If you play any sport, you want to be good at it. But, just trying to be good at the game isn’t all there is to it. You can’t just read about it, but you must physically get out on the field and practice. Here you’ll get some advice to assist you the next time you play soccer.
Cross the ball to the same side for a few plays to establish a pattern. This will make the defense try to anticipate what’s going to happen next. Then, you will have the opportunity to surprise the defense by dribbling or passing in the opposite direction.
Remember that soccer is a team sport. This is an extremely important concept. Working with your team, instead of for your own personal goals, is always a more effective strategy. It is important to play on behalf of the full team. Success in soccer is most likely to occur whenever you forgo personal glory and keep your team’s needs ahead of your own.
If you want more stamina, participate in long distance runs in the off-season. Incredibly soccer players run around eight miles each game. By distance training, you will increase your stamina, resulting in the ability to play soccer for longer periods of time without a break.
When you are carrying the ball with a defender is approaching, make the pretense of passing the ball to another player. By doing this, you will make him pause for a second, which will allow you time to decide your best strategy moving forward. Become animated using this tactic as an advantage to throw off your opponent.
Surprise can be a great help when you play soccer. For instance, look to dribble to the right, and then pass left. The opponent might be surprised, which opens the field for those on your team. Although at first your teammates might not know what is happening, they will eventually get used to your technique.
Use a tennis ball to practice your dribbling. Using a small ball will help you adjust to keeping your feet in control. After practicing like this, you’ll see that a normal ball is much easier.
Pick out a good shoe to play soccer according to what the field’s like. For example, if you are going to be playing primarily on grass, then you need a soccer cleat that provides adequate traction. Generally when playing outdoors you need cleats that are permanent and firm. You can get a firm grip on slippery ground using these cleats that come in various different patterns.
Instead of only training with your strong foot, give both of your feet just as much attention. Training both your feet to be strong lets you be more versatile as a player. You’re able to play various pitch sides, can cut in any desired direction, and can shield a ball better.
Focus on figuring out how to correctly trap the ball, with the bottom of your foot or instep. This is a necessary skill that must be practiced to help stop the ball. Practicing your trapping as well as your timely response to get the ball moving and under control again is key.
Everyone on your team should practice with kicking, passing and dribbling on a daily basis. Some people claim practicing like this is boring, but it’s important to learn the basics. Inspire your team to practice by showing videos of famous players practicing the same basic movements so they will see why practice is important.
Now it’s time to quit reading and start putting your newly-gained knowledge to the test. Practice anytime you get a chance and work closely with the other members of your team. Implement them in your next game and you will be on your way to a winning season.
