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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Geoff Godley

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

Ah, that would be another - pretty major - flaw in the plan then.
Marco P.

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.
Daryl

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?
DM

Conceptually similar to Cuauhtemoc Blanco's "Bunny Hop" move. No?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

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