Soccer is a global sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages. Yet, many people out there lack basic knowledge about this game. If you find yourself in this category, read on to remedy that.

Never make the assumption that you’re out of the current play once you’ve passed a ball. Keep your eye on the ball and wait for your chance. If your teammate is a good player, he will know when to pass the ball back to you if he gets into trouble.

It is very important to avoid colliding with your opponents as much as possible. Make your best effort to figure out where the opposing player will be so you will not collide with him. This lets you keep the ball and greatly reduces your possibility of an injury.

Kick the soccer ball with the inside of your foot for the greatest accuracy in short passing. For longer passes, use the front of the foot near the laces to kick. Kicking it off this part of the foot gives you greater power to knock the ball much further up the field.

You may think this is obvious, but you have to see where the ball is during the game at all times. Soccer is a fast moving game and if you are distracted for just a second you can lose sight of the ball. If you happen to lost sight of the soccer ball, you may give the other team an advantage.

If the fields getting congested where you are, look for a wide-open teammate who you can pass off the ball to. They should have a few seconds before the defenders cross the field and this is a good way to reduce your risks of losing the ball in the busy area.

You need to build team strategies. They should be aware of all of the moves you plan to make. You might cross the ball in one direction for a couple of plays only to go left on the third try.

Practice and commitment is the only way to get better. You can’t just better your skills in your sleep. Take some time from your schedule and dedicate it to learning and practicing these difficult soccer techniques. Work on every type of soccer skill, even the difficult ones. Also keep practicing what you do best because it can always be made better.

You should always have on the right kind of shoes if you’re playing soccer. Football cleats and tennis shoes are acceptable. Wearing the wrong shoes increases your chances of injury and will make playing difficult.

Physical Game

Soccer is a physical game. Do not worry about running into anyone. Playing a physical game doesn’t make you a dirty player. It’s unfair to kick someone on purpose, but being physical isn’t. You must not let physical play scare you. Keep your legs always protected with soccer pads.

Choose your soccer shoes carefully depending on the surface that you play on. For example, if you are going to be playing primarily on grass, then you need a soccer cleat that provides adequate traction. Permanent cleats with a firm grip are the standard for outdoor games. These cleats have different patterns so that it’s easier for you firmly grip the ground.

If you’re having to play soccer where it’s muddy, your shoes need to be able to grip the muddy ground. Lots of pro soccer players lots soft, removable cleats in these situations. Choose a wide cleat for wet or muddy conditions. For the best traction, four cleats should be placed at the midsole and two cleats should be placed in the heel area.

Speak with parents and ask that they get soccer balls to bring to practice. This way, your players can practice at home. However, you should also ensure you have a couple spare just in case one is left at home inadvertently. If you want to make sure this isn’t a common occurrence, make it a rule that any player who comes to practice without a ball has to run extra pass plays.

Kick using your weaker foot as often as possible. The more you practice, the stronger your weak side will be. You can even pass to a wall for some help. It’s rare to find a player who uses both of his feet equally, which is what makes someone who does very desirable.

Peripheral Vision

Work on improving your peripheral vision. It really is possible to make your peripheral vision sharper, which is a good idea if you wish to monitor the whole field during games. The trick is to focus on the point midway between you and where the ball is rather than directly on the ball.

Shin guards are made using a variety of materials. The material used has much to do with the amount of protection. Plastic material provides a lower level of protection, while polyurethane gives a higher level of protection. The more protection you purchase, the more you’re going to pay for it. Shin guards made from plastic should only be used by small children. As your playing gets better, your protection has to get stronger.

Shin Guards

Several types of shin guards are available, so know which form you’d like to use. Most shin guards use Velcro to close. One thing this is great for is helping you to get in and out of your shin guards with ease. Also, velcro can be tightened if need be.

Prior to performing a soccer workout, it is important that you warm up properly. By warming up you help train your body and get the blood flowing which helps limber up those soccer muscles. Do some gentle exercises and walk to get muscles ready for training.

In the game of soccer, you can improve not only your health, but your mental state as well. You might do well with soccer, but didn’t know how until now. Use what you’ve learned here to give soccer a shot and see how it can improve your life.