| Playing soccer is a physically demanding game and | | | | the ball as it is the easiest and most accurate pass |
| requires a combination on tenacity, fitness, guile, mental | | | | especially over short distances of 5 - 20 yards, and is |
| toughness and skill. | | | | the one that should be practiced the most. |
| Skill is the number one aspect that players, especially | | | | Shooting |
| young players should focus on when learnin how to | | | | A shot not taken is a shot missed. In other words |
| play soccer. Being technically proficient will ensure that | | | | players should shoot whenever they have a sight on |
| you can play better soccer, and with a team of equally | | | | goal and can make the distance. Shooting is all about |
| skilled players your team will be able to use other | | | | kicking the ball where the goalkeeper isn't, and really |
| aspects of the game like tactics and fitness to better | | | | any part of the foot can be used, however, there are |
| effect and improve your team even further. | | | | a few guidelines. 1. Shoot towards the far post and 2. |
| The basic skills that are required for soccer player are | | | | Shoot low. 3. Accuracy before power. The reasons |
| - Ball Control | | | | are that these shots are harder for the keeper to |
| - Dribbling | | | | save and if the shot is going wide it is possible for |
| - Passing | | | | another team mate to slot home a wayward shot, |
| - Shooting | | | | also if the shot is on target, it has a chance to go in. |
| - Heading | | | | Heading |
| - Defending | | | | There are two types of headers, attacking and |
| - Goalkeeping | | | | defensive. Attacking headers are like shots and should |
| Ball Control | | | | generally be aimed down to the ground, again allowing |
| Ball control is about the ability to receive the ball, from | | | | for a team mate or deflection to score a goal for a |
| any angle or height and get the ball "under control" as | | | | wayward header. Defensive headers on the other |
| quickly as possible. Typically this means getting the ball | | | | hand should be aimed high and either wide, or out of |
| on the ground and in a position, ready for your next | | | | play to allow the other defenders to adjust to the |
| move. It is of little use getting the ball on the ground on | | | | attack and mark the opposition. |
| your left side, if you wish to make a pass out to the | | | | Defending |
| right. All parts of the body can be used to get the ball | | | | The first role of a defender is to ensure that the |
| under control, except for the hand and arms, and | | | | opposition cannot shoot, and this is generally by just |
| generally it is best to use the surface with the greatest | | | | getting in the way or tackling the attacker. Good |
| body area to control the ball, so if using the feet to | | | | defenders not only get in the way, but can dictate the |
| control the ball, you should get behind the ball and use | | | | way that an attacker will have to play the ball, and that |
| the inside of the foot to cushion the ball, and direct the | | | | is generally to make the attacker play away from the |
| ball to the best position, ready for your next move, | | | | goal. Defenders must also learn how to delay |
| which may be to dribble or to pass. | | | | attackers, particularly when they are out numbered. |
| Dribbling | | | | Delaying the attackers will give your team mates |
| Dribbling with ball is an exciting part of the game. | | | | enough time to recover and mark the opposition |
| Dribbling is running with the ball, and keeping the ball as | | | | players. |
| close as is needed to make sure that the opposition | | | | Goalkeeping |
| cannot get the ball from you. So in a congested area | | | | Often neglected at training, goalkeepers need to have |
| where there are a lot of players, the ball must be kept | | | | the skills of the outfield player and in addition they |
| very close, and a variety of fakes and feints must | | | | require other skills such as diving, jumping and good ball |
| used to try and get more space and elude the | | | | handling skills. A goalkeepers judgment on whether to |
| defenders. In areas less crowded, the ball can be | | | | catch, punch or palm a shot can make the difference |
| played further away from the body, allowing you to | | | | between a win and a loss. Goalkeepers also need to |
| run faster into the oppositions territory. | | | | be able to read the game and offer advice to team |
| Passing | | | | mates as goalkeepers are the only players to have a |
| There are a number of ways to pass the ball to a | | | | full vision of the game. Goalkeepers also need to be |
| team mate, including using the inside of the foot, the | | | | brave and fearless in their commitment. |
| instep or top of the foot, and the outside of the foot. | | | | More advice? |
| However, passing using the inside of the foot (the push | | | | Nigel has written a number of articles on how to play |
| pass) is by far the most common method of passing | | | | soccer that available from this site. |