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.

A recent thread at the great soccer coaching site that is hosted at And-Again, as well as a couple of sessions with my team recently, has brought this topic to mind. In the game of soccer, what is the best option, to pass the ball or to dribble.

Here is a post from a knowledgeable and experienced coach from Hong Kong:

Jim, this is really what Cruyff meant when he said that football is an easy game made difficult by the the players, coaches, blah blah, blah

The pass is faster so pass, AND, you can run faster than the guy in possession so give it and get on your way.

At the business end….that’s a different matter- risk and reward.
Incidentally, what new phases have we been privy to over the last,however many years?

Same game as it was always, I think?

and here is my reply to him:

Yeah, it is, and it isn’t.

Players are more technical, with better boots, playing on better fields, with a better ball, and explore options that were not so often explored many years ago. I would judge them to not always be making the “right” decision, but think of the players who have made a nice career on making “bad” decisions work out. I am thinking of the (old) Ronaldo types, who try things that most mere mortals would not and should not consider.

Think of the memorable Maradona goal, or if you would rather, the Giggs FA Cup goal vs Arsenal. If passing is the first “right” option, how many errors did he make in his famous run.

I would suggest that he made a good decision to take space initially (not kill it all, but move up the field on the dribble to allow his teammates to develop their runs) then used those runs (that unbalanced the defenders), and the slight lack of cover in the Arsenal defense to first beat a defender, then split the next two, and voila, history is made.

Don’t get me wrong – I am a fan of circulating the ball through the back and middle thirds, in order to move the opponents around, allow teammates ahead of the ball to get organized, while looking for the opportunity to get in. Even in the final third, ball movement and speed of play is an important ability for players and teams to cultivate. It certainly is a cornerstone of my training.

However, the question is, “When should a player dribble?”, not, “When should a player not dribble?” If the predominant answer is, essentially, “you should dribble when you cannot pass,” I think we miss the boat.

I believe it is important to help players find moments when dribbling an opponent is a suitable first option.

In today’s youth soccer world, there are many, many clinics, camps, and videos that deal with teaching players how to be technically good at dribbling the soccer ball.  I don’t know of a single soccer coach of any value who does not incorporate some sort of ball work in coaching young players.

I wonder, though, about the approach some coaches take to helping young players learn about why and when to dribble, when I read some of the things that I have in the thread mentioned above.  I think that the tendency is for us, as coaches, to feel more a part of something if it is (or looks like) and orchestrated movement of passes that leads our team to a chance at goal.  I know I very much enjoy teaching this part of the game to players and teams.

On the other hand, it might be a good thing if we remind ourselves that just as we help players learn how to do things like dribble, shoot, and pass, we need to also be concerned with helping them figure when and why to do these things as well.  More to follow… but here is a link to video of the inimitable Lionel Messi, and some of his fine dribbling displays for you to enjoy.