Most people watch soccer on television and aren’t familiar with all the little subtleties of the game. There is so much to learn that isn’t apparent if you don’t know what to pay attention to. Thankfully the following article breaks the game down for you in an easy to read manner. Continue ahead for some excellent tips about this interesting game called soccer.
Communication is integral to the sport of soccer. You must communicate with your teammates to let them know when you want the ball. Tell your teammates what is happening on the field. A player who is trying to control the ball may not see a player from the other team coming up from behind.
Try pushing the ball with the inside of your foot if you need to defend it. This will give you more control and make it hard for the defender to steal it from you. Use your entire body to shield the ball from the defender and look for another player you can pass the ball to.
Learn how to perform the Outside Elastico. It is great for when you are positioned on the flanks and need to cut inside. Using a cone to represent an opponent is a good way to practice. Back up about five steps. Start to dribble towards it. When you come close, do a tiny touch outside and follow that by touching the ball back to the side. That outside tapping is what will trick the opposition. The second touch should be more powerful so you can correct the trajectory of the ball.
When you have the soccer ball and an opponent is approaching you, fake like you are about to pass it. Use their confusion at this time to plan your next move. Stay animated to give the tactic real impact.
Soccer is a team sport so it is important to cooperate with your team to work as one unit, instead of single players. If someone is open, pass the ball. Trying to do it all can end up hurting your team, and essentially losing the game. Working together as a team is the best way to win games.
Talk with your teammates during a game. Nothing is worse than miscommunicating a play to your team that results in the other team getting the ball. If you are concerned that the other team may find out what play you will be using, set up code names for your different plays.
Be sure you are focusing on your weaknesses. Your game of soccer is only as good as your weakest technique. If your weakness is accuracy, then line up several balls in a row and continue shooting balls into the net. On the other hand, if your weakness is trapping, get someone to throw balls to you repeatedly. By improving the areas you are weakest at, you will notice your skills increase substantially.
Use your mistakes as a learning tool. If the ball is taken from you when you dribble, learn the reason why. Keep an eye on other players to see what they do to successfully maneuver the ball down the field. If effective dribbling is a problem for you, ask the coach or a more talented teammate for advice.
Learn how to sprint. Sprinting is used when you are standing still and then begin running as fast as you can. To practice this technique, stand still for 15 seconds, then begin running as fast as you can for 15 seconds. Repeat the process for 30 minutes to help increase your sprinting takeoffs.
Make sure that you do everything you can to stay centered on the ball. If you allow the ball to get away, there is a good chance that this will allow you to get thrown off balance. Centering the ball will give you the ability to move in any direction with it.
Try to master every single type of pass there is. Many people only master one or two moves, but you want to try and master as many as you can. You should do this because it will help you prove to yourself and others that you are a great player.
As a soccer coach, you must be sure to have a well structured plan of practice. When you know what you plan to do and where you plan to go with your coaching, it will be easier for you to get your message across. Be sure your plan is realistic. Do not try to accomplish so much that your players lose enthusiasm.
Cross train multiple types of exercise. Playing soccer will only develop certain muscle groups. It is important that you train all of them, and working on other skills can transfer over into soccer. For example, taking a dance class can help your footwork on the field and taking track can improve your speed.
As you can see from the above article there is a lot more to soccer than just running around the field and kicking the ball. If you are educated about the game then you will better understand all the “little things” that make the game exciting. Keep the tips you learned here close by so you can refer back to them the next time you watch a soccer match.
