The Space Hopper Trick

By: Daryl | January 6th, 2009

This innovative youngster deserves points for imagination. Not sure where he came up with the idea to trap the ball between his legs and bounce away from opposition defenders, but my guess is that he owns a Space Hopper.

Unfortunately I think I’ve spotted at least two flaws in his cunning plan…

The first problem is that to really grab the public imagination a move needs to make you look good. Think the fluid elegance of the Cruyff turn. In contrast this move makes you look – to quote Dirty Tackle – “like a retarded penguin”.

The bigger problem is that – as orange #16 demonstrates – keeping the ball between your legs is an open invitation for opposition players to try and kick you between the legs. And no one wants that.

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Category: World Football

Tags: ball between legs trick, Matthew C, World Football

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• DM |  January 6th, 2009 at 9:03 am

  
  
  

  Conceptually similar to Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s “Bunny Hop” move. No?

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9enS14BfKHY

  The lad should definately be applauded for his creativity. I think he just carried it along a bit to far.

  Posted from United States

  

• Daryl |  January 6th, 2009 at 9:37 am

  
  
  

  Yeah, that’s a good point DM. Maybe if it was just used as a quick move to get past someone (instead of hopping towards your own corner flag) it might work. Maybe we’ll see someone adapt it in the future?

  Posted from United States

  

• Marco P. |  January 6th, 2009 at 11:53 am

  
  
  

  Daryl wrote:
  The bigger problem is that…

  …the move is illegal. You can’t trap the ball between two body parts. Same reason why play is stopped when a player falls on the ball, and then tries to shield it from opponents while on the ground.

  Blanco gets away with his “Cuauhteminha” trick because he immediately releases the ball after the jump. After a lot of debating at the France 98 World Cup (when Blanco first tried it), it was deemed to be legal.

  Posted from Italy

  

• Daryl |  January 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm

  
  
  

  Ah, that would be another – pretty major – flaw in the plan then.

  Posted from United States

  

• Geoff Godley |  January 6th, 2009 at 1:47 pm

  
  
  

  Looks like the coaching staff included Suzanne Summers “Thigh Master” in training. Nice technique. Suzanne would be proud.

  Posted from United States

  

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