No matter who you are, when you’re playing a sport you do want to be great at it. But it takes more than wanting it. Just reading up on the subject won’t do it; you must practice all you can. Here are a few tricks and tips to assist you in being better at soccer.

If you’re looking for cleats, you have to get ones that fit properly. The shoes should be snug with good arch support. Your ankles should be able to move freely. If you don’t get the best cleats then you could end up damaging your feet.

You are not out of play after passing the ball. Quickly find a position on the field where you are once again open and can help move the ball down the field. Good players know when to pass the ball back.

To help with your short passing skills you want to kick the ball off the inside part of your foot, this gives you the best accuracy. Long passes require the use of the front part of your foot, near the laces. This approach on kicking will help you increase the distance you can kick the ball down field.

If there is a lot of action on the side of the playing field, do what you can to get the ball to an unguarded player. The defenders will be seconds behind, but it should be enough time for the ball to move out of a busy area.

You should look for ways to surprise the other team. The opposing team will quickly catch on to any patterns in your game. Keep the other team on their toes by making unexpected but effective moves, like kicking the ball behind you, when you are in danger of losing the ball.

After you have just read the above information now is the time to go out use all that knowledge on the soccer field. Put some time into practicing your new skills and show your teammates what you have learned. Whenever you and your team take measures to improve, your team’s chances of winning a game are greatly increased.