LaDainian Tomlinson: How to do a Spin Move

Nobody does it better than LT. Better pay attention. LaDainian Tomlinson, running back for the San Diego Chargers, gives you the lowdown on the Spin Move he uses to get away and make that yardage. Nike Football Pro Moves is a great resource “to be the best, learn from the best”. This football training video offers a valuable perspective from LaDainian Tomlinson.

Carry With Outside Arm:
You always want to keep the ball away from defenders, so if you’re coming around the outside you should keep the ball in your outside arm. This makes it more difficult for defenders to get to the ball, and it allows you to use your inside arm to fend off tacklers. When you spin, remember to keep the ball tight to your body – don’t let it extend outward.

Stay Balanced:
A key part of a successful spin move is staying balanced. You don’t want to approach the defender with so much momentum that you crash right into him – that only makes his job easier. As you approach the tackler, come to balance with your body in control and your feet under you. That’ll put you in much better position to set up your spin move.

Shake and Spin:
One of the most important elements of the spin move happens before you even spin. The shake you give the defender is what throws him off balance and allows the spin to be effective. Just before the point of contact, shake (or juke) in one direction and get the tackler to turn his hips. Then plant your foot and spin back the other way, past your man.

Accelerate:
Once you’ve executed the spin, it’s time to turn on the jets. Square you body downfield again and accelerate as fast as you can. This will prevent the original defender from reaching back and making an ankle tackle, and it will reestablish your forward momentum to take on the next defender, if there is one. If not, have a nice trip to the end zone.