Are you thinking about giving soccer a try but you do not know if you can be successful at it? Maybe you are familiar with soccer but want to better your skills. The following information will help soccer lovers of all ability levels. You should not be afraid of making improvements.

Try passing the ball when a defender is closing in on you. Keep it safe and then advance it to a teammate. Your teammate will have some time to move before they are reached by defenders.

It might seem obvious, but keeping your eyes on the ball is a must. Soccer is a very fast paced game and the ball passes from player to player very quickly. By losing the ball, you allow the other team a better chance of scoring.

Try to fake out members of the other team by tricking them and dribbling in a different direction. The defender will start following you, and then you throw them off right away by changing sides and traveling the other way. This is helpful in bypassing defenders.

To get prepared to play soccer when the season comes around, in the off season you should increase your stamina by running long distance. Soccer players run many miles during an average soccer game; estimates are that 8-10 miles are the average. When you train yourself to run great distances, you increase your endurance tenfold, which will improve your game.

If you play soccer, good communication with teammates is critical. Speaking with teammates on the field during the games can help you work better together as a unit. Even players on professional soccer teams rely heavily on communicating with other members of the team to win games.

Tennis Ball

To improve your dribbling skills, use a tennis ball to practice. By practicing with a small ball, you will become accustomed to making adjustments to your feet to keep control of the ball. Once you are comfortable dribbling a tennis ball, see how easy dribbling a soccer ball is.

While individual goals are important when playing soccer, always remember the goals of the team. The whole team has to work together, so setting team goals is key.

Play with better players. This will stretch your abilities and will help improve your skills. Ask them the questions you have so you can learn a lot from others. Many will help because they’re used to working as a part of a team. You should look for local games and approach players to ask if they are interested in practicing with you.

Soccer Ball

It is important that you are able to properly kick a soccer ball. Kicking the soccer ball requires a bit of know-how. If you kick the bottom or underside of the ball, it will lift up into the air. Your foot should be utilized like a wedge so you can get underneath the ball and try to kick it up while you lean backwards.

Since you have read this article, you no longer have to question your soccer skills. Use these tips to improve your skills and win games. Most people prefer winning to losing.