Soccer is an activity loved and played by millions of people of all ages. If you think soccer is only for kids, you should educate yourself. Continue reading for some great information on the game, which will make you realize that soccer is for everyone.

Maintain Possession

It pays to pass off to a teammate immediately after a defense player gets near you. Maintain possession until you can safely pass it to a player. That player will be able to maintain possession for some time prior to the defenders closing in on them.

Short passing with accuracy requires that you use the inside part of your foot. Long passes require you to use the top of your foot. This type of kicking approach gives you more power to drive the ball further down the field.

Don’t hesitate to move the ball to an open teammate if you find yourself pressured by the opponents. That will give them time as the defenders approach them to figure out what to do next.

It’s hard 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. Do not loft the ball unless you are making a longer pass to an empty area.

Pretend that you are planning to kick the ball to another player when a defender approaches you. That will stop them for a moment, and you’ll get a chance to think quickly about what you would like to do. Become animated using this tactic as an advantage to throw off your opponent.

Penalty Kick

In order to increase your odds of scoring by a penalty kick, you should practice it immediately after your regular practice session. This zeros your brain into the correct mindset for making a powerful shot. Learn a few kicks that you can do when you get a penalty kick and keep practicing your kicks until they go the way you want them to go each time.

Surprising people is a good asset when you are playing soccer. Dribble to the right and push the pass to your left. Defenders might not anticipate such a move, and your teammates will thus find an opening. Your teammates might be surprised at first, but will adapt quickly.

Tennis Ball

To better your dribbling, try to practice using a tennis ball. Although a tennis ball is much smaller than a soccer ball, this will help you adjust your feet better to control the ball. As your foot work gets better, dribbling a soccer ball gets much easier.

If you have found soccer mysterious, stop worrying. Since you know more about it, you can appreciate it more. These tips will improve your game tremendously.