The Official Way to Slide Tackle in a Professional Game

In soccer, slide tackling is a move used by players to shift the ball out of the opposing player's grasp, either by kicking the ball toward one of your team members or by kicking it out of bounds. Slide tackling is commonly used in amateur and professional soccer games. As part of the slide tackle, you "fall," using your arms and hands to hold yourself up and to help you get back up and into the game. Because the slide tackle is most often used to move the ball to one of your teammates, it is important to choose the right time to make the move.

Instructions

    • 1

      Run toward the player who has the ball, coming up on one side of her. If you are right footed, run along the right side of her; if you are left footed, run along her left.

    • 2

      Continue to run while matching the other player's pace while getting ready to make your move. It is important not to slow down during the slide tackle because it needs to be a fluid movement paired with the opposing player's movement.

    • 3

      Move the outside leg inward. For example, if you are on the left of the player, you are moving your left leg right toward the ball. Kick the ball with the side of your foot, moving it away from the player.

    • 4

      Move your inside leg down so that you land on your knee while kicking the ball. Because you are kicking the ball sideways, bending your other knee helps you to fall without strain.

    • 5

      Position your hands to catch you as you fall backwards; this way you can get up quickly and resume playing.

    • 6

      Do not touch the opposing player maliciously or cause him harm, as this may cause a foul, which is essentially a tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent.