The Brake Pedal: How to Stop Flying Past Dribblers

Imagine this. An attacker is dribbling the ball toward your goal. You want to help your team, so you sprint toward them as fast as you can. You are flying. You get close, and you reach out your foot to grab the ball.

But right before you get there, the attacker taps the ball to the side.

You try to stop. You try to turn. But your body is moving too fast. You fly right past them like a runaway train. By the time you stop and turn around, the attacker is already gone.

Coaches call this "diving in." It is the most common mistake young defenders make. Luckily, there is an easy way to fix it. You just have to use your brake pedal.

How the Brake Pedal Works

When a car drives down the street, it cannot go top speed all the way into the garage. If it does, it will crash through the wall. The driver has to step on the brakes before they get close.

Defending in soccer is the exact same way. You must slow down before you reach the player with the ball.

The brake pedal has three simple steps:

• Sprint first: When the attacker is far away, run fast. You want to close the open space quickly so they do not have time to think.
• Find the brake line: When you get about two big steps away from the attacker, hit your brakes. Do not get any closer than this while running at full speed.
• Chop your steps: This is the magic trick. Instead of taking big running strides, start taking very fast, tiny steps. Your feet should make a quick pitter-patter sound on the grass.

Why do tiny steps work?

Think about a bicycle. If you are pedaling as hard as you can, it is very hard to make a sharp turn. You might lose control and fall. But if you slow down, you can turn instantly.

Tiny steps keep your feet on the grass more often. When your foot is on the ground, you can push off and change direction. If you are taking giant running steps, you spend too much time floating in the air. You cannot change direction until your foot lands.

The Surfer Stance

Once you hit the brakes and chop your steps, you need to get into your defending shape. We call this the Surfer Stance.

Do not stand flat-footed with your feet side-by-side. If you do, the attacker can kick the ball right between your legs. It also makes you very easy to knock off balance.

Instead, stand like you are riding a surfboard:

• Put one foot in front of the other.
• Bend your knees.
• Get your body low to the ground.
• Put your weight on the balls of your feet, not your heels.

Now, you are in complete control. If the attacker tries to kick the ball past you, you can spring in any direction. You are no longer a runaway train. You are a fast, springy defender.

How to Practice This

You can practice the brake pedal at your next practice, or even in your backyard with a friend or parent.

Have them stand still with a ball. Start ten steps away from them.

Sprint toward them as fast as you can. When you get two steps away, chop your steps, make the pitter-patter sound with your feet, and sink into your surfer stance. Do not try to steal the ball yet. Just practice stopping in the perfect spot.

Do this ten times in a row. Soon, your body will remember to hit the brakes automatically during a real game. You will stop flying past attackers, and you will start winning the ball.