3 Soccer Skills Every Player Should Know
It’s the most played game on the planet, with over 200 million players from over 200 nations. Soccer is popularly known as ‘the beautiful game’ due to its dazzling levels of technical ability, team play, and international participation. If you are intent on playing football, know that you are going to need to train harder, longer, and faster than your competitors, and constantly have a ball available at all times. (Perhaps you will sleep using a ball rather than a pillow) Read this guide and you’ll find out how to play this great game.
Soccer Skill #1: Dribbling
Dribbling is commanding and controlling the ball while running. If you would like to keep the ball on your team’s side, you likely need to learn to dribble well. Dribbling is all about touching the ball firmly enough to take it forward, but mildly enough so it remains in your possession and away from players of the other team.
The most effective approach to dribble for newbies is likely with the interior of your foot, but in various conditions, you are going to need to use any other area of your foot you’re most comfortable with. Most soccer players are either left footed or right footed, so the foot you use to kick the ball will depend on which foot you use better.
When you are dribbling slower, you generally keep the ball near your side for a longer time. This way, your opponent is forced to make a movement to take the ball from you. You can dribble with the interior of your foot over the toe (using the foot pointed down to the floor) or even the exterior of the foot. Usually, when you run down the sidelines after you have defeated your attacker, your dribbling will seem a whole lot different from when you are taking on a defender directly.
When you’re dribbling at a faster pace, it’s possible for you to kick the ball distance away and run to meet it. This move is normally used in the event that you’ve already gotten past your opponent. You do so because you’re more likely to run faster off the ball than you could dribble it. It prevents you from losing the ball, especially when you’re trying to shoot, or set up a teammate to score. You’ll also need to constantly touch the ball lightly after every step you take to maintain the ball in your possession.
Soccer Skill #2: Passing the Ball
Passing the ball accurately will require less energy but give you more precision in soccer. As soon as you master the simple pass, after that, you can attempt to cut and hook the ball before diverting it to one of your own teammates.
Passing is all about sending the ball precisely where you want it to go. To pass the soccer ball, hit the ball with an adequate amount of pressure using the inner part of your foot. Doing this might give your pass less power, but it will be more accurate. After you have mastered the basic pass, you could then try the ‘slice and hook’ pass to beat an advancing defender and send the ball in the direction of a nearby teammate.
While passing, pay close attention to how your sending foot is positioned. That foot ought to be right next to the ball. As soon as your sending foot is very close to the ball, point the foot in the direction you want to send the ball. Passing is a skill that you perfect over time, so if you don’t get it right the first time, just keep practicing.
The best way to pass is with the toes pointed upward and heel on the floor. Then, you need to mentally visualize where your teammate is going to receive it. Because you’re usually going to be passing the ball to a moving target, sending the ball into an open area in where your teammate can receive it is crucial. Before passing the ball to a teammate, make sure you observe the situation he or she is in. Take into account the number of markers already close to the player. It’s best to pass the ball to a teammate that is relatively free.
Soccer Skill #3: Shooting
When you have come close the goal and all you need to score is accuracy, you can take a shot with your ‘sweet spot’ – the inner part of your foot, just like a pass, but this time kicking the ball with more force. The amount of force you put into a shot will be determined by how close you are to the goal.
Before shooting, always aim for the blind spots of the keeper. You’ll need to study the movements of both the defenders and the keeper’s position before you take a shot because they will try to block it. So for instance, if the defenders and keeper are standing at the left side of the goal post, draw the ball out the right side and look for an opening, then take the shot.
When you are farther away from the other team’s goal you will need more power and accuracy to get the ball into the net. Again, it’s all about mentally visualizing where you want the ball to travel. It’s also possible to take a shot that is not directed at the goal, it’s called a Cross. The purpose of crossing is to set up your teammate who is in a good position to score. To cross the ball, you need to send it up in the air to land directly in front of the receiving player. The player can then ‘Trap’ the ball with any part of his body (Apart from his hands), make his way close to, or into the other team’s penalty box and take the shot.
Last words
Soccer is one game you will enjoy playing when you master all the basics. For beginners, you should ensure that you get the correct soccer gear in order to avoid getting injured since it is a very physical game. You can work on your passes even using inanimate objects, just to improve your aim. For dribbling find a friend that can run toward you while you maneuver with the ball and you can also practice shooting with a goalkeeper or friend.
