Folks the world over have long recognized the physical benefits and sheer excitement the sport of soccer can offer. Perhaps you have yet to discover the joy and exhilaration that playing and watching soccer may bring to your life. Keep on reading to learn more about the game and to see if it may be the sport for you.
To be the best soccer parent ever, you should have realistic expectations of your child. You should have a clear vision of your child’s abilities and always encourage him or her to simply play as well as possible. Don’t try to bribe your child into playing better with treats or push good playing ability with threat of punishment. Remember soccer is supposed to be fun.
Never pass up the opportunity to practice. Take your ball with you everywhere you go, and do a drill or two whenever you have free time. Even walking with the ball in front of you is good practice.
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.
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.
Try using the element of surprise on your opponents. Try not to make your moves so obvious. For example, try putting the ball near the back of the previous defending line while your teammate runs to receive your assistance. Then, try changing your running rhythm, starting quick until your opponent comes at you, then stopping. They’ll stop too, which gives you time to increase your pace again, so that they’re left anchored.
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.
When shooting a penalty kick scrutinize the goalie. Find an open spot that he does not have guarded and kick using the inside of your foot. Keep your non kicking foot close to the ball and your body over the ball. Then with your eyes on the ball, kick forcefully.
If you are a parent or coach, never scream anything at a player while they have control of the ball. This may distract them and make them fumble a bit. The best thing to do is to allow them to make the pay, then encourage them to do better if it was not done well.
You need to invest in quality shoes so you can have a firm grip even while playing on a muddy field. Many professional soccer players use soft removable cleats to deal with situations like these. If the conditions are muddy and wet, choose wide cleats. Look for something with two heel cleats and four midsole cleats.
You should try your best to stay very light and bouncy on your feet when you are out on the soccer field. Even though it may seem to you like it makes more sense to be aggressive, this is the best way for you to keep total control over the ball.
Often, a soccer player goes through many different emotions throughout a game. Some players get frustrated easily while others get giddy at the idea of winning. By knowing how to get negative thoughts out of your mind while keeping a good mindset, you’ll be able to make the rest of the team confident. The confidence boost could win the game for the team.
Try to dribble the ball a lot less than you pass it. Passing should be the thing that you do the most when you are on the field. Passing gives your team the ability to control the ball for longer and you can do it a lot faster than you can dribble.
Trapping the ball is a skill that must be learned using the bottom or instep of the foot. Stopping the ball relies on this technique. Practice responding in a timely manner along with trapping to keep the ball under control and moving.
It is no secret that millions of individuals in every corner of the globe are devoted to soccer, both as players and as spectators. It may be that you had never really given the sport much thought until now. With any luck, the material presented in the article above has sparked your interested and gotten you ready to start playing.