Everyone who plays a sport wants to excel at it. However, desire alone is insufficient. It is not enough to simply read how to accomplish this since you must physically practice. These tricks and tips to become better at soccer.

Don’t try to make a goal unless your position is good. If you don’t have an open field, look for available teammates that are open and waiting to help. Rather then attempting to make the goal on your own, pass the ball.

Avoid colliding with another player, if possible. Learn to anticipate where a given opponent will be so that you don’t have to make contact. Doing this not only allows you to keep possession of the ball, but it also greatly reduces the possibility that you might be injured.

It pays to pass off to a teammate immediately after a defense player gets near you. Keep possession of the ball until you can advance towards the goal and send it along to a teammate. Your teammate will have several seconds before defenders do the same to him.

You may think this is obvious, but you have to see where the ball is during the game at all times. The ball can move around so fast that it is hard to track. if you lose the ball, you may give the other team the chance to score.

Outside Touch

Learn the Outside Elastico. Doing this will give you the ability to cut inside better. To practice this skill, place an object like a cone on the ground. Step approximately five steps behind it. Begin dribbling as you move towards it. Whenever you get close to the cone, do an outside touch and then quickly do an inside touch. The outside touch will trick your opponents. Remember that the second touch should be more forceful than the first.

Do not pass up an opportunity to get more practice. Take your ball with you everywhere you go, and do a drill or two whenever you have free time. You will be able to just practice dribbling the ball if you’re needing to walk to a place.

Fool your defenders by dribbling in the opposing direction you are seeking to go. They’ll follow you in that direction and you will throw them off when you go the opposite way. That’s a great way to get around a defender.

Get some plans in place with your teammates. They should be aware of all of the moves you plan to make. For instance, you could cross each ball towards the right during a couple of plays, and the third time go to the left.

When you have the soccer ball and an opponent is approaching you, fake like you are about to pass it. Doing this will cause your opponent to pause, giving you a few seconds to choose what to do next. Try to be animated and you’ll be more likely to fool them.

Never underestimate your opponent; overconfidence is a mistake. While you may be a great player, there are always unexpected that can happen. When you have the mindset that you’re the best, the smallest surprise can turn into a big problem.

Now that you know a bit more about being a better player, it is now time to test your skills. Practice your new skills. You might find that you can win your next big game.