Playing soccer can be a fun activity but it feels even better to be a winner at it. All players wish they had better skills which is why practice is such an important part of the game. Learning tips and tricks from the experts is a great way to become a better player so here are some of those helpful hints to make you part of a winning team.
Just because you do not have the ball, does not mean that you are no longer in play. Try to position yourself where you can help the player with the ball. If the player is in need of assistance, they may pass you the ball in return.
If you have the ball and you see open space, move toward it. You want to bring a defender in toward you, so that the field opens up for one of your teammates. As the defender gets closer, pass the ball to someone who is in a better position than you. Hopefully, they will score!
When taking a penalty kick, make sure you use the inside of your foot. This is because you have more control on the inside of your foot. When taking your penalty kick take your time to line up and then kick with controlled force toward the outside of the goal.
When it comes to learning penalty kicks, practice makes perfect. Practice one type of kick until it becomes second nature and then move on to the next type of kick and practice it until it too becomes second nature. Continue practicing different kicking styles until you have at least 6 kicks that you can use when kicking a penalty kick.
You have to wear the correct shoes when playing soccer. Football cleats or tennis shoes are absolutely not acceptable. Wearing the wrong shoes increases the chance of you hurting yourself or another player.
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.
The only thing you can do about mistakes is to learn from them. Do you notice that every time you dribble the ball down the field it gets taken away? Look at other people who can dribble successfully so you can see how it’s done correctly. If you continue to have trouble, ask a teammate or your coach for help.
Develop a strong core. By strengthening your abdominal and back muscles, you will increase your range of motion. This will result in better control of all of your extremities. To help you develop a strong set of core muscles, you must incorporate strength training exercises into your daily fitness routine.
It is very important for you to stay well hydrated before and after you play a game. While most coaches provide water for the team, you should always bring some along. You don’t want to take a chance on not getting any water and your body starts to become totally dehydrated.
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.
Make sure that each soccer goal is appropriately padded to help avoid head injuries should a player come in contact with the pole during a game. Also, forbid your players from crawling under or onto a goal. This could cause the goal to fall on the player, which could result in a severe injury.
When your team is practicing, make sure they take breaks often. This will help prevent your team from accidentally injuring themselves during practice. By allowing your players to take intermittent breaks and switching players out often, many repetitive injuries can be avoided. This break also allows players to catch their second wind and come out even stronger than before.
Practice basic skills for at least 30 minutes per day. It is essential that the fundamental skills and movements are so ingrained into your mind and body that they are second nature. This means that during a game, you don’t have to think about them and you can focus on the needs of the moment and making that goal.
Know what foods to eat before and after you play. Try to avoid eating immediately before a game, and instead try to have a nutritious meal between 2 and 4 hours before. This will ensure you are fueled and ready to play but not still digesting your meal. After a game, try to eat some protein and carbohydrates within 45 minutes so your muscles continue to develop. Fruit makes a great snack that can also keep you hydrated.
Now that you have learned some new tips to help your game skills, take the time to share them with team mates. Then get on on the field and start practicing as much as you can. The best tip is to practice, practice, practice. Now you have some new skills to try out to be the best that you can be.
