It is so hard to teach skill moves to youth players. There is a list of 70+ skill moves online right now. And yet, in a game, we cannot seem to get our youth players to do even one. Why is this?
I have spent the last six months with my club teams practicing skill moves. We went over different types of moves they can do. I taught them twenty different moves so they could try them out. And we worked on it for 15 to 20 minutes every single session, whether that was against a cone or in a 1v1 situation.
And yet, when it came to a game, only 2 to 3 players actually used a skill move against an opponent.
So why is this? Let’s find out.
What I realized after teaching 20 moves
What I found while teaching the 20 moves was this: the players never really understood why they were doing it.
And it took me a little too long to realize I was teaching them the wrong way.
If I could go back and do it again, I would have spent more time on the basics of footwork and spent time on 3 to 4 moves instead of 20. I would have told my players:
“We are going to master 3 to 4 moves, and you are going to pick them.”
Then, come game time, you would actually have 3 or 4 moves you can use confidently in a 1v1. And your goal is to use them.
If I did that, I honestly think I would have seen way more players excited to try their mastered moves against opponents, and I would have gotten way better results.
Here are some other things I found too.
The real reason skill moves do not show up in games
When I was teaching skill moves, I realized it is less about the move itself and more about two things:
1) Confidence
Players need to believe they can actually do it in a game.
And they also need to understand that if they mess it up, it is okay. Messing up is part of learning. The player has to feel safe enough to try it again.
A lot of kids do not avoid skill moves because they cannot do them. They avoid them because they do not want to fail in front of teammates, parents, and coaches.
2) Hesitation
This is the part that actually beats the opponent.
The hesitation can be:
a side step
a side roll
a fake step
a pause
a change of speed
a change of rhythm
If there is no hesitation, there is no point. You can do the fanciest move ever, but if the defender never bites, nothing happens.
So you have to practice the hesitation part just as much as the footwork.
The progression that actually works
With the youngest players, you start simple.
Step 1: Cone or pole work
Let them learn the movement without pressure. Use cones or poles, even something that can fall down if they hit it. This helps them learn spacing and control.
Step 2: Ghost 1v1
This is when there is a defender in front of them, but the defender is not trying to win the ball. The defender is basically there so the attacker gets used to doing the move in front of a real person.
Step 3: Real 1v1
Now the defender is live and actually trying to stop them.
This is the moment where confidence and hesitation get tested. If you skip steps, most players will never try it in games.
The six building blocks that unlock almost every move
Before you teach any crazy skill moves, there are six styles you want players to master.
Inside of the foot touches (forward, sideways, backward)
Outside of the foot touches (forward, sideways, backward)
Rolls (side roll and pull back roll)
Stop and go (stopping the ball and starting again)
Basic step-over
Basic scissor
If players can do these six things confidently, they can learn almost any move from the list of 70 because almost every move is just a combination of these.
That is the key.
The simple solution
Once the six building blocks are solid, then you can learn whatever skill moves you want.
But I still think 3 to 4 will be best.
Pick them. Own them. Master them.
That is how you actually get skill moves to show up in games.
And yes, I attached a video with some of my favorite skill moves to do.
Skill move table: what to try (and when)
Below is a practical table you can use with players. The goal is not to collect moves. The goal is to pick a few that match the player, then commit to them.
Skill move | Type | Best moment to use | What makes it work | Common mistake | Coaching cue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Step-over | Building block | Defender squared up | Big fake + exit touch | No speed change | “Sell it, then explode.” |
Scissor | Building block | 1v1 facing defender | Hip and shoulder fake | Feet move, body does not | “Move your body first.” |
Inside cut | Building block combo | Defender over-commits | Sharp angle change | Touch too soft | “Cut like you mean it.” |
Outside cut | Building block combo | Tight space | Quick exit line | Touch too big | “Small touch, fast exit.” |
Pull back and go | Roll + stop-go | Pressure from front | Pause then burst | Pulling back with no exit | “Pull, pause, punch out.” |
Drag push | Roll + inside/outside | Defender close | Hesitation is the weapon | Rushing the push | “Drag, freeze, push.” |
V-move | Pull + push | Defender reaches | Change of direction | Too slow in the V | “Snap the V.” |
Matthews | Inside + outside | Defender flat-footed | Rhythm change | Same speed throughout | “Slow, then fast.” |
Body feint | Stop-go + hip fake | Defender is reactive | Shoulder drop | No real drop | “Drop the shoulder, go.” |
L-cut | Stop-go + cut | Defender blocks lane | Sharp angle cut | Standing tall | “Lower your hips.” |
Pick 3 to 4 moves by player type
Fast players: step-over, body feint, outside cut, V-move
Quick players: scissor, Matthews, drag push, inside cut
Strong players: pull back and go, step-over, inside cut, body feint
Shy players (confidence first): body feint, inside cut, pull back, step-over
A simple “game transfer” challenge
If you want more skill moves in matches, give them a mission that is easy to remember:
1st half: try your move once
2nd half: try your move twice
Celebrate the attempt, not just the success.
If the player tries it and loses the ball, that is not failure. That is development.
Want to Help Your Player Actually Use Skill Moves in Games?
To help your player build real confidence in 1v1 moments and master 3 to 4 moves they will actually try on the field, use the link below to sign up and text Coach David for a private session today.
https://www.davidssoccertraining.com/#contact