The basics for winning any sport is the same. It takes skills, practice and a desire to win. You also have to keep an open mind and continue to learn and adapt. Here are some new things for you to try to help you become a better soccer player and an asset to your team.
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.
Great soccer parents never interfere with coaching. When you attend your child’s soccer game remember to be positive and supportive and be a good sport. Don’t second guess the coaches. if you are interested in coaching, you should offer your services, but don’t make a pest of yourself at your child’s soccer game.
When kicking a long kick to a teammate, approach the ball at a 35 degree angle. This allows you to fully use your kicking leg at full force. Use your arms to help you keep your balance while placing your non kicking foot directly beside the ball. Keep the ball close to the ground for best results.
If you are playing goalie, talk to your defensive players, particularly during corner attacks. If you see an attacker to the side of your goal, your best possible position is against the actual post, standing as tall as you can. Make sure a defender is covering any center area, just in case.
Whenever you practice playing soccer, aim to do your entire practice without stopping. That is because during an actual game, you will not be stopping very often. Therefore, soccer is a very exhausting game that requires you to be in top shape. By practicing long periods of time without stopping, you will get yourself in better shape so that you can improve your games.
Develop stronger leg muscles. By developing strong leg muscles, you will not only be able to shoot harder, but you will also be able to protect yourself from many of the common soccer injuries such as a torn hamstring or torn achilles. Doing both strengthening and flexibility exercises will help protect your legs.
Anticipation is key when you are on the field with the ball coming your way. It is also very important when you are defending as a goalie. If you are able to anticipate better an opponent’s move, then you will have a much better chance of stopping your opponent. Knowing your offense will help you anticipate your defense.
Learn your passing skills well to succeed at soccer. Use the inside arch of your foot for the most accuracy. For short passes, keep the ball low by hitting it near the center of the ball. For longer passes, with more power, hit the ball lower and follow through fully.
The center of the field can often be packed, so you should be utilizing wing men on the sides of the playing field. However, you have to be careful of the area that is out of bounds. Once you use the wing men, you are able to push the ball back to the center in order to finish the play.
When you’re playing soccer, try to focusing on keeping your head up as much as possible. You’ll have a better idea of what is going on around you and what your next best move is if you keep your head up instead of looking down at the ball and your feet all the time.
Watch videos of other soccer players to improve your own game. This is especially effective right before a game. Analyze what the player is doing, and consider how you can incorporate that into your own technique. Experiment with different styles and strategies you observe in other great players in order to step up your own skills.
Soccer video games are a great way to help you learn the game better. However, your game is more on the field than it is in your hands. Still, video games are quick and hands-on and can be enjoyed during your downtime. They are often highly realistic and are a great form of simulation and learning particular formations and strategies.
If you are unsure of your own soccer skills, you will have a hard time being a good soccer coach. Be sure to hone your skills before you try to teach anyone how to play soccer. If you are insecure, it will show through and you and your team will have a miserable time. Be smart, bold and confident so that you can keep your soccer sessions enjoyable and productive.
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.
Killer shuttles are used to increase the soccer players nimbleness on the field. For this exercise, four cones are placed in a straight line 15 yards apart. The player then take off running as fast as he can from the first to the second cone. He then runs back to the first cone and takes off running again to the third cone. The player then runs back to the first cone and runs to the fourth cone; then back to the first cone.
Concentrate on keeping your head up throughout the soccer game. You should practice doing this if you need to. Even if the ball isn’t around, your head should still be up. This allows you to track your opponents and the ball. Needless to say, your eyes should also be kept on the ball, but you shouldn’t keep your head down all the time.
Now that you have gained knowledge of new tricks to try, take to the field and practice. Take the time to master these new skills. Share them with teammates and practice your new skills together. Then when soccer season comes, you will be ready to face your toughest opponents and win.
