You can use the Pinch in a variety of situations. In the video, Ben is using it from a shielding position, but you can use it from any angle that makes sense to you. Experiment with it.

The basic technique: Start with your foot ON TOP of the ball. Roll it to the outside, bringing the foot down closer to the ground. Then, push in the opposite direction using the inside of the foot.

Two things that will increase your chances of success: 1) Body language (head turning, body leaning). 2) Hopping with the passive foot (Ben uses his left foot in the video to hop). We use this hop to get a better push-off from the ground to accelerate.

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8P9ZAJWR1I

Sometimes the simplest moves can be the best ones to use. If you think simple moves don’t work – you’re wrong. Granted, you have to be able to perform simple moves VERY confidently (good timing, excellent acceleration) – but they work just as well as more complex moves, and sometimes they’re even MORE effective for many reasons.

The Zig Zag is a great example of what I just described. Two little touches. That’s it. How hard is that? Does it work? HECK yes.

Now there’s a LITTLE more to it than that. The Zig Zag is effective, but there’s a couple things to remember if you want to be successful with it.

1) Both touches need to be SIDE to SIDE. In the video, you’ll see a good example, and a bad example. The GOOD example is when Laurent is going away from the camera. The ball goes side to side on BOTH touches, and it never rolls close to the defender. The BAD example is when Laurent is going towards the camera. His first touch is great, but the SECOND touch rolls forward … very close to the defender, and way too risky. So – the key is “side to side”…NOT forward.

2) Another thing I’ve noticed some players do wrong is that they don’t let the first touch roll far enough. The first touch doesn’t have to roll THAT far, but far enough so that the opponent leans in that direction. Some players barely touch the ball before touching it again. You have to give the opponent a least half a second for him to be “faked”. So let the first touch roll a little.

I don’t really do the Zig Zag for 1 on 1 soccer more than once or twice on the same opponent. Spice it up. Otherwise they’ll read you like a book!

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ONqXdcLv9M

I like to compare this move to the Double Touch move because both of these require the “hop” with the passive foot. In other words, if you are using your right foot to do the move, your LEFT foot needs to carry your weight for one step. You’ll see this in the video. Touching the ball twice WITHOUT stepping in between can only be accomplished by using the opposite foot to hop forward.

A really good tip that I’d like to mention for this move is LEANING your body to the side that you touch the ball first. For example, if you are going to touch the ball to the left first, lean your body as much as you can to the LEFT, and then quickly push right and accelerate. This move can be done without any leaning, but sometimes it’s the extra body language that really makes a move work.

I’ve had more success with this 1 on 1 soccer move when I have a player marking me very close. As you get better, you’ll be able to pull it off as you dribble faster. If you’re having trouble doing it quickly – you might need to improve your agility.

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV-cj-z4IZQ

One way to really MAXIMIZE the effectiveness of this 1 on 1 soccer move is to create as much CHANGE in speed as possible. Not just increasing speed, but dramatically increasing acceleration.

So instead of doing the double touch at a high speed, try making the first touch with a SLOWER THAN NORMAL speed, and then breaking into full speed on the second touch.

Defenders HATE big changes in acceleration – ESPECIALLY when it’s in a direction they don’t expect.

Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBeGFjmy64