Skills / Beating a player

The body feint

Drop your shoulder and lean one way, then go the other. No fancy footwork, just your body.

Defender L R 20 cm
  • Foot on the ball
  • Ball's path

From about age 7

When to use it

Running at a defender, especially when they are flat-footed or leaning.

Get it right

  • Run at the defender with the ball close.
  • Step to one side and drop that shoulder, so your whole body says you're going that way.
  • As they lean, push off and take the ball the other way with the outside of your foot.
  • Change of speed is everything. Go.

Watch out for

  • A half-hearted lean. If it doesn't fool you in a mirror, it won't fool a defender.
  • Taking the ball too wide, so the defender can recover.

Drawn for the right foot. Learn it on your weaker foot too: it doubles the number of ways you can go.

More beating a player: The step-over, The double touch.

In a match

Practising a skill is half of it. Here is when it turns up in a game, and what to look for.

Where
Anywhere you run at a defender.
The moment
The defender is flat-footed or leaning one way.
Match mistake
A small, slow dip. Sell it with your shoulders and go fast.

Try it in your next match. Use a body feint to get a yard of space for a pass or a cross.

Match moments where it counts: Make a chance from the wing · A winger runs at you

Practise it

Drills where you will use this skill again and again.