Have you ever seen people play soccer and wonder how they are able to do some of the things they do? If so, you are not alone. Soccer is a sport many people are not educated on, but are interested in learning about it. The tips that follow will help you increase your soccer knowledge.
Do everything possible to avert colliding with another player. Do your best to anticipate where your opponent will be in order to prevent contact. That will allow you to hang onto the ball and avoid injury.
Learn how to perform a simple Outside Elastico. This can help you cut inside when you are on the flanks. You will need something to represent your opponent’s position like a cone. Move five or so steps backward. Begin to dribble towards it. Once you come near the cone, touch the ball on the outside and then inside as quickly as possible. That outside touch will fool opponents. Remember, the second touch should be stronger than the first one.
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.
Always have a plan for what you will do with the ball when it is passed to you. Anticipate the best move, whether it is a short or long pass, or a shot at the goal. Do not be obvious about the moves you will make. The element of surprise is important to keeping the ball protected.
Learn everything you can about soccer and the different techniques. There are many resources available including books and resources on the Internet. Scour these sources to find the latest techniques to help you improve the game. When you find a new technique, practice it until you have it down pat.
Increase your reflex time by doing this exercise. Stand on a sturdy structure that is approximately three feet off the ground. Jump off the object and land in a squat position with both of your feet planted on the ground. Quickly stand up and run as fast as you can.
Analyze the game immediately following each game. Bring a notebook to the game and write down pertinent information such as how many shots you took, how many times you scored, how many went high and if you seem to always be shooting to one side or the other. By keeping a written record, you will begin to notice ways to improve your game.
To improve your shot in soccer, follow a few simple steps. Make sure the foot you’re not kicking with is alongside the ball and your body is above the ball. Keep your eyes on the ball during the whole duration of the kick until you have actually struck the ball. Kick the ball in the middle or above.
Learn how to receive a fast moving ball by developing soft receive footwork. This type of footwork cushions the blow when a ball is passed hard to you. By softening the blow, you can regain control of the ball quickly. If, however, you receive the ball with a stiff foot, the ball will generally be knocked further away from you.
When training for soccer, use interval training. This type of training uses short sets of repetitions. For example, with interval training you will start with doing a bench press for three minutes. When those three minutes are up, you will rest for one minute and then jump rope for three minutes. Then, you will continue around the gym doing a variety of exercises for three minutes with a one minute rest break between each exercise.
The push pass or side foot pass is a great strategy for your short passes. By using the largest area of your foot, better accuracy is provided, and power is less of an issue here as well. This is a very basic pass and must be second nature to a great soccer player.
Set the ground rules before your first practice. By informing your players what is expected of them and what the consequences for not following directions are, you can help set boundaries that your team must follow. This allows your players to understand what is expected from them at each practice.
If an infraction happens inside a team’s penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded. During this kick, the ball is placed twelve yards from the goal and it is defended by only the goalie. A penalty kick is awarded when a person fouls another player inside the fouling players penalty area.
Practice basic skills for at least 30 minutes per day. It is essential that the fundamental skills and movements are so ingrained into your mind and body that they are second nature. This means that during a game, you don’t have to think about them and you can focus on the needs of the moment and making that goal.
Now that you have read the article above, do you feel you have a better understanding about soccer? You probably do and if you use the tips this article has given you, there is nothing holding you back from performing like a pro. All that is left to do is get up and get a game started!