Freestyle Soccer: 9 Essential Maneuvers to Improve Your Game

Freestyle soccer is an art that combines skill, ball control, and creativity. Mastering different maneuvers can elevate your level and impress anyone. In this article, we'll explore nine essential moves you should practice to improve your freestyle technique.

1. Around the World (ATW)

Description: One of the most iconic freestyle tricks, where the foot makes a complete turn around the ball before touching it again.

How to do it:

• Keep the ball in the air with small touches of the foot.
• At the right moment, he slides his foot around the ball, making a complete circle before touching it again.
• You can perform this movement clockwise or counterclockwise.

2. Knee Around the World (Knee ATW)

Description: A variation of the ATW done with the knee instead of the foot.

How to do it:

• Keep the ball in the air with knee touches.
• When the ball reaches its highest point, quickly move your knee around it in a circular motion.
• Finish the movement by touching the ball again to maintain control.

3. Crossover

Description: A trick where one leg crosses over the ball before touching it, creating a dynamic movement.

How to do it:

• Keep the ball bouncing with foot touches.
• When the ball goes up, jump slightly and cross your leg over the ball.
• Use the foot of the opposite leg to continue the touch.

4. Reverse Crossover

Description: Similar to the crossover, but the leg crosses in the opposite direction, making it a little more difficult.

How to do it:

• Keep the ball in the air.
• Instead of crossing your leg inwards, cross it outwards.
• Adjust the timing of the jump to ensure the leg passes correctly over the ball before the final touch.

5. X Over

Description: A variation of the crossover where there is an additional touch before the crossover.

How to do it:

• Keep the ball bouncing with gentle touches.
• Performs an initial touch and then performs a crossover.
• The timing between the touch and the cross is essential to the fluidity of the trick.

6. Abbas ATW Inside

Description: Variation of Around the World where the foot movement is inwards instead of outwards.

How to do it:

• Keep the ball in the air and start an ATW.
• Instead of turning your foot outward, move it inward, circling the ball in the opposite direction to usual.
• It requires speed and precision to maintain control.

7. Abbas ATW Outside

Description: Variant of Abbas ATW Inside, but the circle is made outside.

How to do it:

• It starts with a controlled touch.
• Move your foot in a full circle away from the ball.
• Maintain balance and adjust the timing of your movement so the ball doesn't fall.

8. Touzani Around the World (TATW)

Description: An advanced move that combines an ATW with a crossover twist at the end.

How to do it:

• Start a normal Around the World.
• Before the final touch, do a quick crossover with the opposite leg.
• It requires good coordination and speed of execution.

9. Mitchy Around the World (MATW)

Description: More complex variant of ATW, adding a second tap before completing the circle.

How to do it:

• It starts with a traditional Around the World.
• Add a second tap with the same foot before completing the circular motion.
• It requires good ball control and practice to master.

Conclusion

Freestyle soccer requires patience, practice, and creativity. Mastering these nine maneuvers will improve your skills and make your tricks more impressive. Start training today and challenge yourself to raise your freestyle level!