Soccer is a Game of Deception so Be Tricky

The best players in professional soccer use the coolest moves when they are on the ball.  These moves involve tricky step-overs, false leans, and other acts of deception in order to throw off their opponents.  Although many talented young players will simply use their superior speed in order to beat defenders and make plays, by the time a player reaches their teen years, most everyone will be fast enough to compete with you in a foot race, and your skills of deception will be quite important if you still want to be an impact player.

What makes 1 on 1 situations in soccer so intriguing is that they can totally leave a defense in shambles if someone is beaten.  Players typically organize their defense so that every player is covered until a smart forward breezes past someone with a nifty trick.
What makes soccer moves so powerful in the game is balance.  When you feign like you are headed in one direction with the ball, your defender will have to shift their weight and adjust their body. 

With the ball at your control, a quick touch putting the ball in an opposite direction will catch a defender off-guard and off-balance to steal away the soccer ball.  With one less player in your way, the opportunities ahead lie in waiting!
But during the course of a 90-minute game, players will grow accustomed to one another and their overall style of play.  As the battle continues and the clock winds down, and when the window of opportunity remains just a crack open, your ability to deceive a defender will become all the more crucial.  A single beaten defender can make all the difference, and your ability to confuse someone will be crucial to whether or not you win the game.

Therefore, make sure to have a large bag of tricks.  As the game winds down, your opponent will probably know most of your moves and will be prepared as you attempt to nutmeg him or her for the third time.  Maybe you should try a totally new move?  Or perhaps a scissor move would throw them off?  The choice is yours and so is the opportunity.

Deception in soccer is also hugely important when shooting at the goal.  Most goalies will predict where your shot is headed based on how you line up your shot, which foot you are set to use, and so on.  In 1 on 1 situations when the goalie has to rush their opponent, your ability to throw the goalie for a confused loop will surely help you and your team get a goal.

Goalies make scoring hugely difficult especially when they close down upon a forward and force them into a decision.  A great move here (if you have the time) is to make a fake shot.  Often times a goalie will go to ground and dive in preparation for your shot.  This will give you the chance to either chip shot for the goal, or sometimes even dribble around the embarrassed goalie for the goal.  Such deception is a crucial factor in getting goals!

So whether you need to beat a full back on the wing or the goalie to cap off a breakaway, develop an ability to deceive your opponent and watch your success get taken to new heights!