Supreme Freestyler






It has been a long while since my last post. I've been busy with other committments and hopefully this post will make it worthwhile. This is a video I found from Youtube featuring Soufiane Touzani showcasing his freestyle skills along with ground moves in a 5 aside street soccer. After watching this video, I'm starting to think that you can use most of your freestyle ground tricks on 5 aside matches than playing on the soccer field. The most obvious reason I can think of is because you have the luxury of time and space in soccer but not in 5 aside. That's why I believe that playing 5 aside matches demand your freestyle ground and air soccer skills.

Here's the video, the following are the chronology of time for each soccer trick that Touzani performs:

Time Soccer Trick
1:12 AKKA
1:15 Rai Flick Read more
1:29 ATW Read more
1:30 Crossover

x-over

X-over is very similar to crossover but the difference is the fact that you don't have to swing your leg over the ball. The soccer trick looks simple at first but difficult once you start to practice. The reason why because this trick challenges your balancing and coordination skills. If you can cope with these two then you have a chance to master this technique relatively ease. Your mind needs to focus on 2 things: 1. cross your standing foot 2. kick it with your stronger foot

Step 1 It's best to start from throwing the ball at your standing or weaker foot.

Step 2 As the ball begins to fall, cross your standing or weaker foot by lifting it over your stronger foot.

Step 3 Then kick the ball with your stronger foot and make sure you get the right contact on the ball i.e center of the ball


Repeat the above steps until you've become familiar with it. Once you've mastered this, you can start do the x-over while juggling the soccer ball.

P.S I shall post the video some time.

MATW

The Mitchy Around the World or more commonly use as an acronym of MATW is a more advanced technique of ATW and combined 2 soccer tricks; the ATW and the crossover. The MATW usually starts of with the inside ATW and followed by the crossover to complete a soccer trick. In short, the MATW is the combination ( combo ) of both the ATW and the crossover.

There are 2 basic soccer tricks that you'll need to master to complete the MATW combo. First, practice your ATW and then the crossover and finally do the 2 soccer tricks in a combo manner.

The Around the World ( ATW )

Step 1
Place the ball on your stronger foot like a foot stall.

Step 2
As you lift the ball, slightly rotate your foot diagonally and form a 360 turn over the ball to complete the ATW. I strongly emphasis that you lift your foot slightly diagonal instead of straight because to perform ATW, you'll need to be a bit quick to complete the rotation.

The Crossover

Step 1
You can start either by throwing the ball upwards or kick the ball upwards.

Step 2
As the ball falls, do a crossover, normally with your weaker foot by rotate your foot over the ball just like the ATW only you have to wait until the ball comes down.

The MATW

You can start by doing the ATW first and as you complete the ATW immediately raise your weaker foot to perform the crossover and to complete the MATW combo of soccer trick.

Happy New Year!!

Happy new year to all of you who visit freestyle soccer tricks blog and also to loyal subscribers to this blog. Hopefully we can make this blog better and thanks for all of your current feedbacks. Here's a freestyle clip from Tatsulow, enjoy !

TATW

Another soccer trick that is similar to the MATW but more advanced than the ATW, the Touzani Around the World or more commonly know as the TATW invented by the freestyle soccer player himself, Soufiane Touzani. The TATW soccer trick combines both the outside ATW and the crossover, similar to the MATW but different in doing the ATWs. To practice the TATW soccer trick, you'll need to master both the outside ATW and the crossover.

The ATW

Step 1
Place the ball on your foot, like foot stall.

Step 2
Lift your foot in an anti-clockwise mode over the ball and to complete the outside ATW.

The Crossover

Step 1
You can start by throwing the ball upwards or kicking the ball upwards, either way.

Step 2
Wait until the ball drops and do the crossover by rotating your weaker foot over the ball, like the ATW, and complete the rotation to perform a crossover. The crossover is normally done by rotating your foot clockwise.

The TATW
Similar to the MATW, start by doing the outside ATW and as you complete the ATW immediately lift your weaker foot to perform the crossover to complete the TATW combo soccer tricks.

ATW (a.k.a Around The World)


Known to most simply as the 'ATW' or 'Around the World', this freestyle soccer trick gets its name because the tricks looks as if your feet (in most cases) rotates around (vertically, or even horizontally at times) around the ball (a.k.a the world) hence the term "Around The World".
One of the most renowned and popular freestyle soccer trick in today's world of soccer, as i recall, it was back in the year 2002 when I saw this very soccer trick in the Nike Stickman advert featuring Ronaldinho. In fact, I noticed that the ATW soccer trick can be done in both directions; clockwise ( inside ) or anti-clockwise ( outside ). In this article, I'll show different levels you need to practice which hopefully will improve your ATW soccer trick. You can start learning and practicing the ATW soccer trick using your stronger foot to build confidence.

Beginner's Level

1. Place a soccer ball on your foot like when you're foot stalling. ( Before starting, practice the ATW motion a few times, try doing the ATW motion with an imaginary ball)

2. As you balance the ball on your foot, lift it slightly. (You can also give it a slight flick - let it come off the top of your foot)

3. Rotate your foot ( inside or outside ) whilst lifting the soccer ball. (Try Starting clockwise first)

4. Complete the 360 degree rotation with a foot stall or simple kick-up. ( Your aim here is to rotate your foot around the ball once and stall it or kick it up before the ball hits the ground - the main thing is not to allow it to touch the ground)

Intermediate Level

This is a more practical version i.e. when juggling with the soccer ball:

1. Let the soccer ball bounce on the floor.

2. As the ball bounces, immediately perform the ATW soccer trick ( refer Beginner's Level ).

3. The situation is slightly different from the previous level. Touch the ball slightly with the outside edge of your toes. Then lift the ball whilst doing the ATW at the same time. ( You could also try to give the ball a slight spin as it leaves your foot by giving it a little slice as it touches the outside edge of your toes - this will reduce the time it takes for your foot to rotate around the ball)

4. Complete your 360 degree rotation with a foot stall or a kick-up.

As you've become familiar with the soccer trick, you can now start practicing juggling a soccer ball along with the ATW soccer trick. Hope that helps, stay tuned for more tips on the advanced ATW soccer trick.

Rai Flick

One of the most famous soccer trick move popularised by Rai the Brazilian player. The soccer trick looks extremely simple yet difficult to execute. I normally do this trick when juggling a soccer ball but can also be used during 'real' football matches and futsal.

Rai flick is simply the ability to flick a soccer ball using both feet over a soccer player. There are 2 ways of doing this; either flick from sideways ( the most common ) or flick from behind.

Beginner's Level

1. Put the ball in between your feet and clip. Try to gain as maximum grip as possible. The ball should ideally be clipped at the heel area.

2. Once you've feel comfortable, flick it up by swinging both legs spontaneously. At this stage, it doesn't matter whether you can flick it over or not. As long as you can flick the ball up.

3. Catch it and repeat the same steps.

Intermediate Level

1. As in the previous step, clip the ball in between your legs until you feel comfortable.

2. Lean slightly forward while simultaneously flick the ball.

Tip: By leaning forward, you'll increase the chance of the soccer ball going over your shoulder

3. Once done successfully, catch the soccer ball and repeat the same steps again.

Advanced Level

1. Find a soccer partner or an obstacle ( e.g chair ).

2. Start by dribbling the ball forward at a walking pace.

3. Once you approach an obstacle or friend, do the Rai flick over it.

Tip: It's a difficult situation when you're running with the soccer ball. My advise is to focus on the ball getting a much grip as possible in order to execute the soccer trick successfully.

4. Once you've flick it over, control the ball and repeat the same steps.

The advanced level is the trickier part and one of the common 'pitfall' in performing Rai soccer flick. Hope that helps!

Watch it here!