The Lamine Yamal Dribbling Method

Overview: How Lamine Yamal Creates Space in 1v1s

The video explains how Lamine Yamal generates space in one-on-one situations and how you can copy the same ideas to improve your dribbling technique.

Key Dribbling Habits

1. Use the inside foot (closest to the center of the field)

   • Lamine often dribbles with his inside foot (his left foot).
   • This lets him move toward the center or along the line.
   • Dribbling with the outside foot usually commits you to one direction, which makes it easier for defenders to block and force you wide.

2. Take controlled inside-foot touches in tight areas

   • He uses short, controlled inside touches to keep the ball closer.
   • This helps him make sharper changes of direction under pressure.
   • Keeping the ball close also improves protection against aggressive tackles.

3. Rarely dribble at full speed (~70% pace is common)

   • He stays calmer (around 70% effort), which relaxes defenders.
   • The slower pace gives him time to make more effective movements and beat opponents more easily.

Recurring Feint Ideas

1. False kick / pass sequence

   • Inside touch → raise head as if a cross/shot is coming → move inside → continue driving along the line
   • Then create room to shoot from a new angle or cross with his right foot.

2. Opposite feint along the line

   • Pretend to walk/drive along the line to pull the defender forward
   • Use a right-foot “throw out” to trigger the defender’s step-in
   • Switch toward the center to shoot or cross.

3. Body-turn (back-to-goal reversals)

   • When receiving with his back to goal, he uses body positioning (hand out to feel the defender’s movement).
   • He decides whether to fake inside then turn outward, or reverse the idea.
   • This creates space for U-turns and continued dribbling.

Training / Workout (Cones + Partner)

Exercise 1: Third feint/reversal + close control

• Dribble to a cone with short touches
• Perform a full U-turn and continue to the next cone
• Repeat calmly, keeping the ball close
• Emphasis: learn the mechanics and turn more often—not just “get stronger.”

Exercise 2: Accelerate along the line → enter the penalty area

• Use inside touches to move down the line
• Make a sharp shift to the center as you enter the box
• Finishing options:
  • Earn a penalty
  • Shoot
  • Cross
  • Set up a cutback

Exercise 3: Same entry, then add a finish

• Continue the line acceleration into the penalty area
• Depending on which foot you step on:
  • Shoot or
  • Play a back cross
• Do 5 times each side
• Emphasis: tight space + quick, confident footwork.

Exercise 4: Opposite feint + tight ball control

• Inside-inside approach
• Switch from inside foot to outside foot
• Take shots from the perimeter / left-corner style
• Do 10 repetitions

Exercise 5: Combine feints (exclude the turn)

• Inside touches
• Step forward to the flank with the right-foot motion
• Execute a false shot / false cross
• If the defender commits, slip past and finish with a cheeky goal
• Do 10 times

Presenter / Source

• The presenter is the creator narrating the lesson (unnamed in the subtitles).