Do you play for a school soccer team? Perhaps you just like to go out there on the field and mess around with your friends. Maybe you aspire to be the next great soccer player. No matter what, soccer is fun, and it takes skill in order to become a better player. Try out this advice on for size as you learn more about soccer.
Even though soccer equipment is very expensive, you need it in order to be completely safe while you play. If you buy sub-par equipment, or if you fail to buy something that you need, you may get injured. Hospital bills will cost a lot more than the cost of decent equipment.
Adopt an energetic attitude when you play. You should spend the entire game following the ball back and forth and always trying to be in an ideal spot to receive the ball. Do not give up if players do not pass the ball to you and draw their attention if you are in a good position.
You should get the ball passed when you’re starting to get closed in on by a defender. Retain the ball until the defense if breathing down your neck, then pass it an unprotected player. This player will have a short amount of time before defenders get to him.
You need to be in top physical condition to play your best game. Experiment to determine the optimal time and type of meal to eat before your match to ensure that you have enough energy to last to the end of the game. Get it right and you’ll power past your opponents.
Don’t be the soccer mom who makes all the other parents cringe and all of your child’s teammates ridicule him or her at school. Support the decisions of the referee and do not shout instructions from the sidelines or run out onto the playing field to consult with the ref or instruct your child.
If you have the ball and you see open space, move toward it. You want to bring a defender in toward you, so that the field opens up for one of your teammates. As the defender gets closer, pass the ball to someone who is in a better position than you. Hopefully, they will score!
Try using the sides of the field. If there are lots of people in the center of the field, it makes it harder to play in that area. Using the wing-men on your team can exploit the sides. Penetrate these areas and send the ball to the center so that your teammate can finish the play. Make sure to avoid knocking the ball out of bounds.
Strength training is an important part of any soccer players practice. For effective strength training concentrate on your thigh and calf muscles along with your core muscles. Core muscles help you maintain balance while your thigh and calf muscles help you kick harder and farther than opponents who do not strength train.
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.
Learn to react quickly. Soccer can be challenging for anyone who is not properly conditioned. By learning how to react quickly, you can make the shot before the goalie has time to think about getting into position to block the shot. This can result in many extra scores during a game.
Make sure you are juggling the ball frequently so that you can improve your ball-handling skills. Juggling a soccer ball requires a lot of precision, and the only way to improve at this is practicing regularly. In addition, you should try improving other skills while juggling, such as passing, shooting, and trapping. For instance, juggle the ball some and then shoot the ball without allowing the ball to touch the ground.
If you are a coach and one of your players is on the bench, take that time to talk to them about their performance on the field. Do not try to yell things at them while they are on the field playing since this can be pretty distracting and may ruin their game.
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.
Snack before you exercise. Eat a nutritious snack such as a yogurt parfait topped with granola or a couple of eggs and some dried fruit. These snacks are perfect to grab and go before a workout. They will help provide the necessary fuel to effectively workout without losing your stamina.
It is time for you to bring the advice you’ve read out onto the field. You also need to keep learning more about this great sport. There is no cap to the skills you can learn and use, so get out there and enjoy the game you love to play.
