Do you want to start following soccer and become a fan of the sport? Do you know the rules of soccer? Fortunately, the Internet is full of great articles on the subject, especially the one below. Soccer is the most popular team sport in the world, and after you read this you will understand why!

Make sure your cleats fit well. They need to be snug, but provide arch support. Your cleats should support your ankles while allowing you to move freely. If you pick up a pair of bad cleats, it could lead to an injury, so be careful with your selection.

You ought not drive toward the goal if you are not in an advantageous field position. If you encounter numerous defenders, don’t attempt to be a hero. Instead, search for a teammate to pass the ball to. Rather then attempting to make the goal on your own, pass the ball.

Think about how experienced you are in soccer before buying cleats. Pick up something with plastic and synthetic materials if you are just starting out. Advanced players should wear screw-in cleats made of metal; these can be worn of various types of terrain.

Always attempt collisions if you can. Learn to anticipate where a given opponent will be so that you don’t have to make contact. This lets you keep the ball and greatly reduces your possibility of an injury.

You should get the ball passed when you’re starting to get closed in on by a defender. Maintain possession until you can safely pass it to a player. The other player will then have a few seconds before defenders close in on them.

The soccer ball should be kicked with your foot’s inside to make short passes the best. Long passing can be improved upon by kicking the ball off the front part of your foot, down towards the laces. Such kicking lets you use more power to get the ball farther.

The Outside Elastico is a basic move to master. This aides you in cutting to the inside when on the flanks. To master the move, get a cone or another object, and set it upon the ground. Get away from the cone about five steps away. Then, dribble towards the cone. As you get closer to the cone, tap the ball outside then tap it in quick motion back to the inner part. You can fool a defender with this soft outside touch. The second touch should be more powerful so you can correct the trajectory of the ball.

When the ball is lofted it makes it difficult to control. Lower passes are easier to control and to get over to your teammates as the defenders are approaching. Do not loft the ball unless you are making a longer pass to an empty area.

If you would like to be picked for the main team, it is important that you show the coach just how dedicated you are. This means you should constantly struggle for the ball, engage in teamwork and most of all never, ever giving up! Showing the coach that you are devoted to your team and the game can increase your chances of getting picked.

Practice your penalty kicking on a regular basis after training. This will train you to be on target after getting fouled during a game. Strive to learn and perfect a few different kicks for your penalty shots so that you can successfully implement them during a game.

Use your whole foot when playing. When you are not dribbling fast, you’ll probably be using either the instep or front of your foot. You have to use the outside of your foot as well. That allows you to have complete control.

Physical Game

While football is a bit more physical than soccer, soccer is still a pretty physical game. Do not worry about running into anyone. Playing a physical game is not the same as being a dirty player. Now kicking someone, that’s another story, but a little roughness is part of the game. If rough play worries you, it is essential that you get past that. Wear your shin guards and a mouth guard to protect yourself.

Learn from your mistakes. Pay close attention if you realize that you are losing the ball each time you dribble down the field. Pay attention to players who are good at dribbling and try to imitate their moves. If effective dribbling is a problem for you, ask the coach or a more talented teammate for advice.

You need to invest in quality shoes so you can have a firm grip even while playing on a muddy field. Professionals use removable cleats for situations like this. Choose a wide cleat for wet or muddy conditions. This type of cleat has four cleats in the midsole and two on the heel.

Ask that all parents attending practice bring along a soccer ball with them. This will ensure that each player has a ball to practice with at home. In addition to these balls, there will be a few remaining for soccer practice if someone forgets theirs at home. To guard against this, require all players forgetting their ball to run some additional passing plays.

Dribbling, kicking and passing should be practiced daily by each member of the team. Make sure all the players on your team understand why these drills are important. Show them videos of soccer players that are popular using their skills so that you can help your team to know these things are important.

If you are just starting out learning about soccer, you’re in luck because there is a tremendous amount of quality information that goes over the basics like what you read in the article above. Once you learn the basics, playing and watching the game of soccer is much more fun. Now you know some great tips, and you can avoid feeling lost when someone wants to watch a soccer match with you.