One of the best ways to become a better player at any sport is to practice what you know and to never stop learning. There is always room to learn new skills and to perfect them. Here are some helpful hints and new tricks for you to apply to your soccer game.
When purchasing cleats, you need to try them on to make sure they fit perfectly. Make sure they are not too loose and they provide proper arch support. You will also want to ensure that your ankles will move well. If you get the wrong cleats you run the risk of damaging your foot.
Recognize that how you pass the ball to someone else has meaning. For example, a hard pass indicates a sense of urgency, and it may tell the player that someone is coming up on them. A soft pass often indicates that you want the player to retreat toward you a little. There is much you can say on the field, even without words.
Start by beginning the basic Outside Elastico technique. When you find yourself on the flanks, doing this will get you to cut inside. To practice this skill, place an object like a cone on the ground. Start about five steps away from the cone. Then, dribble towards the cone. Use a soft outside touch before touching your ball back toward the inside as you get closer to the cone. That outside touch will fool opponents. Know that you need to make the second touch larger than the one you did first.
Before each soccer match, make sure you take the time to do some pregame warm-ups and stretching. By following this pregame ritual, you will decrease your chances of sustaining a connective tissue injury. By providing additional blood flow to your muscles, tendons and ligaments, warm-ups and stretching increases your body’s flexibility. Your lower body should be the focus of your stretching exercises.
It is very important for you to have intense workouts while you are in season, but slow things down once the season is over. Putting your body through such intense activity over the course of an entire year is enough to make your body experience some unnecessary wear and tear.
Practice using your weaker foot. This can be done alone by kicking the ball against the wall or with your team. For an interesting game, have everyone on your team to split into two teams. The only rule is that all dribbling and shooting must be done with the weaker foot. By practicing with the weaker foot, you will soon be able to shoot as equally well with your weaker foot as your stronger foot.
Watch televised soccer games to find a few cool moves to incorporate into your repertoire. Watch the play over and over until you have learned exactly how to perform the move. Then, go outside and begin practicing it. After you have practiced for thirty minutes, come back inside and watch the move again noting any changes you need to make to your practice.
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.
Now that you have learned a few new tricks, take the time to practice them until they come naturally to you. Share your new found skills with friends and teammates. then hit the field and try them out during a friendly practice game. With a little practice, you will soon be a player to contend with,