Specialty Skills: Dribbling

Speed Dribbling

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 1 4 9 

Sometimes winning comes down to the realization that it’s up to you alone, that you need to take the ball yourself directly, and do that as fast as humanly possible, if you want to win the game. This class eliminates the elaborate complicated maneuvers and tricks. You know the ones with fancy names like “The Elastico” found littered across the internet. Instead, it gets down to very basic common denominator of all Dribbling, namely quick cuts left and right–done with the inside and outside of the foot.

Turns out, that even many of the most skilled players have no idea what it really feels like to simply dribble the ball at their very fastest possible speed. This class will help players get accompanied with their self imposed limits and push the boundaries of those preconceived levels to new speeds meant to be displayed when it counts, on Game Day!

Cyclone

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 8 10 

Avila Methodology at it core is about developing more than just skill, but vision by creating rotational moves like the supernova, cyclone etc. that involve elaborate spinning. Players attempting these signature combinations quickly discover the only way to pull them off is to use their mind’s eye. That’s because there are many moments throughout the entire slalom in which they cannot actually see the ball. In other words, it’s a way to teach individualism, all while developing the vision required to see and track teammates they should be working with.

Storm warning: this players’ favorite and aptly named move, called The Cyclone, has the spiraling destruction of a storm. As one player said it best, “stay out of its path, defenders – or risk being found strewn in pieces!”

Ball Brushing

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 2 3 5 6 7

“The ball is like a head of hair, so brush gently–you don’t want to rip it out.” Hah, whoever said that knows it’s easier said than done, especially at speed and under pressure. And yet this signature maneuver is the hallmark of elite midfielders the world over, and for good reason–anyone can hit the ball hard but not everyone can caress it.

Ball Brushing Class specifically addresses this simply to learn technique, which trimmed correctly, can really punctuate a performance. Think of Ball Brushing as a necessary segue to your soccer intentions; like the “and” or “but” in grammatical sentence, connecting two parts of your soccer plan together. Pull it (or rather brush it) off correctly and you’ll really make a statement.

1v1 Practice

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 v 1 is in fact at the core of this wonderful 11v11 game, known as Soccer. All 22 players are basically fighting little tiny battles happening for 90 minutes. By keeping the ball close to your feet, attacking and exploiting the space and using a change of pace to beat the defender, you can be prepared for 1v1’s all over the field, and they come in many different forms.

Most are not about going to goal, and yet 1v1 situations make or break games. We created a class to help your child get accustomed to the mentality required to physically dominate the opponent. It’s a class for developing individual brilliance, not just the type we can see, but the type all players feel inside when they know they have dared to try hard!

Black Hole

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 2 3 5 8

We named it BLACKHOLE because of the illusion it creates of disappearing space. What’s hard about the BLACKHOLE is the timing and range of motion on the ankle required to pull it off. Once players get that timing down, we find that they incorporate aspects of this elaborate move into aspects of their own moves. It helps with improvisation and touches on several Avila Sub-categories of Dribbling which is why it’s featured weekly.

Wrap Around

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 2 3 5 7

There is fun addictive aspect to this move. We often show players the move and they will attempt it 20 or 30 times within a few minutes essentially coaching themselves. We laugh when it gets quiet because we know the move naturally zones them in. Then, they go home and keep perfecting it, which is the ultimate reward.

This move is similar to BLACKHOLE with the added benefit of helping players escape and get a shot off.

Fast Feet

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 1 2 3

There are just two ways to fool an opponent when dribbling–move the ball or move your feet. Moving the ball requires skill and that’s hard enough you’d think, but moving your feet quickly, it turns out is a lot harder! We’re not talking about open field speed here, but foot speed, and those of you parents who have actually played soccer before, understand this distinction profoundly. It’s how players who would never win a 40-yard dash somehow dominate the small areas around them anyway, routinely humbling their faster opponents.

Fast Feet pulls no stops in its mission, using agility ladders & cones, cans & mats as well as other props for coordination and balance to encourage your player to sharpen things up. Yes yes yes, absolutely yes–that foot speed you just know is hidden inside your child, this class was designed to get that out of them!

The Art of Nutmegging

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 2 5 6 7

Ok, for those of you who know the self-proclaimed nutmeg artist Coach Eryck personally, the only surprise here is that this specialty did not show up on the curriculum sooner. This fun class actually takes a scientific approach to Coach Eryck’s favorite skill (and laughable source of pride) Nutmegging! Tricks of the trade are revealed in this can’t-miss class for the diehard!

A nutmeg (or tunnel) is a technique used in soccer, in which a player rolls the ball through an opponent’s legs. This can be whilst passing to another player, shooting or occasionally to carry on and retrieve it themselves. You’ll know it when it happens!

Dribbling is an Attitude

Works on following Dribbling sub-categories: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This class is just what is needed to help athletes who are not as assertive as they could be. It’s a class for any skill level focused on showing players how to take responsibility for attacking and penetrating versus a mentality of passing the ball off. We walk the player through the mental process of premeditating the decision to dribble before receiving the ball, and subsequently pouncing with conviction and speed!

See if your child doesn’t play with more confidence after this! When they practice over and over the motion of physically dominating an opponent and pushing past them, a funny thing happens – they experience a sense of empowerment and self attainment that only comes with being good at something!