10 Football Skills Challenges We'd Love to See Players Compete In
Imagine it now: a football skills showpiece. Everyone would watch.
Matches show off some of footballers' many skills. Rarely, however, do they showcase all the skills at once.
Enter the idea of a skills competition in which the biggest names in world football would settle bragging rights once and for all (OK, maybe not).
Who's the best dribbler? Best shooter? Best free-kick taker? Who's the best keeper?
We would find answers if these 10 skills challenges actually happened.
Free Kick Challenge
1 of 10How it would work: Multiple players would take free kicks from multiple angles and distances from goal.
The goal would be hitting targets in the four corners of the net. Points would be awarded based on difficulty, distance and angle.
Retired players would be invited to participate in a legends division, because, really, who wouldn't want to watch a 50-something Diego Maradona scoop free kicks into the top corner?
Extra time: The competition moves to Bolivia for high-altitude kicks and oxygen-mask resuscitation.
Penalty Duel: Takers
2 of 10How it would work: Two players would go head-to-head against the same keeper in a five-round penalty battle.
To simulate game conditions, the players would shoot on the same goal after running a minimum of five miles.
In the interest of fairness, both would shoot against the same goalkeeper.
Extra time: An all-England duel would allow one lucky Englishman to experience the joy of winning a penalty shootout.
Penalty Duel: Keepers
3 of 10How it would work: Exactly the same as the takers' duel, except that two goalkeepers would face the same five shooters over five rounds.
Extra time: Finally, the world would have a legitimate means for determining whether Iker Casillas or Gianluigi Buffon is better.
Speed Dribbling
4 of 10How it would work: Two players would dribble full speed down the length of the pitch.
The best time wins.
Extra time: A tournament-style bracket would eliminate players one-by-one until a speed-dribbling champ is crowned.
Keeper Endurance
5 of 10How it would work: Three to five shooters would line up across the box and take a predetermined number of shots in the space of 60 seconds.
The keeper must try to save as many shots as possible. The keeper with the best score wins.
Extra time: For added difficulty, players could dribble at the keeper or shoot from a dead-ball situation.
Juggling
6 of 10How it would work: This would be the simplest competition. Players would juggle the ball for as long as possible.
The winner would be determined either by number of consecutive touches or amount of time without the ball hitting the ground.
Ideally, multiple players could juggle at the same time, making it easy to determine winners.
Extra time: For added difficulty, officials could send a streaker onto the pitch to distract the jugglers.
Long Kick
7 of 10How it would work: Players try to kick the ball as far as possible.
Longest distance wins.
Extra time: Ask players to kick or punt a ball out of an old stadium with a low roof.
Precision Curling
8 of 10How it would work: Players would curl free kicks around an artificial wall made of plastic.
Points would be award for accurately bending the ball around the wall and hitting a target beyond.
Extra time: Live players form the wall and actively try to stop the free kick.
Diving Headers
9 of 10How it would work: Players run and take diving headers on goal. A successful attempt would mean the player has all arms and legs off the ground with the body nearly parallel to the pitch.
Points would be awarded for accuracy and power.
Extra time: A defender could run with the attacker and attempt to clear the ball before the header.
Longest Slide Tackle
10 of 10How it would work: Players would take a 10-yard run-up and attempt a slide tackle on dry grass.
The player who covers the longest distance wins.
Extra time: Extra-dry surface. Shin guards not allowed.
Who's the baddest defender of them all?
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