Choose the side with an exit
Check over your shoulder before the ball reaches you or while you are carrying it. Notice whether pressure is behind you, beside you or in the lane ahead. Turn toward space and away from the defender’s reach. When neither side is open, use a support pass rather than spinning into a second opponent.
Keep the first turning touch close. A loose touch around your own body can travel straight into the defender even when your feet perform the right movement.
- Inside-foot cut: useful when you can bring the ball across your body into an open lane.
- Outside-foot cut: useful for a quick change of line when the outside lane is free.
- Sole pull-back: useful when the forward route closes and you need to draw the ball behind your standing foot before leaving in a new direction.
Make the turn one connected action
The shape changes with the defender. If someone is tight on your back, do not expose the ball by turning straight into their feet. Shield first, then roll away when they shift or play back to support.
- 01Look behind and to the side before arriving at pressure; choose a safe exit.
- 02Plant your standing foot with balance, bend your knees and use the foot farther from the defender when possible.
- 03Pull or cut the ball into the new path while rotating your body between the ball and pressure.
- 04Take the next touch into space and accelerate for two or three steps; then scan for a pass or carry.
Practice a turn you can use
Check, turn, exit
Connect a shoulder check to the direction of the turn.
Place a starting gate, a marker six to eight steps ahead and an exit gate on each side of the marker. A partner stands behind the marker.
Dribble toward the marker. The partner points to an open gate as you approach. Glance up, turn before the marker and dribble through that gate.
Move the ball away from the marker and leave the turn immediately; alternate the turning foot.
Let the partner shade one gate as a passive defender. Choose the safer gate based on their position rather than a spoken command.
Back pressure, two exits
Protect the ball while choosing a turn under light pressure.
Make a small square with two exit gates on adjacent sides. The attacker starts inside with a ball; the defender starts a step behind.
The defender walks in and applies light pressure without tackling. The attacker gets side-on, checks a gate, turns and carries through it. Swap roles every few reps.
Keep the ball on the far side of the body; do not pivot blindly into the defender.
Let the defender try to block an exit. Keep a support player available for a pass when both gates close.
When a turn does not work
- You turn into the defender: check earlier and mark two possible exits, not just one preset route.
- You spin but the ball stays behind: rehearse the ball touch and body rotation together at walking pace.
- You win a step then get caught: carry the ball out of the turn and accelerate before slowing down again.
- You lose balance with contact: widen your stance slightly, stay side-on and start against passive pressure.