What is "seal dribble"

n. (context neologism soccer English) In soccer, a move where the player bounces the ball on their head while running at the opponent.

The seal dribble is a move in association football. It is performed by flicking the ball up from the ground onto the head, whereby the player then proceeds to run past opponents, whilst bouncing the ball on top of his forehead, imitating a seal. The seal dribble makes it very hard for the defending team to challenge legally. This is due to the awkward height at which the ball is while the manoeuvre is performed, and means that many attempted challenges are dangerous and may result in fouls. A famous case was when Atletico Mineiro's Coelho fouled Kerlon after he performed the seal dribble. As a result, he was banned for 120 days although this was later reduced to five games after an appeal.

Kerlon, a Brazilian midfielder, currently playing for Villa Nova, is the most prolific user of this move.

The Italian forward Marco Nappi was also known to use the seal dribble. His most famous use of this move came in the first leg of the semi-final of the 1989–90 UEFA Cup, against Werder Bremen; during the match, Nappi picked up the ball in his area and ran 40 metres with the ball bouncing along his forehead along the right flank.