These ‘stop and go’ moves will have you leaving defenders in the dust:) In soccer it’s important to have a few counter moves to keep defenders guessing. Of course there will be times when you need to turn. Therefore, these 2 moves will make defenders think you’re about to stop and turn, but instead you’ll create separation and keep going the way you were facing.
The reason you would do this move
Let’s imagine you’re in a game and you just did a pull back to turn and go the other way…
The next time you get the ball the defender will be ready for that turn…
As they are chasing you [1 step behind or to the side] you bust out the ‘stop and go’.
What this will do is make them stop – thinking you’re doing pull back, but then you keep going to cause separation.
2 best ways to do a stop and go
- 1st way
This one is super smooth!
There are 3 steps to this move…
- Put your dominant foot on the ball. Make sure when you stop the ball it’s not under you, but instead is about a foot distance in front of you.
- Take a small hop forward with your opposite foot. Make sure you land before doing the 3rd step.
- Keeping your foot on the ball, roll it forward. The ball should start under the ball of your foot and toes… As you roll it forward and release it under your heel.
As you dribble you will stop the ball with the bottom of your foot, take your foot off the ball and then push it with the outside of your laces.
In doing this you will need a small hop with your opposite foot to allow you to keep the ball in front of you.
- 2nd way
As you dribble you will stop the ball with the bottom of your foot, take your foot off the ball and then push it with the outside of your laces.
In doing this you will need a small hop with your opposite foot to allow you to keep the ball in front of you.
“Players that practice at home on their own give themselves a big advantage.” – Jeremie Piette
Counter the stop and go with a pull back turn
Just in case you don’t know, there are 2 great ways to practice a pull back turn.
- Traditional pull back:
This is your classic that most people learn.
As you put your foot on the ball to pull it back you’ll face the same way the ball goes – not turning your back to it.
Therefore, it allows you to use your body to shield the ball.
- Reverse pull back:
The reverse is a quicker turn…
As you pull the ball back you turn the opposite way.
Besides turning the opposite way the main difference from the traditional way is you kind of do a small jump.
After you land you’ll then turn… Don’t be in a hurry.
Teach yourself to be smooth first.
→Practice these 180 degree turns – including pull backs
Story of me teaching this move
One reason for this blog post is because of the story I’m about to tell…
Just the other day I was working with 2 very different groups, BUT both benefited from the stop and go.
- Group 1 [5:30pm session]
A U-11 girls rec team that I’ve coached voluntarily for a few years… [my daughters team]
Anyhow, I was showing them how to do this stop and go move for the first time…
They absolutely loved it, which shows they like a challenge and recognize a cool move.
It’s really fun to watch the players become so good and be excited about learning.
- Group 2 [6:30pm session]
A U-17 small group that has worked with me for about 5 years…
These girls are trained and skillful, but the stop and go isn’t something we do that often.
Therefore, they weren’t super smooth with it, but did show quick improvement.
The difference in the 2 groups was the younger girls weren’t embarrassed to mess up, while the older girls were.
That’s an advantage of learning things at a young age… There’s no mental hindrance of feeling “I should know this”.
The right mindset for athletes
It’s so important that you know how to think as an athlete…
When first learning a new move or certain element, you have to be patient.
If you don’t get it down, know in your head that you will get it down. Don’t give up because it’s hard.
Once you become great at it, keep doing it!
Same as a Navy Seals who keeps practicing his shooting or a pianist who keeps practicing the basics…
It’s the same as anything.
Have the desire to be great and know to be your best you have to keep practicing – no matter how good you are.
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