Multitudes of people from the far corners of the earth enjoy the benefits of playing soccer. However, a lot of people in this world don’t even know what the basics are when dealing with soccer. If this is you, continue reading to find out more about soccer as a sport.
When you see a teammate in a good position, pass the ball quickly. After your pass, get yourself into good field position. Get in front of blockers so that your teammate can easily pass the ball back to you or to another teammate who is in a better position.
Make some firm passes if you want to get a reaction from other players. Firm passes are easier to control and let other players know that it is time to take action. A soft pass is a good way to draw a player into the game but is too risky if you are under pressure.
Make sure you are constantly switching the ball back and forth in the game. Just release pressure via switching the ball to one side of the field. This betters your chances of finding open spots on the field and increases the amount of space for you to execute a plan. It draws the other team to one side of the field while you quickly switch the ball to the other side when they target you.
Communication is very important on the soccer field. Using short words or phrases, like “turn,” can help you and your teammates play a more cohesive game. In particular, being verbal as the pace of the game picks up can really help you to “play smarter” and eventually win the game.
Try passing the ball when a defender is closing in on you. If you are still able to safely advance, keep the ball, but when defenders close in, pass it right away. Your teammate will have a chance to make a play before the defender catches them.
Practice these set kicks to improve your chances for scoring during a penalty shot. That teaches your brain how to do them correctly. Developing kicks that you can use as penalty kicks will pay off big time down the road.
Talk with your teammates during a game. Nothing is worse than miscommunicating a play to your team that results in the other team getting the ball. If you are concerned that the other team may find out what play you will be using, set up code names for your different plays.
Try practicing with soccer players who have better skills than you. Although it is more fun to be the best player on the field, this is not challenging you to improve. By playing with better soccer players, you will be more challenged to improve your skills. Therefore, put your ego aside and challenge yourself.
While football is a bit more physical than soccer, soccer is still a pretty physical game. You should not be afraid of running into someone. Getting physical doesn’t equate playing dirty. Purposefully kicking another player is a foul, but some incidental roughness is nothing to worry about. Master your fear of playing a physical game. Your legs should be protected at all times with pads made for soccer.
Soccer coaches do not need to give as much feedback as other sports’ coaches, so allow your players to be a bit ore independent. Once players are on the field, they need to make their own decisions about their plays, so allow them to do this without worrying about you interfering.
It is very important that you eat a light meal before playing soccer, but make sure that you eat something that is not very heavy. You meal should contain a lot of carbs and it should be eaten a couple of hours prior to you heading out on the field to play.
Soccer is a game that requires a lot of concentration. If your concentration is broken during a game, you will make many mistakes. Therefore, practice concentration drills so that your focus is improved. Having said this, understand that not all drills work for everyone. Some people learn visually, while others learn more from hearing. The key is finding the concentration drill that works for you. By doing so, you will notice your soccer skills dramatically increase.
Develop stronger leg muscles. By developing strong leg muscles, you will not only be able to shoot harder, but you will also be able to protect yourself from many of the common soccer injuries such as a torn hamstring or torn achilles. Doing both strengthening and flexibility exercises will help protect your legs.
Soccer can improve you health, both physically and mentally. You may not have had the right information to truly appreciate this sport before reading this article, but you have it now. Know that you have all this knowledge, you should be ready to put it to use.
