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Soccer Step Over vs Scissors, both have different uses, so it depends on what you are going for. Soccer step-over works well if your opponents have a tight marking scheme and are not spread out.
You can cut inside and take a shot or pass with the outside of your foot. If they do not have a tight marking scheme, then scissors are typically easier to use as it provides more space to shoot from.
- In this piece, I’ll cover the following :
- Definition of Scissors and Soccer Step Over
- Differences Between Soccer Step Over vs Scissors
- When to Use Each Skill Set
- How to Perform The Skills Properly
- The Main Types of Scissors and Soccer Step Overs
After reading this, you’ll be able to decide which skill to use in different game situations.
- What are Soccer Scissors?
- What is a Soccer Step Over?
- What are The Differences Between Soccer Step Over vs Scissors?
- When to Use Soccer Step Over vs Scissors?
- How do I properly perform Soccer Step Over vs Scissors?
- Types of Scissors and How to Use Them
- Types of Soccer Step Overs and When is a Good Time to Use Each Type
What are Soccer Scissors?
Scissors are a fake shot to the inside of the foot where you push the ball further away from you so it looks like you are going to shoot and then take a touchback with the other foot.
This move works well if your opponent has a tight marking scheme and is not spread out. If they do not have a tight marking scheme, then scissors are typically easier to use as it provides more space to shoot from.
The scissor kick has two components: an outside cut after feigning a shot and a return pass with the other foot. The move may also be started by faking a header instead of a shot.
For this reason, it often catches goalkeepers off-guard who anticipate correctly which way the kicker will send the ball but fail to move early enough in that direction.
While it is a simple concept with many variations, the scissor kick has been used effectively in difficult situations, such as against a closely marking defender or when another player draws away all available defensive help from the kicker.
Because of the difficulty in successfully pulling off this move, players adept at performing it become especially valued by their teams.
What is a Soccer Step Over?
A dribbling technique where you push the ball further away from your opponent and then pull it back towards yourself using either:
inside of right foot for an advanced play and outside of right foot if you want to beat someone on your way-inside of the left foot for an advanced play and outside of left foot if you want to beat someone on your way and cut inside.
Also, you can use it to pass the ball to a teammate. It is commonly used when you are in tight spaces with players around you or if your opponents have a tight marking scheme and are not spread out.
The stepover works well if your opponents have a tight marking scheme and are not spread out. You can cut inside and take a shot or pass with the outside of your foot.
What are The Differences Between Soccer Step Over vs Scissors?
Soccer Step Over
The inside of your foot swings past the ball while the outside rotates upward (similar to doing an around the world) then quickly touches down next to it again.
You should slightly lift your leg as you swing it sideways. Your toe should never point at anyone ever, or you’ll do a heel kick.
You can perform a step over with the right or left foot depending on whether your body is facing forward, sideways, or backward in the direction of your step over.
Scissors
The inside of your pushing leg swings past the ball while the outside rotates upward then quickly pulls back down next to it again, just as it did in a soccer step over, except this time both legs remain side by side.
Your toes should point forward toward where you’re shooting as your knee curls up and around to swing past the ball, finishing with your instep against it for power and accuracy.
You would use scissors when neither of those options is available because space is tight, and you want to curl a shot instead.
When to Use Soccer Step Over vs Scissors?
Soccer step over works well if your opponents have a tight marking scheme and are not spread out. You can cut inside and take a shot or pass with the outside of your foot.
If they do not have a tight marking scheme, scissors are typically easier to use as they provide more space to shoot from.
For scissors, you would use it when space is very close, so it’s hard to slice back inside with the sole of your foot without brushing the ball too much, which affects accuracy.
It allows you to curl shots where there isn’t enough room for scissor kicks near the goalmouth. The best time for this skill is when shooting into corners of the net.
You could also use it when you want to curl a pass into your teammate’s path or through an opening.
How do I properly perform Soccer Step Over vs Scissors?
Soccer Step Over
The inside of your foot swings past the ball while the outside rotates upward (similar to doing an around the world) then quickly touches down next to it again.
You should slightly lift your leg as you swing it sideways. Your toe should never point at anyone ever, or you’ll do a heel kick.
Scissor
The inside of your pushing leg swings past the ball while the outside rotates upward then quickly pulls back down next to it again, just as it did in a soccer step over, except this time legs remain side by side.
You want to finish with your instep against the ball for power and accuracy.
Types of Scissors and How to Use Them
Scissors are an advanced technique, so don’t overuse them. They are only effective when you need to curl your shot (not straight) and can also help you beat defenders with close marking schemes where other skills fail. Types of Scissors include:
Curl Around Scissors
This is the most common way of performing scissors. You perform this by running past the defender.
Their marking should be about waist level. Bend your knees and curl around them, then shoot or pass. When you bend your knees, you should do so simultaneously as the defender so that they go down too.
Curl Behind Scissors
As you run past a defender with tight marking and they’re standing more than waist-high, lower your base as you approach them and do a curl behind style scissors.
Make sure to control your speed so that defenders cannot easily stop you before curling behind them because it’s very easy for them to steal the ball in these situations.
Fake Curl Behind Scissors
Similar to fake step over, just run past them at full speed while pretending to curl behind them but instead, you shoot or pass with the sole of your foot.
This is a high-risk skill because if done wrong, it can easily be stolen by defenders.
Types of Soccer Step Overs and When is a Good Time to Use Each Type
Soccer Step Overs is the term given to a trick where you must first quickly roll the ball onto your instep as if you were going to shoot directly off of it but immediately after, swing your foot around so that the sole of your foot swings past it instead.
You can use Soccer Step Overs for multiple reasons:
1. To beat a defender who is marking you tightly – If they’re close enough, this technique will easily succeed because even if they slightly adjust their body or try to take a step toward the side where the ball is going, then you’ll cut inside and take a shot or pass with the outside of your foot.
2. To assist in beating multiple defenders from various angles – Say 3 defenders are surrounding you, one on each side and one behind you. If they’re lined up, try performing a fake step over to get the defender on the side where you want to exit (he is typically more of a threat) to take a step or two toward it.
Quickly roll the ball onto instep and swing your foot around so that the sole of your foot swings past it while curling outside in. Since defenders don’t know which way we’re going, this technique allows us to deceive all three defenders and escape from any direction we want at any given time.
3. To pass into an opening – This can be useful when trying to slide a through ball past an opponent’s defensive line who are close together and marking tightly on their half of the field without having them steal the ball.
If you’re on their side of the field, you can fake step over to get between them, then continue forward and pass into space they’ve left open for us.
4. To make a quick turn – If we want to make a quick 180-degree turn without wasting too much time (say in an attempt to deceive opponent or elude attack), then performing Soccer Step Overs with the sole is the best way to change direction without losing speed quickly.
You can perform these so quickly that your change in direction is almost not visible to the naked eye. It’s best to practice this skill at home with a friend using a wall as a marker, then try it out in real games with defenders.
Also, practice this in both directions so you don’t get used to side-stepping in one direction only.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
