answer
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  • Question
    How many hours a day should I practice to become a better player?
    Community Answer
    At least one hour a day, that should include dribbling, shooting, passing, muddling and ball control touches.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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  • Question
    I've seen many players juggling to improve their ball control and learning new skills. But when I try to juggle, I can hardly do eight on my dominant foot but once I use the other foot, the ball falls off my foot! Is it important to juggle to improve ball control or will the drills here improve my ball control?
    Community Answer
    Juggling may not be something you use in a match but it is probably one of the easiest ways to improve ball control and touch. Try to keep the ball at a low height and try alternating between your dominant foot and weaker. Your juggling will improve in time. The drills here are also helpful but do try both.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      Tips

      • First work on skill, and then work on speed. Speed will come with repetition.
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      • Remember that in an actual game, a good pass is always preferable to attempting to beat a defender. Dribbling is meant to create passing and shooting opportunities, not simply to show off fancy footwork.
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      • Watch professionals dribbling. Watch videos and observe their fakes and feints.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Spend more time with the ball and do ladder drills. Speed is almost everything in soccer. Also, if you don't have a cone you can use any other object to replace its place.
      • Master stepovers and always try to think like the defender. If you know what they're thinking then you can figure out how to beat them.
      • Practice feints such as stepovers, chops, and body feints because they are really important in 1v1 situations.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/learn/football/how-to-dribble-in-football
      2. ↑ https://coachingamericansoccer.com/introductions-to-soccer-skills/introduction-to-dribbling/
      3. ↑ https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/learn/football/how-to-dribble-in-football
      4. ↑ https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/learn/football/how-to-dribble-in-football
      5. ↑ https://coaches.langtongreencsa.org.uk/session-plans/in-possession/dribbling-running/dribbling-key-points/
      6. ↑ https://www.activesgcircle.gov.sg/learn/football/how-to-dribble-in-football
      7. ↑ https://coaches.langtongreencsa.org.uk/session-plans/in-possession/dribbling-running/dribbling-key-points/
      8. ↑ https://coaches.langtongreencsa.org.uk/session-plans/in-possession/dribbling-running/dribbling-key-points/
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Ijw3GK2sI
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Ijw3GK2sI&t=83s
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2Ijw3GK2sI&t=83s
      3. ↑ https://www.tmisportsmed.com/pdf/tmi-agilty-drills-2-12-13.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.dgparks.org/upload/YouthSoccerCoachingGuide-Pre-K-2nd.pdf
      5. ↑ https://www.dgparks.org/upload/YouthSoccerCoachingGuide-Pre-K-2nd.pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To develop good soccer dribbling skills, remember to keep the ball as close to your feet as possible when you're dribbling, which will make it harder for your opponents to intercept it. Also, try to avoid looking down at the ball as you dribble. Instead, keep the ball in the lower edge of your peripheral vision so you're aware of what's happening on the rest of the field. You should also frequently change your pace and direction when dribbling, which will make it harder for defenders to predict your next move. To learn how to do drills and exercises that will make you better at dribbling, scroll down!

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