Left-footed or Right-footed....

[Paul Marin]

Every heard of Diego Maradona... The notion that you cannot be a good player with one foot is a myth. second i have never heard of anyone saying a palyer only have one right ,,

OJ, the exception does not prove the rule. To use Maradona as "proof" is like saying because Jangle can go through life not brushing him teeth (and don't get no cavity), then kids don't have to brush them teeth. My point is that you MUST teach kids to use both feet because not everyone will become a Maradona...it simply makes good football sense and is the right thing to do as a coach.

[Karl]

Maradona could and did use his right...only no where near the use of his left.

Arjen Robben and Gareth Bale are 2 of the current TOP OF THE WORLD left footers...yet at times they do use the right other than for walking.

[Bricktop]

Yeah but he used his left even when the right was a better option...

[OJ]

you are right and dont get it wrong we teach everything with two foot.. everything you do with the strong foot you do with the weak foot. My point is more people will critisize a player of only having a left foot for some reason and I think you are seeing more good players who are one stick... it dont mean they dont do anything with the weak foot but for example when last you see theo walcott dribble with his left foot? players put them selves in position to use the strong foot...

[Peter R]

Lara, Sobers... a couple more lefty standouts! Oh, sorry is cricket dat but they were also very good footballers.

BTW, I just heard/read (?) somewhere that when Lara started to play golf ( while he was still playing cricket) he played right-handed so as not to mess up his cricket stroke-play.

[Karl]

Yeah but he used his left even when the right was a better option...

...apparently a better option!
...for him that 'left' is almost like 2...!

[Karl]

You are correct about that unfair criticism.
...and that implying that all players have a strong foot ('dominant foot') is bang on.

Aside: I have never seen a player equally strong on right foot and left.

Perhaps of current players most comfortable on both is Santi Carzola of GUNNERS and Spain. Yet he is decidedly 'right-foot man'!!!

...on Theo?
*I have never seen or cannot remember him dribble with his left foot. ...but he has scored a few goals...some excellent...with his left.

*Have to explain: Yes he uses his left foot in a dribble...but the dribble is done predominantly with his right. ...i.e. the left is sometimes used as a 'one-touch thing'. ...e.g. touch...touch...touch with right...but perhaps a quick right foot-left foot-right foot in a tight space then once clear there is a right foot pass or continuation of dribble with right foot...so the highlighted above is about free-flowing dribble with opponent usually not 'near'.

[Paul Marin]

you are right and dont get it wrong we teach everything with two foot.. everything you do with the strong foot you do with the weak foot. My point is more people will critisize a player of only having a left foot for some reason and I think you are seeing more good players who are one stick... it dont mean they dont do anything with the weak foot but for example when last you see theo walcott dribble with his left foot? players put them selves in position to use the strong foot...

I am glad you are teaching both feet. My frustration is that my daughter's coaches for the past two years have ignored the weaker foot on all the girls. Tonight's practice I brought it up with one of the assistants and his position was that developing the weaker foot was something they do in one-on-one training. I now understand - travel soccer being a money thing - why they do it this way; if you don't go to their $40/hour one-v-one training, you are at a deficit. KMT.

Anyway, we are in agreement fully except I don't think this is new. I think for sure you are right that players will always dribble, pass, shoot, control etc with their stronger foot given the choice, but shooting, controlling, dribbling and passing with the weaker foot should be developed to a minimum standard of competence.