Dribbling is the skill that makes young players fall in love with soccer. It is also the skill that wins games, because a player who can beat an opponent 1v1 creates space, draws defenders and opens up chances for everyone else. This guide gathers our best posts on dribbling and soccer moves in one place, from basic changes of direction to the signature skills of the world’s most creative players.
For players, the goal is simple: build a set of moves you can perform at speed, with both feet, under pressure. For coaches and parents, these posts give you clear examples to show your players and plenty of ideas for practice. Every move here can be learned with patience and lots of touches on the ball.
If you are new to dribbling, begin with the “Start here” list, then pick one section at a time. Learn a move, practice it until it feels natural, and then try it against a defender. Come back often, because the best dribblers never stop adding to their toolbox.
Start here
- Coerver Soccer Moves to Beat Any Opponent: the core 1v1 moves every player should master, explained in a coaching framework.
- Lamine Yamal Skills: How to Dribble Like Yamal: see what makes Yamal so hard to stop and how to bring his ideas into your game.
- Soccer Turns and Cuts: learn the turns that let you change direction quickly and escape pressure.
- How to Nutmeg a Player in Soccer: find out when and how to slip the ball through a defender’s legs.
- Can You Dribble the Soccer Ball Like a Pro?: test your close control and see what separates good dribblers from great ones.
1v1 Moves to Beat a Defender
These moves are built to unbalance a defender and create a yard of space. Learn each one slowly, then add speed.
- Robinho Step Over (Pedalada): How to Do It: a step-by-step look at the classic step over.
- The Art of La Croqueta Soccer Move: master the quick side-to-side shift made famous by Iniesta.
- The Stop and Go Move in Soccer: use a change of pace to freeze a defender and accelerate away.
- How to Do the Riyad Mahrez Chop: learn a sharp cut that wrong-foots defenders.
- Cristiano Ronaldo: The Chop: see how Ronaldo uses the chop to change direction at speed.
- Lionel Messi Body Feint Moves: discover how a dip of the shoulder can beat a defender without touching the ball.
Turns and Spins
Turning moves help you protect the ball, escape tight spaces and face forward again.
- Zidane Roulette: How to Do Zidane’s Spin Move: break down the famous spin that shields the ball from defenders.
- How to Do a Maradona Spin Move: learn the spin that Maradona used to glide past opponents.
- Kaka Spin Move: watch how Kaka turned a spin into a weapon going forward.
- Air Elastico: How to Do Ronaldinho’s Flip Flap: learn the outside-inside touch behind one of soccer’s most famous tricks.
Flicks and Flair Skills
Flair skills are fun to learn and build excellent touch, even if you save them for the right moment in a game.
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s Rainbow Flick: see how Ronaldo lifts the ball over his head and an opponent.
- The Art of the Rainbow Flick: understand the technique and timing behind the rainbow.
- The Art of the Sombrero in Soccer: learn to flick the ball over a defender’s head and collect it behind them.
- 50 Amazing Soccer Skills and Tricks: a big collection of moves to inspire your next practice session.
Learn From the Best Dribblers
Studying great dribblers shows you how moves work in real games. Watch closely, then copy what you see.
- Lionel Messi: Skills, Secrets and How to Train Like Him: explore Messi’s close control and the habits behind it.
- Lionel Messi’s Signature Move Explained: break down the move Messi uses again and again.
- Neymar Crazy Dribbling Skills: enjoy Neymar’s creativity and pick out moves you can try.
- George Best Skills: The Dribbling Secrets of a Legend: learn what made Best one of the great dribblers of any era.
- Savinho Skills: How the Brazilian Winger Dribbles: see how a modern winger attacks defenders.
- Robinho Soccer Skill Drills: practice drills inspired by Robinho’s quick feet.
How to practice
- Warm up with five minutes of ball mastery: sole rolls, inside-outside touches and pull-backs with both feet.
- Choose one move for the week and do 50 slow repetitions on each foot, focusing on clean technique.
- Add speed: dribble toward a cone, perform the move and explode away for five yards, 10 times per foot.
- Practice turns in a small grid, changing direction every time you reach a line.
- Finish with 1v1 games against a friend or teammate, trying the move of the week whenever you can.
The Coerver approach
Coerver Coaching builds dribbling from the ground up. Players first develop ball mastery through thousands of repetitions with both feet, so the ball becomes an extension of the body. Next, they learn a clear set of moves to beat an opponent, practicing each one until it is automatic. Finally, they use those moves under real pressure in 1v1 and small-group games, where they learn when to dribble, when to pass and how to read a defender. This step-by-step approach gives young players the confidence to take on opponents in matches.
FAQ
What is the easiest dribbling move for beginners?
Simple moves like the stop and go, the chop and a basic step over are great starting points. They teach balance and change of pace, which every more advanced move depends on.
How can I dribble faster with the ball?
Keep the ball close in tight spaces and push it farther ahead in open space. Use the outside of your foot when running and practice dribbling at full speed every week.
How long does it take to learn a new soccer move?
Most players can perform a move slowly in one session, but using it confidently in a game takes weeks of regular repetition and practice against real defenders.