Ball mastery in soccer refers to the skill of controlling and manipulating the ball with precision and speed. It plays a crucial role in allowing players to navigate past opponents, maintain possession, and create scoring opportunities. Practicing ball mastery drills helps improve touch, coordination, and confidence on the ball, making it essential for all positions on the field.
The basics of 1v1 soccer involve developing skills for both attacking and defending, focusing on ball control, dribbling, and decision-making. For attacking, the basics include a strong, purposeful first touch, changing speed to beat a defender, and performing skillful moves to create separation from the defender. For defending, key basics are closing down the opponent quickly without diving in, getting into an athletic, defensive position, and forcing the attacker into uncomfortable situations.
