Youth soccer is a world full of small spaces, quick thinking, and endless opportunities to shine. Every young player wants to dribble past defenders, create space, and feel that rush of control when the ball obeys their feet.
Mastering skill moves is not for you to start showboating, it’s about confidence, unpredictability, and creating chances when opposing players think they have you figured out.
These ten skill moves are foundational for any youth soccer player looking to take their game to the next level.
10. The Elastico
The Elastico is the move that makes defenders look off-balance before they even realize what happened. Brazilian legends like Ronaldinho and Neymar turned it into an art form, but at its core, the Elastico is about speed, deception, and tight control.
How It Works
The move is simple in theory: push the ball one way and immediately pull it back in the other using the same foot. The trick is making that first movement look convincing enough that the defender bites.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Approach the defender at a controlled pace.
- With your right foot, push the ball slightly to the right using the outside of your foot.
- Quickly snap your foot back, sweeping the ball left with the inside of the same foot.
- Accelerate into the open space immediately.
Key Tip: Speed and subtlety are everything. The initial touch must look like a genuine dribble to make the defender move before you change direction.
9. The Stepover
The Stepover is everywhere in football, but executing it properly is what separates casual dribblers from serious attackers. It’s about body language, timing, and making the defender commit to a move that isn’t real.
How It Works
Swinging your leg around the ball fakes a direction, while your other foot is ready to take the ball the opposite way. The upper body and head should sell the fake.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Dribble toward the defender at a comfortable speed.
- Swing one leg around the front of the ball from inside to outside.
- Plant that foot and shift your weight convincingly.
- Use the outside of your other foot to push the ball in the opposite direction.
Key Tip: Move your upper body as much as your legs. A believable fake comes from the full motion.
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8. The Cruyff Turn
A favorite among midfielders, the Cruyff Turn changes the direction of play entirely. It’s perfect for escaping pressure in tight spaces or creating a passing lane when defenders expect a forward move.
How It Works
The move is all about misdirection. Pretend to pass or shoot, then drag the ball behind your standing leg and pivot into a new path.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Approach the ball as if preparing to shoot or pass.
- Plant your non-dominant foot beside the ball.
- Swing your dominant foot over the ball as if kicking, but drag it behind the standing leg instead.
- Pivot on the planted foot and accelerate into the new direction.
Key Tip: The bigger the fake, the more the defender will commit, giving you the space you need.
7. The Roulette
The Roulette, also called the Zidane Turn, is a 360-degree twist that keeps the ball protected while helping you escape tight spots. Balance and compact body positioning are essential.
How It Works
It’s a two-footed spin where each foot takes turns guiding the ball along your rotational path. The trick is staying low and in control.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Dribble the ball in front of you.
- Place your dominant foot on top of the ball and roll it back slightly.
- Spin your body 180 degrees, switching control to your other foot.
- Use the outside of that second foot to continue spinning and move forward.
Key Tip: Keep your knees bent and body tight. The move works best when compact and balanced.
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6. La Croqueta
Andres Iniesta made this move look effortless, but it’s about quick foot-to-foot ball shifts under pressure. It allows you to slip past defenders with minimal touches.
How It Works
Push the ball from one foot to the other in a fluid motion, using speed and timing to create space.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Dribble toward the defender.
- As they commit to intercepting, push the ball from your right foot to your left using the inside of each foot.
- Continue the motion past the defender.
- Accelerate immediately to exploit the gap.
Key Tip: Keep it smooth. There’s no pause between touches; the ball moves fluidly from one foot to the other.
5. The Trivela
The Trivela is a pass or shot executed with the outside of the foot. It’s eye-catching and effective when bending the ball around a defender or goalkeeper.
How It Works
Accuracy and leg swing are critical. Strike the ball with the outside of your foot while keeping your ankle firm to generate proper spin.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Approach the ball at a slight angle.
- Lock your ankle to keep your foot rigid.
- Strike the ball with the outside of your foot, hitting slightly off-center for spin.
- Follow through across your body to add bend.
Key Tip: Practice makes perfect. The outside-of-the-foot touch feels unnatural at first, but it opens up passing angles defenders can’t read.
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4. The Rabona
The Rabona is a flashy skill with real utility for using your weaker foot or surprising a goalkeeper. Timing is everything to make it effective.
How It Works
You wrap your stronger leg behind your standing leg to kick the ball. The focus is on clean contact and timing.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Plant your standing foot to the side of the ball.
- Swing your kicking leg behind the standing leg.
- Strike the ball with the inside of your foot as it passes behind the standing leg.
Key Tip: Don’t rush it. The strike must connect as the leg passes behind, or the ball will go off target.
3. The Rainbow Flick
Controversial but devastating, the Rainbow Flick is a trick for evading a close defender and creating a chance in tight spots. It’s about coordination and timing.
How It Works
Trap the ball between your feet, roll it up your standing leg, and flick it over the defender in one fluid motion.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Trap the ball between your feet.
- Roll the ball up the back of your standing leg using the other foot.
- Use the standing leg to flick the ball over your head and the defender’s.
Key Tip: The defender must be close enough to make the flick meaningful but not so close they can block it early.
2. The Body Feint
The Body Feint is subtle, simple, and deadly. Leaning the body in one direction makes defenders overcommit, giving you space to exploit.
How It Works
The skill relies on convincing weight shifts rather than fancy touches. It’s practical and perfect for close pressure situations.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Approach the defender.
- Drop a shoulder and lean to one side as if moving that way.
- Push off the planted foot and go the opposite direction with the ball using the outside of your foot.
Key Tip: Quickness matters more than exaggeration. A sharp, sudden shift beats an obvious lean.
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1. The Ronaldo Chop
The Ronaldo Chop combines pace, skill, and efficiency. It’s a move for when a defender is running alongside you, leaving them flat-footed as you cut away.
How It Works
Shift the ball behind your leading foot and change direction in one quick motion. Timing and sharpness make it effective.
Step-by-Step Guide
- Dribble toward the defender.
- Push the ball with the inside of your foot behind the leading foot.
- Re-angle your run instantly and accelerate.
Key Tip: The Chop is about suddenness. The quicker you execute, the more space you create.
Building These Skills
For youth players, learning these moves isn’t just about individual flair. Each one teaches timing, control, and awareness of space and defenders. Start slow, break each move into steps, and then practice under pressure.
Combine moves naturally into games so they become instinctive rather than forced. Video yourself, watch professional matches, and try to understand why a skill worked in a certain moment. The ball will start to feel like an extension of your feet, and defenders won’t know what hit them.
Soccer is about creativity as much as athleticism.
The more skills a young player masters, the more options they have on the field, and the more fun the game becomes. These ten moves are the foundation, but the key is practice, repetition, and believing you can pull them off in a game. Every small success builds confidence, and every failure is a chance to learn.
Knowing how to use these skills will make you open up space, and set yourself up for moments that define matches.
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