Playing soccer has been around forever and is enjoyed by so many all over the world. Soccer is not just a sport for kids. If this is your mentality, it is time that you educate yourself more on this sport. The following article contains a great deal of valuable information about soccer.

It is important that you are aware of the proper times to head for the goal. If your position is not ideal for this, don’t attempt it. If you are in trouble, find someone who is open. Get the ball to them instead of taking a risk.

Your proficiency at the game of soccer should dictate the type of shoe cleats you purchase. If you are a beginner, find plastic or synthetic cleats. Shoes with metal cleats that screw in are the best for advanced players.

For short passes, use your instep to accurately direct the ball. Long passes are best made with your foot at the front. Such kicking lets you use more power to get the ball farther.

The Outside Elastico is a basic move to master. This trick can help you cut inside when you’re on the flanks. Practice it by placing a shoe or bag on the ground. Back up about five steps. Then, dribble towards the cone. Whenever you get close to the cone, do an outside touch and then quickly do an inside touch. That outside tapping is what will trick the opposition. Understand that the second touch should always be larger than the first.

Practice makes perfect and never lose an opportunity to take advantage of it. Take your ball wherever you go so you can get some practice in. Dribble or drag the ball with your feet when you need to walk between two different places.

If the field around you has too much activity, pass to a teammate in an open area of the field. The defenders will be seconds behind, but it should be enough time for the ball to move out of a busy area.

A defender can be befuddled if you start going in different direction with the ball than was originally intended. The defender is going to follow you in the false direction, and then you can quickly change direction. You can get around the defender easily this way.

Make sure you talk to your teammates about different strategies you all can incorporate into the game. By knowing when you are about to act, they can make sure to be in the right place to respond. For example, you could cross on the right for one or two plays, then switch it up and go left on the third play.

To get on the main soccer team, show your combative spirit. You should never give up, use the entire field to attack and defend, and show everyone your winning attitude by helping your teammates. The coach will be impressed by both your willingness to work together and your mental toughness.

Surprise can be a great help when you play soccer. Try dribbling to your right and then pushing a pass off to the left. This may surprise your opponent, giving your teammates room to make a move. Your teammates might be surprised at first, but will adapt quickly.

You must know how to utilize all of your foot surfaces when you are playing soccer. It is quite common for players to only use the instep and the front of the foot when they are moving fast. To get better at dribbling, you need to have skills with the outside and inside of each foot. This turns the soccer ball away from the pressure, so you can control the ball regardless of the direction the defensive pressure comes from.

You should always have on the right kind of shoes if you’re playing soccer. Regular tennis shoes are not the right shoes, and neither are football cleats. Improper footwear will not only affect your game, it will increase the chances of injuring yourself or others.

Don’t be overconfident when you are playing. You may think that you’re great, but the unexpected can happen. When you play too cockily then you’re going to put yourself at risk for having a bad game since you’re not paying attention.

You can easily learn how to play an excellent game of soccer if you are properly motivated. With the new knowledge that you have gained, you can now fully appreciate the sport. Take the above tips you learned and all those tricks to guide you towards making soccer a big piece of your life.