Not to be confused with the move used by cyclists to ensure that they are safe in traffic, the hook turn is used on a football pitch in order to allow the player with the ball to change direction whilst also keeping the ball away from the defending player. There are numerous different ways in which the hook turn can be executed, but each of them results in pretty much the same end, which is you keeping the ball and getting away from your opposite number.
That is why it is a crucial skill to have on your list of ones to learn, even if it isn’t one of the sexy ones that you might more commonly be used to seeing from the likes of top-flight players.
Inside and Outside Hook Turn
Whether you want to complete the inside hook turn or the outside hook turn, learning how to do it is a skill that will come in handy numerous times during your football career. The most important thing to do to begin with is to make sure that you can keep your body between the ball and your opponent. That will not only stop them from being able to take possession of the ball, it will also give you time to make the right move with your body to get away from them with the ball still at your feet. Once you’ve positioned your body correctly, the next thing that you need to do is to reach around the ball with your foot, allowing you to change its direction.
@the_jwl 🚨 OUTSIDE HOOK TURN 🚨 Can be super effective especially when done at pace! 1. Run at speed 2. Fake to kick the ball 3. Hook the ball with the outside of your foot 4. Quickly adjust feet and end product #football #soccer #footballtraining #soccertraining #soccerplayers #footballplayers #footballtiktok #soccertiktok ♬ Solas x Interstellar – Gabriel Albuquerqüe
In order to pull the move off as well as possible, you will want to bend your knees so as to ensure that you can shift your weight from one leg to the other as quickly as necessary. In order to turn in your own direction, you will need to turn your hips, all whilst putting a first touch on the ball that will put it into an area that you can move into comfortably. At that point, you should have the time and space to accelerate away from your opponent or look to find a pass to a teammate that will set your side on the front foot. Obviously, the mechanics are slightly different if you’re hoping to pull off the outside hook instead of the inside one.
Here, it is the outside of your boot that will hook the ball back into the direction that you’ve come from, effectively turning 180 degrees. Sometimes, you might only want to turn 90 degrees, perhaps because that will allow you to run in on goal, having escaped your defensive marker. Whatever the reason for your decision to pull off the move, practising it repeatedly in your spare time will mean that it is almost natural by the time that you get onto the football pitch and apply it to a real-world scenario. Making sure that you can pull off both the inside hook turn and the outside hook turn will give you plenty of options during a game.