The Stepover (v2) - Final Part

The Stepover (v2) - Final Part

Alright then, here's my final part of the stepover practice that i've been doing for a couple of weeks now, altough it has been delayed due to unwanted injuries. In the last part, pretty much most of the technique and execution was covered. Well, in this part, i'll take it one step further by practicing while dribbling and moving with the ball.

Basically, once the execution of the stepover has been mastered, this, meaning that there is no longer any delay or unwanted roque touches between foot and ball, try dribbling in a straight line , starting slowly (jogging pace etc.), and perform single stepovers at a time. Don't rush or push the ball too far forward or too close to your feet. The aim here is too keep the ball at a comfortable distance from your foot. Now try, one or two stepovers in a row, and always leave room for error at the first few attempts. From my own experience, some of the main mistakes and errors that occurred when i'd practice this was - leaving the behind after a stepover, pushing it too far ahead just before a stepover and being to pushy with the foot, resulting in losing control or knocking the ball sideways.

Once performing the stepover while dribbling in a straight line at jogging pace becomes rather effortless, try taking it to the next level by increasing your dribbling and stepover speed. Try to balance your body and lower your center of gravity, this, in my case was usually to avoid losing my footing and sometimes ending up tangled up and grounded.

Now, while dribbling and performing multiple stepovers at speed, try to plan your run and include changes in speed and direction when practicing ( robinho doesn't always run in a straight line does he?), keep imrpovising as you change direction and speed, make it harder by try 180 degree and 360 degree turns with quick bursts of accelaration included. When practicing this, i noticed that it's quite easy to twist and ankle, so always warm up and leave some space for error ( don't over do it).

Finally, in final few days of practice, practice with a defending player. Try to include body fakes, leg fakes, jinks, drag backs or any other similar trick to your stepover to make it more complex. You can even try doing both the instep and outstep stepovers in quick succession. Remember, there are basically no rules or constraints when practicing a freestyle soccer trick (that's why it's called FREEstyle right?), so try whatever you feel that would work with the stepover. This guideline is just as a reference from what i had practiced myself. There are also a few pictures for references here. You can also check out the step over video at the BBC sport site : http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/skills/4187702.stm

The Maradona 7 - A Classic Soccer Trick

The Maradona 7 - A Classic Soccer Trick


Diego Armando Maradona invented this very soccer trick in the early 1980s in one of the Argentine Clausura soccer matches at half time.

He combines a set of juggling soccer skills starting from left foot to right foot, then left knee to right knee, then left shoulder to right shoulder and finally heading the ball to complete the whole sequence.

Each part benefits for both freestyle soccer and in any kind of soccer matches like futsal:

Foot
The single most important part that improve your touches which allows you to apply other soccer skills and tricks like dribbling, foot plant, volley and so on.

Knee
Normally used to control in a long ball situation and juggle while moving with the ball.

Shoulder
Less beneficial in a soccer match but very useful in freestyle soccer. Plant, juggle or transfer from shoulder to shoulder or shoulder to head.

Head
Useful for both in freestyle soccer and in a soccer match. A difficult skill to master that requires maximum concentration on the center of the ball and great balance to avoid the ball from falling.

These skills may sound simple but improves your overall ball control, coordination and balance which makes you less vulnerable to lose the ball or possession during an important soccer match.

As for those who are interested in freestyle soccer. Maradona 7 is a good starting point for newbies in the game before trying out the harder tricks like Around the World.

A soccer skill that's worth mastering for both newbies and professionals which in my opinion, the most fundamental skill in the world of soccer.