Changing direction in soccer has several requirements depending on if you are attacking or defending. For example, to change directions well while dribbling the ball (who does it better than Messi?), you better have some command over the soccer ball otherwise it will run away from you. When making runs to get open, changing direction well requires the ability to read the game and anticipate where the ball will be played or how the defense will react. Defensively, changing direction to shut down a dribbler or follow a runner depends on the ability to detect the opponent’s body shape and react to that stimulus. However, none of those things help if your legs do not have the ability to cut explosively in and out of positions.