The most that you can expect from yourself is doing your best to learn to be a skilled soccer player. The following bits of advice will help improve some old skills and introduce some new ones. Keep reading so that you can develop your soccer game into more of an asset for both you and your team.

You can throw a defender off by dribbling in the opposite direction of where you want to go. Lead the defender away and then quickly cut back in your intended direction. This particular move works great when trying to get around a good defender.

TIP! Avoid assuming that you are no longer in play after passing the ball. Follow the ball around and get yourself into position where you might be able to receive the ball again.

Make the opposition think you have pattern when you cross the soccer ball the same way for several plays. The opposing team will recognize what you are doing and be ready for your movement. Then, you can surprise them by sending it in another direction or sending it nowhere.

You need to practice a lot and be dedicated to it to really increase your skills. The top players didn’t become the top players overnight. Schedule some time to practice each day. Now matter how hard they be, practice every soccer skill. Don’t forget to practice the easy ones too, even your best skills can get better.

If you want to increase your stamina, do long distance runs during the off season. Soccer players run many miles during an average soccer game; estimates are that 8-10 miles are the average. By distance training, you will increase your stamina, resulting in the ability to play soccer for longer periods of time without a break.

TIP! It may seem intuitive, but remember to maintain eye contact with the ball always. The ball can move around so fast that it is hard to track.

In order to play the game as well as you can, keeping your body fit is extremely important. If you are overweight, the game will become very hard. Watch the amounts and types of foods you eat to make sure that the diet you are eating is perfectly healthy.

Watch how a professional that plays your position and learn new strategies by watching him or her perform. Try incorporating his techniques into your own game. Start adding their signature moves to your play.

Let your mistakes teach you some lessons. If you find that the ball is taken from you each time you dribble, it’s something you need to address, for example. Pay attention to the way other players dribble and try copying their technique. If you aren’t sure how to dribble correctly, ask a teammate or your coach for advice.

TIP! Try establishing strategies with your teammates. Communicating with your team will allow you to work more efficiently with them on the field.

Winning starts with the right mindset. If you have confidence in yourself, you will likely see that confidence reflected on the field. If you keep a positive attitude, you could help bring success to your team.

It is important that your goalie gloves are properly washed. Soak them in warm, soapy water for an hour. Then, rinse out the water until it is clear. Gently wring them out and place them palm-side down on your sink.

Smaller balls should be used to practice with. Dribbling a miniature soccer ball or a tennis ball can help you refine your techniques. Practice shots and passes. After perfecting your control with the smaller ball, you will find it is easy to transfer the skills to the larger size soccer ball.

Soccer Training

You need to warm up prior to soccer training for soccer. Warm up exercises help warm the muscle up by getting the blood flowing to areas that you will be exercising. Begin each exercise routine by doing gentle stretches along with walking to help get your muscles ready for your soccer training workout.

Learn the right way to sprint. That ought to be only after you’ve warmed up. Start your routine by running really fast in a 30 second spot. Take a short break and breathe deeply. Do this for a minimum of 15 minutes per day to see an improvement.

TIP! If you have the ball and a defender is coming toward you, act like you are going to pass the ball to someone else. This should make them pause for a second, which will allow you some extra seconds to make a decision.

Play with great confidence. When it comes to soccer, your mental stamina is just as important as your physical one. Be in control of your mind and you can take over the field. If you are afraid of making mistakes, you likely will. Consider what needs to be done so you can score again instead of thinking about what would happen if you failed.

Learning how to shoot and pass the ball is crucial to every soccer player. Passing and shooting can be practiced on your own or with someone else. If you are practicing alone, kick the ball toward the wall. As it rebounds, take control of it and shoot it toward a specific spot on the wall.

Make sure your head is up at all times on the field. Practice this frequently. You should be looking for opportunities whether you have the ball or not. This lets you keep good track of your opponents’ location so that you are not ambushed. Of course, it’s important to glance at the ball but you shouldn’t keep your head down a lot.

TIP! Use the technique of surprise while playing soccer; it is an effective strategy. Try to dribble towards you right hand while pushing a pass to your left.

When playing the goalie position, try to recover quickly after a score is made against you. You can lose your confidence and focus by allowing yourself to feel disappointment or to be shaken up. Many professional goalkeepers recommend controlled breathing to get back on track. Deep breathe for 10 seconds and forget it. The rest of the team needs you to be ready!

Now that you are more knowledgeable on soccer, you need to put that information to good use. You can now start to apply some new techniques on the soccer field. Put all this to practice, and improve your individual and team playing skills. Be sure to enjoy the game!