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.
Communicating is very important when you play with a team. You should indicate to others what your intentions are. Agree on a word you will use to communicate your intention to take the ball or to try scoring. You should also have a word you can use to ask for help.
You aren’t free from the play once the ball is passed. Follow the teammate who you passed the ball to and figure out where you can position yourself to help. Soccer is all about teamwork and you will eventually get the ball back when you are in a better position.
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.
Always play the ball quickly. Regardless of the position you are in, you should think quickly and pass the ball to a player who is in a better position as soon as you can. Help the team build an attack by running forward and preparing yourself to get the ball again.
Always keep your eyes open. If you are fortunate enough to get the ball, pass it to the person that you think can advance toward the goal, even if that is not you. Be selfless in order to help your team win. However, in order to follow this piece of advice, you have to be vigilant and know what is happening on the field at all times.
When teaching your kids how to play soccer, make sure they learn how to dribble. Many learn by simply kicking the ball ahead and chasing after it, but this doesn’t provide any control and allow the opponent to steal it. Have them run slow and use different parts of their feet to maintain the ball in front of them. Teach them to stop it on one spot with a gentle tap down on the top of the ball when dribbling to set it up for a pass.
Few players know how to control lofted balls. If you are being closed in on and need to pass the ball, pass it low. Lofted balls are better for long passes through an empty area.
Pretend to pass the soccer ball when confronted by a defender. The defender will pause for a few seconds, which gives you time to figure out what to do next. Stay animated to give the tactic real impact.
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.
Because soccer involves a lot of running, you should ensure you incorporate plenty of cardiovascular exercise. You must be in great shape so that you can outlast your opponents. You should also ensure you workout your legs thoroughly so that you can sprint faster and kick the ball harder. Use compound exercises, such as squats, lunges, and presses, in order to work multiple leg muscles.
Soccer doesn’t require as much physical contact as football, but it is still a very strenuous game. Do not worry about running into another player. Getting physical with other players doesn’t mean that you’ve played dirty. Purposely kicking a player is dirty, but physical play in general is not. If is scares you to get physical, you need to conquer that fear. Keep your legs always protected with soccer pads.
Confidence is developed by hard work. This means quality work is done during practice. Another way to help build confidence in the team is to use visualization techniques of actually winning a game, scoring the the winning goal and effectively blocking passes. By learning how to think great and believing in yourself, you can develop a confidence both on and off the field.
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.
