Playing soccer can be a fun activity but it feels even better to be a winner at it. All players wish they had better skills which is why practice is such an important part of the game. Learning tips and tricks from the experts is a great way to become a better player so here are some of those helpful hints to make you part of a winning team.
Practice protecting the soccer ball from opponents. Use your body as a barrier between the ball and your opponent. Keep control of the ball by kicking it with the inside of your foot. While practicing, try dribbling the ball in a square while your opponent tries to get it away from you.
Kick with your inside sole if you want to be accurate at short passing. If it is a long pass, then the front of the foot is better. It is important to not only maintain control of the ball, but to kick with accuracy as well.
Rushing to the goal is very tempting but you need to make sure you have some backup first. Do not mount an attack unless you have at least one player on each side. You need to save the ball with a quick pass to one side in case too many defenders close in on you.
If you are a goalie, you must learn to stay low. By learning to stay low and balanced, you will be able to block most shots. Be ready to lunge toward either side of the goal. This is best accomplished by spreading your legs approximately shoulder width apart and then lunging toward the ball when it is kicked.
Don’t be overconfident when playing soccer. Regardless of your skills, things can always go wrong if you are overconfident. Being unprepared can result in even more mistakes after something unexpected occurs.
You should focus on moving the ball more than your own body. The ball has the potential to move much faster than you do. You need to conserve as much energy as you can in soccer in order to last through the game. You need your energy for bursts of speed when necessary to get down the field.
Effective communication on the field is essential in soccer. This will make your team strong. When you locate a spot that’s open, communicate it to your teammate that has the ball. You need to learn the right lingo when you are playing a game of soccer, so that you can communicate your intentions properly. You might encourage your teammate to get through a couple defenders to receive the pass by using the term “through” for example.
Often, a soccer player goes through many different emotions throughout a game. You can go from up to down in just seconds. By focusing on the positive, you can help your entire team to succeed. The confidence boost could win the game for the team.
An excellent idea for getting more soccer practice is to check out your local YMCA or community center. Many places offer a variety of intramural sports teams, and particularly if you live in a large community, you are likely to find a soccer team or soccer club with other enthusiasts such as yourself.
The push pass or side foot pass is a great strategy for your short passes. By using the largest area of your foot, better accuracy is provided, and power is less of an issue here as well. This is a very basic pass and must be second nature to a great soccer player.
When your team is practicing, make sure they take breaks often. This will help prevent your team from accidentally injuring themselves during practice. By allowing your players to take intermittent breaks and switching players out often, many repetitive injuries can be avoided. This break also allows players to catch their second wind and come out even stronger than before.
If you are coaching a team, you need to set an example of what is expected. If you want kids to give 100 percent, then you need to give 110 percent when coaching. Get on the field and play with your players. Show them how to dribble the ball.
Now that you have learned some new tips to help your game skills, take the time to share them with team mates. Then get on on the field and start practicing as much as you can. The best tip is to practice, practice, practice. Now you have some new skills to try out to be the best that you can be.
