Coaching Corner: Fakes to Help Receive the Ball Under Pressure 
By Jeff Tipping, NSCAA Director of Coaching Education
  (from the NSCAA Coaching Newsletter - March 16th, 2005)

Players in midfield and at the top of the opponent’s penalty box constantly receive the ball under pressure. Sometimes the players cannot receive the ball and avoid being tackled unless the player uses a fake prior to the first touch to freeze the opponent or to make the opponent think the player is going to take the ball in a certain direction. A couple of moves players need to master who play in midfield positions are the “lunge” and the “scoop” moves.

The Lunge
As the ball is traveling toward a player, and it is clear that a defender is closing the player down quickly, the player can make valuable space and time by lunging toward the ball as if to take it with the front foot and then quickly stopping to allow the ball to run to the back foot. As the ball runs past the front foot, the player pivots and opens the hips in order to receive the ball with the back foot. The lunging motion freezes the defender momentarily and creates a split second of time to move away in a different direction with the ball.

The Scoop
Another good move for both midfield players and forwards is to master is the scoop move. The scoop move most frequently occurs when two players are simultaneously going for a loose ball. The player who arrives there fractionally before the other fakes to block tackle but actually flips the ball over the opponents foot with a scooping movement and then moves away at speed.

These kinds of moves should be practiced with no opposition initially and then can be practiced in 3v1 or 4v3 type of environments in a small space when the attacking players are constantly under pressure.

  Web Administrator    Ken Gamble