Move of the Week: How Melanie Barcenas’ double scissor has taken the NWSL by storm

Barcenas' skills on display as INDIVISA, the NWSL and e.l.f. launch a nationwide competition for next generation of changemakersMelanie Barcenas took the National Women’s Soccer League by storm, showing off footwork in her debut that was well beyond her years - she was just 15 at the time. The San Diego Wave midfielder is now in her third season, and has only expanded on her game after becoming, at the time, the youngest player to sign in the NWSL. She also was the youngest player to deliver an assist in league history - and since her debut younger players have joined the league in what is being dubbed as a youth movement in the league.As part of the "Glow for Glory" competition, INDIVISA is taking a look at a “Move of the Week’ and a player that made it famous. Barcenas pulls off one in almost every NWSL game: the double scissor.  Barcenas’ move is one of the most effective in the game. It’s a skill that requires the right timing and ball control, as the player executes two consecutive scissor-like motions in order to throw off the defender. Pushing the ball in the opposite direction of the defender, Barcenas is able to execute the move flawlessly. It’s a skill that’s been perfected by players such as Robinho and Ronaldo Nazário, and is now being used with precision by Barcenas in the NWSL. Videos of her footwork have racked up more than 20 million views on social media. One of Barcenas’s favorite players growing up, in addition to former teammate Alex Morgan, was Neymar. Appearing on The INDIVISA Show, Barcenas cited his “skills and ability to be unpredictable” as inspiration. “It's a fun style and that's what soccer is about,” Barcenas said. “It's like having fun. Like, it can be a show, you know, to some extent.”In her short time in the league, Barcenas has become known for being unpredictable on the ball. She credits training with her dad, uncle and brother when she was younger. Her lack of speed and size meant she needed to find a way to stand out, and her dad pushed her to be more creative with the ball. INDIVISA“Ever since a young age, I’ve always trained to be really creative, really unpredictable, just be very skill-minded and attacking-minded, dynamic and, mostly, just being creative at all times possible, no matter the scenario,” Barcenas told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “Disguising, using different things to disguise - whether that’s passing, shooting, fake kicks - being creative to make yourself stand out when you don’t have the speed or size.”She told The Indivisa Show that working with her dad helped her place more emphasis on the on-ball work over speed and strength training. Mastering skills and the basics with a more technical foundation, she is now able to react in the moment with her feet.“Dribbling might seem really easy, but it's actually really hard,” she said. “I know in training when we do dribbling races, I'm not gonna lie, I'm like the fastest one at it.”While Barcenas’s talents are obvious, she does still have nervous moments. Looking into crowds before games, for example, prompts both excitement and nerves. But she’s constantly reminding herself of what exactly she can do. “I try my best to you know just stick to myself or maybe watch highlights of myself like before a game to kind of just remind myself of what I can do,” she said, “so that I know that I can go into there confident and know that even if I do make a mistakes, there is like visual proof that I have been able to do it before. “You just have to be confident, you know, go back to the way you're used to playing and kind of just remember that that's the reason why I'm here.”Barcenas believes that fancy footwork can help elevate a player’s game. It’s what has helped Barcenas become a  staple for the U.S. youth national teams, with a senior team call-up likely in her future. And she’s inspiring other young players to do the same. But it goes beyond fancy footwork. The young midfielder has made sure to develop her efficiency, with her shots on target percentage of 63.6, ranking second in the NWSL this year. “As I get older sometimes when you're in different environments or coaches, it's easy to listen and then kind of just please other people,” Barcenas said. “I think staying true to yourself sometimes can be hard. But that's something that I always want to make sure that I'm doing in my career.”She’s helped San Diego to a tie for third in the NWSL standings, a vast improvement from a year ago when the team struggled to get wins. With a number of big-name departures and a coaching change, there were questions surrounding the Wave. But Barcenas has always known her role.Three years into her pro career, the midfielder is stepping up as a leader for the Wave as one of the more longer-tenured players.“I would really say the last year into now is when I've really found my voice and am not afraid to speak up or say things,” she said.And as for the future? Among her aspirations are winning a World Cup, the Ballon d’Or and playing in the Olympics. But the teen star knows that she has to stay true to herself.“Balancing school, soccer, and being a teenager isn’t easy,” Barcenas said, “but e.l.f. reminds me to have fun with it. They’re all about breaking boundaries, owning your journey, and showing up exactly as you are - and that’s what I want to represent.”Do you want to #GlowForGlory and be part of the next generations of changemakers? Submit video of YOUR signature move.The deadline to submit is Oct. 12, with 11 semifinalists announced by Oct. 19.