No matter what sport you play, you want to be successful. But just wanting to be a better player isn’t enough. You must do something about it. Here are some tricks that will help you out.
Be quick with your decisions on the field. You should get rid of the ball as quickly as you get it. If you can’t make something happen after two touches, the ball should be sent on. If you choose to keep it, you will probably lose it or cause your team to lose its momentum.
Shielding is an important soccer skill. Practice with another person, and try dribbling the ball around in a square. Encourage the other person to try and take the ball away. To be successful, make sure that your body stays between your opponent and the ball. The more you practice, the better you will be in the game.
Both short and long passes are important in keeping the ball away from defenders. When you get close to the goal, short passes can be important in getting the ball to a teammate who is in better position. Long passes can be useful when a lot of activity is happening on one side of the field to keep your team in control of the ball.
When playing soccer, move the ball more than your body. This can help you save energy. If you’re running down the field frequently, you’ll be tired early into the game. Keep in mind that the ball always moves faster than you do. It’s better move it faster than moving yourself with it. Save your energy for when you need to run.
If you want to improve your soccer skills you need to make sure you practice often. Mastering soccer is not something you can do in a day. Dedicate a certain amount of time each day to practicing soccer. No matter how hard soccer skills can be, practice. Practice your strong skills too as they can always be bettered.
Adding surprise to your tactics is helpful. Work on dribbling to the right and then shifting off your pass to the left side. The defender may not be expecting that, opening up the field for your teammates. Those on your team might be surprised at first, but will come around to your style.
Whenever possible, try to cross the ball. It can lead to some unexpected, positive consequences. For example, doing so could set up your teammate for the score or the ball could ricochet off another player and find its way into the goal. Just when the other team thinks they have you figured out, though, try dribbling in for the score.
Learn to use all of the surfaces on your foot when you play soccer. During fast dribbling, the instep and front of the foot are commonly used. To be a skilled dribbler, the ability to use the outside and inside of your foot is a must. This cuts the ball away from pressure so that you can control it no matter where defensive pressure is coming from.
When you are training for soccer in between seasons, try to do exercises that you actually enjoy. People have a hard time doing things regularly that they dread. You need to train, so it would be a good idea for you to find a training regimen you will look forward to doing.
Now that you know what to do, go do it. Practice using the tips you’ve read today along with your team. The more you hone your skills, the more apt you are to contribute to your team on game day.
