How to Dribble like a Winger

Equipment Needed: Ball, 4 cones and a goal or fence if you have one. 

Exercise Player Can Do: 

Before we get into the key points. Let's set up the exercise. You will be dribbling like a winger and then whipping in a cross. Your goal or fence is going to be a backstop to stop the ball when you cross it into space. You are not shooting in this exercise, you are crossing. 

Set up three cones in a awkward V shape. The first cone is your start cone, the second cone is your defender and that is 10 yards from the start cone. The third cone is about five yards straight ahead of the second cone. The fourth cone is five yards ahead of the third. All of this should be set up as if you were along the sideline of the field. 

Dribble inside at the defender, cut past them with the outside of your foot down the line and then whip in a cross on your next touch or 2nd touch past the defender. You should be crossing between the third and fourth cone. 

Key Points:

1. Take the defender inside to create space down the line. If you just go down the line the defender can more easily follow you. By taking them inside, this frees up space down the line and gets them going backwards, which makes it harder for them to turn and run forwards when you cut. You are trying to create that extra second or two of space past them that you need to get your cross off. 

2. Take a big touch with the outside of your foot past the defender when you cut past them. Make sure you do your cut a few steps away from the defender, don't do your cut when you are right on top of a defender. Can you run faster with the ball or without the ball? The answer is without. So take a bigger touch so you have room to accelerate in five to six steps. If you take a small touch then you have to take another touch in one step, which will slow you down. 

3. Get your head up as you blow past the defender and look for an open teammate on the cross. Don't keep your head down at the ball the whole time. Get your eyes up so you will have great vision for the game.

4. Cross the ball early so your runners time their run and your cross better. If they time it right they will have natural power in their run built in from the momentum of their bodies moving forward at speed. This will give them a harder header or shot. If you cut the ball back, or hesitate on your cross this will cause your runners to stop their run. Now when you decide to cross they are standing there waiting instead of running onto the cross and attacking the ball with momentum. Cross the ball early! 

Now let's do the exercise! 

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong: 

If you are having trouble dribbling in general please watch my Online Soccer Academy training video titled "How to Dribble a Soccer Ball". That video will solve your straight dribbling problems.

If the defender is stealing the ball from you too often when you try to dribble past them then you are cutting to the outside when you are to close to the defender and they are already on top of you and can make the tackle. Or your touch to the outside is to close to you and this allows them to stick their foot out and catch a lucky break. Make sure you touch it past the defender a few steps ahead of you, so you can change speed after it. 

Bonus Tip!
Dribbling past defenders in this situation comes from having the confidence to do so. Make sure you mentally believe when you start this motion you will blow past your defender. Don't doubt yourself. If you lose the ball, so what, react positive and hustle back on defense. Remember you are in the attacking third and as a winger your job is to attack when it's on too attack. Believe in yourself and your abilities because you practice hard to be prepared!

This Video Covers:
How to Dribble like a Winger - Soccer Dribbling Drills - Soccer Dribbling Skills - Soccer Dribbling - Soccer Dribbling Training - Soccer Dribbling Techniques - Dribbling Drills Soccer - Football Trick - Soccer Tricks - Football Tricks - Soccer Moves - Soccer Trick - Football Moves