Dribbling football drills, page 2

Rings force more touches per metre than cones do. That is the whole reason to use them, and it is the number worth measuring.

Most wide-area drills go straight from receiving to crossing. This one trains the twenty metres in between, which is where wide players actually spend the possession.

The unopposed rep behind the drag-back. Groove the sole-then-outside pattern on both feet until the turn survives a real defender.

Swing the foot over the ball, drop the shoulder, push it away the other way. The step-over only works if the defender believes the lie.

The sharpest direction change available to a dribbler, and it costs you all your speed. Only worth it if there is space to cut into.

This one trains the head, not the feet. The next gate has to be chosen while the ball is still moving, so the eyes come up by necessity.

No feint and no lie. The croqueta simply moves the ball across your body faster than a defender who has just planted his foot can reach it.

Carrying out of defence is the riskiest thing a centre-back does and often the most effective. A carry removes a presser a pass cannot.