Almost every person that participates in a sporting event wants to be a upper echelon player. Wishing to be better at soccer isn’t enough. You can’t just read about it, but you must physically get out on the field and practice. Here you have some great ideas and tips to improve your game.
Do not take the ball toward the goal if you are not in an ideal position. If you don’t have an open field, look for available teammates that are open and waiting to help. Pass the ball to them vs running yourself towards the goal.
To maintain accuracy while short passing, kick the ball using the inside of the foot. For long passing, kick the ball with the front of your foot, where the laces are. This will give more power, but less accuracy with each kick.
If the defenders seem to be closing in on you, kick the ball to an unguarded player. There needs to be a couple seconds before those defenders cross and this can reduce the risk of losing the soccer ball when the area is crowded.
In soccer, your success as a player is dependent upon your team’s success. This is an extremely important concept. Hogging the ball usually backfires on the player. Instead, you should keep the team in mind when playing. That means sacrificing goal opportunities if someone else has a better shot.
It is extremely difficult to control a lofted ball. If defenders are closing in, stick to low whipping passes in order to get the ball to another player safely. If you need to send the ball far down the field, that’s when the long pass comes into play.
Perseverance and practice are essential to improving your soccer skills. Being a great player doesn’t happen instantly. Practice daily to ensure you get better. Keep practicing no matter how tough the skills you are trying to learn are. No matter your skill level, run through each skill set every day.
If you have possession of the soccer ball and an opponent is rushing you, fake a pass. Doing this will cause your opponent to pause, giving you a few seconds to choose what to do next. Stay animated to give the tactic real impact.
If you want to play well, it is important that you try your best to stay fit. If you are overweight, the game will become very hard. Watch the amount and the types of food you eat to be sure you’re eating a healthy diet.
Team Goals
While it is important to set individual goals when you are playing soccer, you should also keep the team goals in mind. With the full team on board, a soccer game can be a successful one. This is why team goals matter, and they should be a priority for you.
Soccer may not be as rough as football, but it still includes a lot of physical activity. Don’t worry about colliding with someone. Being physical doesn’t mean that you are playing poorly or dirty. Now kicking someone, that’s another story, but a little roughness is part of the game. Master your fear of playing a physical game. Avoid injury by always wearing protective equipment.
Use your mistakes and learn from them. If you happen to see that you always have the ball stolen from you during the dribble, learn from that. Watch someone successfully dribble to find out what you are missing. If you still have questions, ask a coach or teammate for assistance.
A good soccer shoe that is right for you is extremely important. If your game will be on the grass, you will need a cleat with enough traction. Permanent cleats with a firm grip are the standard for outdoor games. Shoes with permanent cleat come in several different patterns.
Learn how to kick the ball the right way. There is more involved in kicking a ball than just kicking it. Kick the bottom of a soccer ball in order to send it into the air. Use your foot like a wedge, get under the ball and kick up while leaning backwards.
Try perfecting a shot with your weaker foot. Much time is wasted by folks who shuffle the ball to their stronger foot, giving their opponents an opportunity to steal it. Being able to shoot the ball with both of your feet allows you to be a better player.
After reviewing some good theoretical information on improving your soccer skills, what you’re ready for is a little bit of practical experience. Use your spare time to put everything you’ve learned into practice and you can teach people you know what you’ve learned as well. By practicing together, you will increase your skill as a team and maybe even win that big game.