the real football

In the last post about dribbling in soccer, I shared some links to a few videos that showed some classic dribbling runs from a few of the top soccer players in the world.  If you haven’t taken a look at those, I would encourage you to do so.  Dribbling runs are some of the most exciting plays in the game!

It is interesting to note, though, that while we find dribbling runs in the professional game to often be exciting, when it comes to youth soccer, there is often a stigma attached to “dribbling”.  You think it took great determination on Giggs’ part to work his way through the Arsenal defense for his famous FA Cup semi final goal?  That’s nothing compared to the strength of mind needed to take on defenders when Billy’s mom has been calling you a ball hog all season long.  Even tougher, she has convinced all of the parents (even yours) to begin a pavlovian chant of, “Pass it! Pass it!” the moment you touch the ball.

So, is Billy’s mom right?  Are those fantastic dribbling runs that we occasionally see in the professional game best left to the pros?  I don’t think so, and I hope to discuss this from a few different angles over time.

Let’s start with the most important part, in my opinion.  The game is more enjoyable when the player has mastered the ball! Kids play sports, at least in the beginning, to have fun, right?  Then shouldn’t coaches help them figure out how to have fun? When the ball arrives at their feet, and the player is comfortable with the ball, the KID is more likely to enjoy themselves.  If the kid is enjoying himself, then it is much more probable that he will enjoy the teamwork part of the game, also.

How valuable is a player to his or her team if that player can beat an opponent on the dribble with some regularity?  Is that player more or less valuable than the player who cannot?  If you are not a soccer player, think of it this way – while your point guard is primarily a passing player, do you really want one who can never penetrate on the dribble running your team on the floor?

Players who are not so good at beating an opponent 1v1 are not as valuable as those who can.  They are easier to defend, and less dangerous to the opponent.  Certainly, players must learn to choose wisely when to dribble, how to set up their dribbling runs, and how to have a purpose at the end of their runs.  Players who never develop the basic skill, though, of taking on opponents will be left behind at some point in their playing career.

In future installments, we will take a look at how things are different at different stages of development for young players, and how to use players’ stage of development to the best advantage in their soccer training.