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.
Do not attempt to take the ball into the goal if you not not in an optimal position. If there isn’t an open field, locate a teammate in a better position. Get the ball quickly to them with a nice pass instead of you trying to charge down the field by yourself.
You can usually make a defender freeze for a few seconds by faking a shot. If you see a defender closing in on you, posture yourself as if you were about to kick the ball and make a long pass. The defender should stop and anticipate the pass you are faking.
If you are facing a defender, try getting past them instead of simply holding the ball. You can hold the ball for a while by shielding it with your body and passing it from one foot to the other but you will eventually have to attack and get past the defender.
Start long distance running in the off-season to boost stamina for soccer. Soccer players run many miles during an average soccer game; estimates are that 8-10 miles are the average. By running every day, you train the body in terms of stamina and endurance as well as speed.
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.
Run three miles each day to keep you in top cardiovascular shape. Soccer is a sport that requires continual running; therefore, you need to stay in top cardiovascular shape. Running around 3 total miles daily will really increase your stamina and endurance. Try running different routes to avoid boredom while running.
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.
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.
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.
The lofted pass vaults the ball into the air, either to a teammate or an open space in the field. This gets the ball to a desired spot much faster in key situations. Do not confuse this with what is considered the driven pass. The lofted pass is for shorter distances, while the lofted pass is generally for about 40-50 yards.
Know how to choose a proper soccer ball. There is more to a soccer ball than meets the eye. For example, how the soccer ball is created plays a key role in how well the ball will move down the field or through the air. By learning about the different types of soccer balls, you can choose the one that is right for your field and team.
Have fun. First and foremost, if you want to become good at soccer, you need to enjoy playing. Professional soccer players don’t get to where they are by forcing themselves to do something they hate. They take a love of the game and use it as a foundation to build into a career.
Keeping possession of the ball is crucial. You can’t score a goal for your team if you don’t have the ball. This means learning how to shield the ball from the opposing team until you have the chance to go for a goal or pass to a teammate. Watch video of professional soccer players and see how they shield against different types of approaches.
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.