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Turning
Making decisions on which way to go is an extremely important skill to learn in soccer. To carry out this skill you must have the ability or technique to take the ball in any direction you decide is the best.
There are many different angles to take the ball and many different ways and moves to get there.
The more turns one has mastered the more situations on the field he can get in and out of.
A turn should be mastered before a new one is taken on. If the turn is understood, but not mastered, it will never be successful in a game situation.
Three common factors in all good turns are: an element of disguise, attacker keeps his body between the ball and the opponent, screening the ball from him, and change of direction, triggering an immediate change of pace.
When turning you want to keep the ball close to you so that if something changes that you hadn't thought about you can change your touch or angle.
It is important to make everyone think you are going one way and then turn the other way. Deception is important when turning. This gives you extra space to play in.
The tighter the space you can turn and the quicker you are able to make that turn, the more you will be able to get out of even more situations.
The enjoyment you get out of deceiving a player and knocking a ball through a gap for an assist will make all of that practicing of turns worthwhile.
By turning properly you will find yourself in open space with time to make the right decision on what to do with the ball. As you know, the more time you have the simpler the game is to play
Don't be afraid to have confidence on the ball and using your deception. The more skill you have, (through practice) the more confidence you'll have, the more time on the ball you'll have, the better player you'll become
Turning is an element in one in five goals scored.
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