Skills / Beating a player

The step-over

Swing a foot round the ball to fake going one way, then take it the other way.

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

From about age 8

When to use it

Running at a defender who is standing off you, with space to go either side.

Get it right

  • Run at the defender. Make them stop and set themselves.
  • Swing your right foot round the front of the ball, from inside to outside, without touching it.
  • Land on it and drop your shoulder that way.
  • Push off and take the ball the other way with the outside of your left foot.
  • Explode away. The fake buys you a second, no more.

Watch out for

  • Doing it too far away, so the defender has time to recover.
  • Doing it too close, so they can just take the ball.
  • Lots of step-overs and no change of speed. One sharp one beats five slow ones.

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 body feint, 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
Running at a defender, usually on the wing.
The moment
The defender is standing off you, with space on both sides.
Match mistake
Too many step-overs, until a second defender arrives. One or two, then go.

Try it in your next match. Beat your full-back with one step-over and a burst of pace.

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

Practise it

Drills where you will use this skill again and again.