From US Youth Soccer -
Coaches will try to teach and players will try to learn ‘moves’ for dribbling through the use of fakes and feints. Yet what is the distinction between a fake and feint? A fake is a move that is done with the ball; actually moving the ball. A feint (body swerve) is done only with the body, no contact with the ball until the player in possession finally plays the ball. A fake is done with the feet. A feint could be done with almost any part of the body. The goal of either a fake or a feint is to get the opponent off balance (wrong 20 footed) or going in the direction opposite of where the player in possession of the ball really plans to go.
When using either a feint or a fake subtle control of the body is required. The center of gravity should not be moved too far sideways from the body’s midline. If the body weight is unnecessarily shifted in the direction of the swerve, the player will find it difficult to make a fast second move. Changing direction quickly during a fake requires the player to keep a low center of gravity until the second move is started.
Coaches must be cautious with the systematic instruction of feints and fakes. In coaching, the main thing is to develop the abilities that will help the players in making effective ‘moves’, such as speed, mobility and a sense of how to shift the center of gravity economically. Once a player is comfortable with the basics of dribbling then cunning must become a part of the skill.
Coaches will try to teach and players will try to learn ‘moves’ for dribbling through the use of fakes and feints. Yet what is the distinction between a fake and feint? A fake is a move that is done with the ball; actually moving the ball. A feint (body swerve) is done only with the body, no contact with the ball until the player in possession finally plays the ball. A fake is done with the feet. A feint could be done with almost any part of the body. The goal of either a fake or a feint is to get the opponent off balance (wrong 20 footed) or going in the direction opposite of where the player in possession of the ball really plans to go.
When using either a feint or a fake subtle control of the body is required. The center of gravity should not be moved too far sideways from the body’s midline. If the body weight is unnecessarily shifted in the direction of the swerve, the player will find it difficult to make a fast second move. Changing direction quickly during a fake requires the player to keep a low center of gravity until the second move is started.
Coaches must be cautious with the systematic instruction of feints and fakes. In coaching, the main thing is to develop the abilities that will help the players in making effective ‘moves’, such as speed, mobility and a sense of how to shift the center of gravity economically. Once a player is comfortable with the basics of dribbling then cunning must become a part of the skill.