Advanced way of dribbling: one touch in two steps style

I have been saying in this blog that how playing in one touch in two steps style is superior. One of the contents are→”Dribbling of Messi one touch in two steps style” and series of Two touch ball controlling.

Most of the star players showing great performance in Europe, are dribbling in one touch in two steps, proves the superiority of this style. Since some of the players like Pedro and Fleb are dribbling with both feet, this is not the only best though... But it should be known to more people, since such phrases often used by coaches like “accuracy of first touch”, “passing with wide vision” and “playing towards the goal” will be enabled by playing in this style.

What is “One touch in two steps style”?

As maybe you can guess from the name, it is to touch the ball one time in every two steps. Its most likely to touch the ball only by your dominated foot. Most of the left footed players are dribbling like this. As i guess that the part of the brain they use is different from right footed players.

Playing in this style means that you always put the ball in the same position, whenever and wherever you face toward. And you place the ball forward and little bit outside to diagonal direction of your dominated foot. It’s not to change your position depending on where the ball is, but to automatically change the position of the ball (by centimeters), which allows you to control the ball as you want.

Players who are playing in this style, give me the impression that the ball is sticking to their foot. It will naturally allow you to move with the ball. Also, by pushing the ball forward anytime, it will teach you how to use the space on the pitch during the game.

Fundamental advantages of one touch in two steps style

These are the advantages of playing in one in two steps style.

1.  Can kick the ball anytime→ Can make pass or fake to kick the ball anytime.
2.  Can change direction anytime→ You can shield the ball anytime.
3. The ball stays in same position to you, so you don’t need to look at the ball→ Can keep your head up and have wide vision.
4.  Can kick the ball with your body staying in same position every time→ you can pass the ball stronger by keeping the balance of your body.

What is the most important in football is making decisions. If you are able to play in this style, you can keep the ball and have right vision at the same time. Which is very important to play in higher level of football.

Playing in this style will allow you to look, touch the ball (controlling the ball and dribbling), and kick the ball (passing and shooting) at the same time. In this style, these 3 things are taken as same phenomenon. This will make the players to feel the flow of the game and to control the ball as natural as breathing. Many players in the top level who naturally trick others out, do not separate controlling the ball, dribbling, and kicking. They play smooth like flow of water.

Further advantages of one in two touch style

These are further possible movements able to be played after by playing in one touch in two steps style. I have listed movements that are able to be done smoothly by slight preliminary action.

・ Inside kick

・ Outside kick, toe kick, chip kick *1

・kick fake (using outside or inside of your foot)*2

・Make a turn to 180 degrees angle(outside or the sole of your foot)

・To dribble thorough to the side of your dominated by outside or to the side of pivot leg by inside sample movie→messi dribbling running at the speed

・ Mathews fake sample movie→Sir.Stanley Matthews

・ Double touch movement (inside of your dominated foot→ inside of your pivot leg or outside of your dominated foot→ inside of your dominated foot)*4

・ Scissor move by your dominated foot*5

・ Change of rhythm of taking steps

・ Matador turn

・ Dribbling toward the goal while taking one on one

*1. Only slight preliminary action is needed to kick the ball because the ball always stay by the foot.

*2. It is rather like a kick cancel than a kick fake. In this style, kicking and controlling the ball are possible in same posture. Therefore the opponent will have difficulty in reading your mind. In the midfield, not even without a kick motion, if you look around and take your leg (which is kicking the ball) back a little while dribbling in this style, sometimes the opponent will open the way for you by itself.

*3. You can turn using your outside with slight preliminary action, while stopping the ball using your sole is more likely to be guessed your motion by the opponent because your knee is up high a little. But stopping the ball with your sole will allow you to play the ball in any direction, which is usually unexpected by your opponent.

*4. Double touch movement is effective when you want to dribble through jammed are. But normally double touch with inside of pivot leg→inside of dominated foot is expected by opponent because your preliminary action is too big. So it is better to double touch with your outside of dominated foot→inside of dominated foot if you want to dribble through the side of your dominated foot.

*5. Since in one touch in two steps style, you will always keep the ball at your dominated foot, scissor move with your pivot leg is not very effective. It is like showing your opponent you are trying to dribble through him. But players who is both footed are not likely to be included.

I think these are the techniques which has been refined and selected by those players who are required to make their thoughts and play faster, to play in the top level of football.

All the other techniques are thought to be only one of the options and not as effective.

Two touch ball controlling

In one touch in two steps style, to always have the ball under your control(in front of your dominated foot) is very important. Lesser the time from you get the ball till having the ball under your control become, you can put your head up and settle down faster. To do that you have to watch the ball carefully on your first touch. Then on your second touch, you can control the ball perfectly and put your head up at the same time. jump to→”The reason why two touch ball controlling is effective” for more details.

When two touch ball controlling is done as written above, you will have better first touch and vision on the pitch. This is what you call “playing with wide vision”.

Challenging play

The goal of playing in one touch in two steps style should be always to have the ball under your control no matter how fast you're dribbling.

It is very important to always have in mind of taking shot by controlling the ball in front of your dominated foot. Showing the opponent that you can take shot anytime will give you advantages near the goal. This is so called “playing towards the goal”.

Shooting from the middle after two touch ball controlling or to put the ball aside from the opponent on your second touch and shooting are frequently seen in the top level of football. This will allow you to make way for a shot by moving the ball just a little or go to the other direction after observing your opponent carefully, even when you are dribbling towards the opponent at high speed. The ball will stay at your foot and can take shot the moment after dribbling through your opponent. Therefore play to only deceiving will decrease.

As it was in the explanation, one touch in two steps style is natural in physical structure and will give you advantages in the game by giving many options from one preliminary action. It is also expected to develop the accuracy of first touch effective vision in the game, and thoughts toward the goal.