The FA’s coach developer, Danny Fenner, breaks down the skill of turning and explains what coaches should focus on when helping their players to turn.
After many years coaching, and now supporting coaches, I was really interested in this topic, “turning”.
Why do players turn? How do players turn? What is turning?
Whether you are watching grassroots, recreational, senior or professional football. You will see elements of turning in the game.
Why do players turn?
Normally the answers will be:
- To beat opponents
- To commit opponents
- To exploit space
- To create space
- To get out of danger.
How do players turn?
I am fortunate to work in a Wildcats centre. And when watching the girls on the ball, I see how they use their body to turn away from or beat the opposition.
The pictures below show a couple of examples of how players can turn...
Picture 1
This shows the wildcat turning while being next to the opponent.
Picture 2
This shows the wildcat turning while her back is to the opponent. After she turns, she is then able to exploit the space.
NB - A player can also turn while facing the opponent.
For players to be able to turn, they often have to recognise the opportunity first. Some people term this ‘scanning the pitch’ and it is vital that coaches help players to ‘scan’ the pitch as well as giving them tools to be able to turn.
The angle of the body, when receiving the ball to turn, is also a crucial factor when turning.
I often challenge my young players to receive the ball where one shoulder faces their own goal and the other faces the opponents. This gives the players the opportunity to either receive the ball to turn forward and exploit space or receive the ball to turn to keep possession.
Anyhow, we have talked a lot about the ‘technical’ of turning. Let’s have a look at the psychological aspect now. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions……
In a split second, players will have to decide where to turn and then when to turn. If you turn to early or turn too late it gives the defender the opportunity to read and take the ball. Then the crucial decision, what turn are we going to use? Outside of the foot, inside of the foot or another method?
When supporting Wildcat players with these turns, I usually use the words “big toe” or “little toe” to encourage them to use different parts of their feet when turning.
The turns I love watching from players are the creative ones and I love it when I see the wildcats on a Sunday morning develop their own turns and even name them. For example, the “Isla turn” “Gracie turn”, “Taina ‘T’ Turn” and “Layla turn” are just a few I have heard.
What is your favourite turn? (Cruyff/ Maradona/ Beardsley/ Martha?) Is there an opportunity to support your players using turns that you know or that they may of seen on TV or You Tube? Could you use these as opportunities to inspire them? The best turn I have ever seen, that inspires me, was Dennis Bergkamp v Newcastle. Click here to watch the video.
The last part of turning that is important to help your players with is the acceleration after the turn. Players should accelerate away from players once they have turned. So, encourage them to finish the turn with a purpose.
Right...to summarise, think of these steps when working on turning with your players:
- Recognise the opportunity.
- Think about the angle of the body when receiving the ball.
- Decide
- where.
- when.
- what.
- how.
- Accelerate away.
Turning is just one of the many technical components that is involved in football. Enjoy observing and developing your players using turning as one of the components within the principle of play.
What do you think of Danny’s blog? How do you work on turning with your players? Do you have examples of sessions that have worked well? Share below.