If you want to become good at soccer and be like the pro’s then you will need to practice a lot. Ever wonder how those professional’s get those great skills with their feet? They practice all day long! So, if you’re thinking about a career in soccer then grab a ball and get to work! Continue ahead and learn about some great tips to that will make you a better soccer player.
Practice makes perfect and never lose an opportunity to take advantage of it. Get in the habit of taking your soccer ball with you wherever you go, then, if you have a free moment or two, do a couple of drills. In addition, you can dribble the ball anytime you are walking.
Learn how to anticipate where the ball is going during a game. You need to know when the ball is going towards you. You also need to know what to do when you do get the ball. Anticipating when you’re defending is important, too. If you can foresee the opponent’s next move, it increases your chances of stopping the movements.
Make sure that you stretch both before and after a soccer game or practice. Running up and down the field combined with kicking the ball, can put a lot of stress on your muscles. Stretching can help you to avoid injuries on the field while you are playing and prevent you from being sore after the game.
It is important that you keep in mind that soccer is a team effort. While it can be quite tempting to work on making goals all on your own, you need to work on passing the ball to others. This will make them feel more friendly toward you, and increase the chances they will return the favor.
Increase your reflex time by doing this exercise. Stand on a sturdy structure that is approximately three feet off the ground. Jump off the object and land in a squat position with both of your feet planted on the ground. Quickly stand up and run as fast as you can.
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 “press” is very important when preventing your opponent from moving down the field. You want to make your opponent feel uncomfortable when receiving the ball, perhaps even facing backwards. However, be careful when pressing not to commit a foul, or else you will not be helping out the team.
Make sure you keep a combative spirit about your play. You want to show your coach that you have the right attitude in order to help defend and help your team score without giving up. If you desire to have a spot on the main team, this is key to your success.
Move the body to the greatest extent possible. Leaning can throw the defenders off when you move in the opposite direction. Do not neglect using your arms; moving your arms around can trick the defensive players who are attempting to steal the ball or prevent you from passing or shooting.
Practice your juggling skills at home with the soccer ball. Juggle off of your thigh once and catch the ball. Then, juggle twice and catch. Maintain your control, and keep repeating this process. Your game improves immensely as you get better at juggling. Anything like this you can do to help you control the ball better is important.
Many players are plagued by wandering minds. Players should let the past go because it cannot be changed. Instead, players should focus on the current game. If a player is not playing a game, he should be focusing on the future match coming up. This technique will help player focus on the present which will result in a well played game.
To help your team develop good defensive skills, try practicing without a goalie. Inform each team that they are responsible for defending the goal by keeping the ball out of shooting range. By doing this for 30 minutes each day, the defensive skills on your team will expand exponentially.
When it comes to soccer, it is important that you approach it directly. A soccer player’s largest obstacle is overcoming their hesitations. Remain in an offensive mindset at all times. Once you get the ball, hone in on the most direct way to reach the goal.
As stated in the above article, if you want to succeed in soccer then you need to practice, a lot! All it takes is a soccer ball and these great tips that you learned here and you too, can master the art of playing soccer. The best players in the world practice this craft every day, and with the information learned here you can play like them, too!
