If you want to get better at soccer, the tips below are for you. Soccer is a game played with passion and practice. Continue reading in order to find out some information you can put into practice today.

Don’t try to kick your ball into the goal if you’re in a crummy position. If there isn’t an open field, locate a teammate in a better position. Rather than trying to take the glory for yourself, pass the ball to them as soon as you can.

When you can, try to collide with another player. Do everything possible to predict your opponent’s next location. This technique helps you maintain control of the ball, as well as reducing your chances of getting injured.

If a defender is closing in on you, pass the ball. If you must dribble, dribble as far as possible, but pass as soon as a defender advances on you. This will give the other player time before the defenders start closing in on them.

Touch Outside

Teach yourself to perform an easy Outside Elastico. The goal of this maneuver is to quickly cut back in towards the field from the outer flanks. Start by practicing with a cone or shoe as a marker. Place yourself approximately five steps from the marker. Dribble to it. As you close in on the cone, take a small touch outside and then touch your ball quickly back to the inside. The touch outside will trick your opponents. Keep in mind that your second touch needs to be bigger then your first one.

If your area is teeming with defenders, pass the ball out to an open spot. The open player will have time to make a play before the defender gets to them, at which time they can pass back to you.

Passing the ball in one direction for several plays in a row will establish a pattern. You opponent will see this and begin anticipating it. Change things up suddenly, surprising the defenders, by moving the ball the other way or simply dribbling up the field.

Practice makes perfect, in life and in soccer as well. You can’t just better your skills in your sleep. Make some changes to your schedule to you have plenty of time to work on some drills every day. Practice your soccer skills, even if they are difficult. Don’t forget to practice the easy ones too, even your best skills can get better.

Tennis Ball

Practice your dribbling skills using a tennis ball. The tiny ball helps you to get used to micro-adjustments your feet need to make to control the ball. Once you are comfortable dribbling a tennis ball, see how easy dribbling a soccer ball is.

Practice your soccer skills with experienced players. You will be able to quickly improve your game. Ask as many questions as you can and take advantage of their wealth of knowledge. Since soccer is team-oriented, many players will be happy to assist you in developing your skills. If you cannot find someone to practice with, go to a local soccer game and ask some players if they will mentor you.

Strengthen your decision-making by practicing set plays. For example, practice with your teammates doing corner kicks or direct shots. The more you practice, the better you will be when it comes time to make in-game decisions and your winning chances improve.

Play soccer indoors every once in a while. Playing indoors creates a smaller field. Because of the smaller area, you’ll need to work on the ball control and your decisions will need to be made quickly. That causes your outdoor game to improve.

As you make mistakes, learn from them. Do you seem to make the same dribbling mistake over and over again? Watch successful players dribble and learn from them. If you aren’t sure how to dribble correctly, ask a teammate or your coach for advice.

Now you know how to play better, use the tips you’ve read. You have the motivation. Now is the time to put these suggestions into action. Learning ways to get better at soccer takes time, but it is worthwhile.