Soccer is a global sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages. However, a lot of people still don’t know about soccer. Read through this article to increase your understanding of the game of soccer.

Never assume that your part in a play is over after you have passed the ball. Follow the teammate you passed to, and attempt to put yourself in a position to help. A great player will pass it back to you if they need assistance.

It is best to pass the ball as soon as a defender closes in on you. Retain the ball until the defense if breathing down your neck, then pass it an unprotected player. The new player then has a head start against their own defenders.

Soccer should be played as a team. Remember this. If you play for yourself, you will likely fall short. Mainly because you didn’t focus on the team aspect. Instead, concentrate on the team. Sacrifice your personal desire for glory for the sake of the team.

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 typically run roughly eight miles per game. By training to run great lengths, you can increase your stamina which will result in better soccer playing without needing to take excessive breaks.

It is important that you use all the different parts of your foot while you are playing soccer. When you dribble fast, you most likely will use your instep and front of your foot. To be a skilled dribbler, the ability to use the outside and inside of your foot is a must. This will allow you to control the ball, no matter where the defensive pressure is.

The right shoes need to be be worn when playing soccer on the field. Football cleats or tennis shoes are absolutely not acceptable. Wearing inappropriate shoes can injure yourself and other players.

Try not to come off as cocky on the field. While it could be that you’re great at playing, you can slip up sometimes. If you act like nothing can possibly touch you, an unexpected happening could mess up your game.

Practice with players who have more experience than you do. This will force you to improve your skills and stretch yourself as much as possible. Ask all the questions you can. Most players are going to want to help you because it will also help the team. If you struggle with finding experienced players, look at local games and ask some players if they’d mentor you.

Try running three miles to stay in good cardiovascular shape. Your cardiovascular fitness is extremely important in a game like soccer that demands constant running. Running just three miles a day will build your endurance immensely. Run on different paths to make it more interesting.

Smaller Field

Take your soccer practice inside from time to time. Indoor soccer is played on a smaller field in an indoor arena. The smaller field will force you to improve your ball control skills, and you’ll need to make faster decisions. The practicing of those skills will help you have a better performance when you’re back outside.

Soccer is a tough sport. Don’t be afraid to run into someone. Physical play is not the same thing as playing dirty. Understand that actually aiming to kick an opponent is playing dirty; however, contact alone is not. You will have to get past your fear of being physical. Your legs should be protected at all times with pads made for soccer.

Soccer can improve you health, both physically and mentally. You may not have benefited greatly from soccer up until now because you knew little about the game. Know that you have all this knowledge, you should be ready to put it to use.