You all can laugh, but this has been a standard beginner running back drill since football was a thing [1]. I am not a biomechanics expert, or a football coach

You all can laugh, but this has been a standard beginner running back drill since football was a thing [1]. I am not a biomechanics expert, or a football coach. But I still remember this explanation from when I played as a kid, and this drill. I'm 41 now, and still use the cut turn when I play pickup soccer occasionally (though not as well as I did as a young man). Planting with the outside foot allows for more lateral movement at higher speeds, less risk of slippage, and requires less balance than planting with your inside foot. It also allows you to fake the turn via a fake plant (deadleg) and execute a more advanced jump cut (instead of pushing to land, you plant the other foot beside the lead leg, shift your weight to your toes, transfer weight to one foot, and push off that foot for even faster forward deceleration and more lateral acceleration in the chosen direction). The natural way to make a turn at high speed involves many short choppy steps to slow enough to make the turn. This is inefficient, and alerts a defender the turn is imminent. Turning this way is a basic fundamental that leads to more advanced concepts. We drilled with a coach, cones marking a space one to two yards in front of and a half yard on either side of a tackling dummy. It's also drilled as a series of alternating cones or bags in a stairstep pattern in a particular direction. In our old drill, the player sprints directly at the dummy and the coach indicates left or right once the player reaches the cones. The player must plant with the correct foot, miss the dummy, and move at least as far laterally as the cone is from the dummy with enough balance to accelerate upfield after the turn is complete. Usually, it's accompanied by changing hands with the ball away from the dummy to prevent fumbles. It is not an innate talent that cannot be taught. It is not natural to change direction in a full sprint in this manner. It does require great lower body strength, balance, and reaction time. And drilling this at a young age helps to develop the necessary skills and strength until it seems innate. 1: https://youtu.be/g9V6Rf6xPNg https://youtu.be/g9V6Rf6xPNg