Another question from me -- Soccer seems very much to be a sport that is based on creativity. There may not be if the defender does "x" then player with the ball does "y." My oldest soccer playing daughter has started learning some more special dribbling moves -- stepovers, scissors, Cruyffs, Maradonas, and something else. It's something they practice individually. Since I haven't played, I don't necessarily know the application for doing these skills at game-speed. She is 10 and at home we do 1v1 with her 8 and 7 year old sisters. One requirement is that she has to do at least one of these special moves before she can attempt a shot at goal in order to "win" that matchup. I am sure it's not a bad practice, but I don't know if there is something else you might recommend. I also wanted to note that it would be something we would incorporate if we can. I'm not looking to add more time to what we might do at home -- still keep it fun/loose. I figured I would go here rather than bugging the coach.
Footskills at all times at that age, We had a coach that said you had to do a footskill before passing or shooting. Here is a link to our footskill worksheet https://1drv.ms/f/s!Am-0ujLtNkUQgkHIbJLUoLImnMfG
Any practice is good practice. Repetition is key. Up and down the back yard, learn the moves with both feet. They can practice a Maradona all day long, every day for a year. You might never see them do it anywhere, but practice and you'll think to yourself, "why the hell is my kid doing this all the time?" Then it will happen when you least expect it, "Holy $#!*, my kid just did a Maradona in a game!" I love those moments.
My daughter is the same exact age. Her footskills or "special dribbling skills" as you said, are outstanding. She has performed each move you mentioned at some point in a game. The parents go absolutely crazy when the see a 9 year old do a Maradona. However, it is very much an uphill battle to get her to perform them on a consistent basis. As a parent you think "if i could do a Maradona at 9 years old i'd use it 15 times a game" but they arent wired that way yet. I would recommend some type of footskills chart for her games so you can incentivize her to use them. I see parents paying their kids for goals which is in my mind reinforces bad behavior. However if you can create a spreadsheet with various moves and check them off after each game, you can come up with a reward at the end of the season like a jersey etc....
Thanks for the suggestions. I will have to see how it plays out as the season unfolds. I definitely want it to be options she has in mind. I can tell when she gets a good one on her sisters (or me), that she realizes it. I am anxious to see if she will give it a shot in practice or maybe her rec games.
I think comfort on the ball and ball control are more important than moves. If you have a good technical foundation, then she will simply feint and dribble around opponents rather than use formulaic tricks. The best players usually don't depend on maradonas stepovers scissors etc. So my opinion is that kids that age dribble endlessly on cones, all right footed, all left footed, with size 5's, 4's, 3, and tennis balls- dribble dribble dribble. Do two touches between each cone, then three touches between each cone. Footskills like clawbacks, sole role etc. Dribble odd shape balls like NFL footballs so that they get used to adjusting on each touch. Try to get faster. Once they get a high level of proficiency with both feet, it will come as second nature and they wont try to learn patterns like trick A for evading to the left, trick B for evading to the right, etc.
Not trying to be confrontational but Ronaldo and Neymar use step-overs and scissors relentlessly at high speeds.
True, but look a this video. Its not all just flair tricks. There are some maradonas and step overs etc, but Neymar also uses other dribbling techniques like the outside of the foot cutback, or pure speed with open field dribbling, or subtle faints.
I don't want to put words in R. Carrillo's mouth but I read his comment as advocating for getting a lot of touches on the ball, without worrying about specific moves, so that all this stuff is second nature. More or less the difference between approaching a defender and consciously thinking "I'm going to use scissors on this guy" and doing the move without thinking because you've spent a lot of time getting comfortable with the ball.
I think its safe to say that great players all have different styles. Messi is probably the best pure dribbler of all time. I dont think i've ever seen him use a "flair" move. Whereas Neymar and Ronaldo are incredible dribblers as well but will also use moves from time to time. There is no right answer. However, i do agree that it is more important to become a great dribbler, with great ball control, over being able to perform a scissors or step-over against a cone.
Agree 100%. Go tell your 9 year old to perform a scissors during a game. Wont' happen. Leave them alone for a while and it will gradually occur.
Possible to triple rep? I also think Neymar Ronaldo are expert level, and dont depend on tricks, it is part of their flourish that their extremely deep foundation allows them to express, without planning. highly proficient dribblers will allow other parts of the player to develop, like tactical strategic playing and passing, and will make help players be comfortable with pressure. Defensive pressure is perhaps the soccer skill that we learn easiest in this country as it is a cousin of defensive skills kids learn in other sports and is also primarily athletic. Kids learn to press before they master dribbling and passing, making it that much harder for the offensive skills to take hold. If the kids get proficient with the ball and small touches then hopefully thier personalities will also come through and kids develop flair naturally. All in all I think its great that parents spend time thinking about specific skills and how to cultivate them in their kids, this is a great sign for the development of soccer in the USA. The more this happens the better.