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.
In order to become a good soccer player, you need to learn how to dribble. To properly dribble, keep your head down so you can see what you are doing, but still keep an eye on your opponent. Also, keep the ball near your feet at all times. Do this by using the outside and inside of your foot to carry the ball.
When practicing soccer, always try to practice with players who are more skilled than you are. This will help you to gain experience, while challenging yourself to play better. Older players can also help to guide you, and give you tips that they have learned over the years to help strengthen your game.
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.
Always set goals for yourself when trying to improve your soccer skills. You should make sure you set both short-term and long-term goals. Of course, like any other goals, you want them to be achievable; however, you should also ensure they are difficult enough so that you push yourself. By having specific goals to work for, you are more likely to succeed in improving yourself.
When playing soccer on a muddy field, the shoes you wear should have a grip. Cleats that are soft and removable are the ones of choice by professional players at this time. Additionally, wide spaced cleats will help you maintain control in slippery conditions. In this situation, two cleats are on your heel, while four are on your the midsole.
Make sure that you do everything you can to stay centered on the ball. If you allow the ball to get away, there is a good chance that this will allow you to get thrown off balance. Centering the ball will give you the ability to move in any direction with it.
Snack before you exercise. Eat a nutritious snack such as a yogurt parfait topped with granola or a couple of eggs and some dried fruit. These snacks are perfect to grab and go before a workout. They will help provide the necessary fuel to effectively workout without losing your stamina.
When training for soccer, use interval training. This type of training uses short sets of repetitions. For example, with interval training you will start with doing a bench press for three minutes. When those three minutes are up, you will rest for one minute and then jump rope for three minutes. Then, you will continue around the gym doing a variety of exercises for three minutes with a one minute rest break between each exercise.
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.
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.
Drink a sports drink with carbohydrates and electrolytes before a game in order to keep your hydration level up. Why? Well, take into account that during a regular 90 minute soccer game, you are running at different speeds, including sprints, up to six miles each game. Six miles produces a lot of sweating and loss of those electrolytes and fluids.
Blocking the ball can be done in a variety of ways, and you must be okay with placing yourself in front of the ball. Sure, you might take some hits from time to time, but you cannot be scared. Block the ball with your chest, back, or foot. And, use your foot against an opponent to help block and jockey the ball away from the goal. This gets your opponent moving the ball in a different direction.
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.
