Soccer is an awesome sport, one that takes a lot of skills and techniques to play at a quality level. Want to learn more? Carry on reading to help improve your soccer game.
You are not out of play after passing the ball. You may want to follow the receiver and search for a way to help. Passing the ball when necessary is a sign of a good player.
Try passing the ball when a defender is closing in on you. Keep the ball for as long as you can advance safely and pass it to another player once the defenders are on you. Other players on your team will have enough time to move before the defenders reach them.
Outside Touch
Learn the move called “Outside Elastico.” This trick can help you cut inside when you’re on the flanks. Put something on the ground which won’t move, like your bag. Begin the maneuver about five running steps behind the opponent. Then, dribble towards the cone. Use a soft outside touch before touching your ball back toward the inside as you get closer to the cone. Fooling your opponent occurs through the outside touch. Remember that the second touch must be bigger than the first one.
You can shake a defender if you dribble the ball the opposite way of where you are trying to head. As the defender follow you, switch sides and go the other way. This can help you get by any defender.
Work out a set of strategies and plays with your team. Tell them your plans so they will know what to do. Running drills in practice will help you to maximize your impact on the soccer field.
While setting individual goals is important in soccer, remember the goals of your team, too. Understand that winning a soccer game requires the whole team. One person cannot win the entire game. Therefore, it’s vital that consider your team’s goals on the same level or above your own.
Practice set plays to improve decision making skills. As an example, you could practice corner kicks or direct shots with those on your soccer team. You will become better at making quick decisions as you practice these drills on a daily basis.
Use smaller balls in difference sizes when practicing. Kicking a smaller ball helps refine accuracy and control. Try practicing masking goals and passing. When you can manipulate a small ball with ease, a bigger ball is going to seem far simpler by comparison.
Kick using your weaker foot as often as possible. The more you use it, the stronger your weak foot will become. Practice passing against a wall as well as kicking for distance. Players that can use both feet extremely well are not only rare but needed.
Shin Guards
Many materials are used for making shin guards. The material’s quality correlates to the guard’s protection. Polyurethane shin guards offer better protection than plastic ones. The better quality shin guards are going to be more expensive. Shin guards made of plastic are only for small children. However, whenever players get older and stronger, the protection they wear should be stronger as well.
Always keep your head raised and looking up when you’re playing. When you are practicing, you can learn to hold your head up and look down the field. Your head needs to be kept up, no matter what, even if you’re not near the ball. You need to be able to see what is happening on the field. Obviously you need to know where the ball is, but you don’t want to focus down on it for too long.
Make a commitment to dedicate some time every day to practicing your ball passing skills. This is a great way to become more comfortable on the field. Practice this by setting up play targets that you will then knock down. Put them at varying distances in order to improve your long and short passing skills.
When playing the goalie position, try to recover quickly after a score is made against you. You could become unfocused if you dwell on what had happened. Learn to control your breathing like the professional goalkeepers due in order to maintain your focus. Allow yourself a period of ten seconds to breathe calmly and deeply, and then get back into it. Your team is counting on you!
The placement shot should be a key component in your arsenal. This shot is not that popular because it does not produce a lot of power. However, you don’t have to worry about power when doing this kind of a shot because the accuracy is what you’re trying for. This shot should be focused on the vulnerable spaces within the goal. For instance, you might need to kick to the outer corner.
Knowing whether to emphasize power or strength is the striker’s job. Power is the key for moving the ball over large distances. If you kick for power, point your toes down and connect with the top of your shoe. You can kick with the inside of your foot if you need more accuracy.
Become a better wing player by bettering your attacking skills. Most goals are made by players who have practiced constantly and are quick-thinkers on the field. During drills, work on playing the width of the entire field. That helps you stay confidence when you need to make runs.
When you are volleying, raise your knee when the ball starts to come toward you. Be sure your ankle is extended and allow your toes to point upwards. Use a lace or instep shot to hit the ball in the center. Square your shoulders and point your head toward the ground.
You should now be feeling that you know what is needed to explore the game of soccer further. It is necessary to continue learning, and you must practice in order to implement those skills during a game. Soccer should predominately be about fun, but your confidence levels will grow as your skills improve.