If you’re a big fan of soccer, then you’ll want to read this article. You probably want to be a better player and should know there are quite a few tips that can help with that. Read on to learn some new tricks and skills to help you reach the next level.

TIP! You are not out of play after passing the ball. Follow the teammate you passed to, and attempt to put yourself in a position to help.

An obvious requirement of soccer is keeping the ball within sight at all times. Soccer is a very fast paced game and the ball passes from player to player very quickly. Losing sight of the ball could open your team up to giving up a goal.

If you have possession of the soccer ball and an opponent is rushing you, fake a pass. That will stop them for a moment, and you’ll get a chance to think quickly about what you would like to do. Therefore, don’t be afraid to use a lot of animation, and your game will significantly improve.

Soccer Ball

Use a tennis ball to practice your dribbling. Although a tennis ball is much smaller than a soccer ball, this will help you adjust your feet better to control the ball. Once you are comfortable with the small ball, the soccer ball can be dribbled with ease.

Always wear the correct shoes when you play soccer. Football cleats and tennis shoes are never acceptable. You can hurt yourself by wearing the wrong shoes.

Practice set plays to improve decision making skills. You and your teammates could work on corner kicks or direct shots, for example. Knowing what to do in these situations will help you to make decisions during the game about which set plays will work against your opponent’s defense.

TIP! If you want to be on the principal soccer team, show how combative you are. Do not give up on any play.

Don’t get discouraged. You might notice that when you dribble the soccer ball down the center of the field, defenders are able to take it from you. Ask others who don’t have this problem how they avoid it. Go to your coach or teammates with any questions you may have.

Are you trying out for the soccer team for the first time? If so, then ensure you show the coach the moves that you are skilled at, and avoid performing moves you haven’t mastered yet. If you don’t think you’re able to do a move, you shouldn’t try it out until you’ve gotten onto the team.

TIP! Pretend that you are planning to kick the ball to another player when a defender approaches you. This should make them pause for a second, which will allow you some extra seconds to make a decision.

Choose the proper type of soccer show for the field being played on. Look for shoes that provide you with the traction you need to play on grass. Shoes with permanent cleats are an excellent option. Cleats come in all sorts of patterns, so test them out for yourself.

You need to learn how to properly kick the ball. It’s not enough just to kick the ball. Kicking the ball at the bottom helps it go higher. Your foot can be used as a wedge; get your foot underneath the ball and as you lean backwards, kick up.

TIP! In order to get better at dribbling, use a tennis ball for practice first. Practicing with this little ball helps you get used to making constant adjustments with your feet to keep it in control.

Learn how to kick the ball with your weaker foot. You can’t take the time to switch in all situations. You’ll be a better player once you’ve learned how to kick with either foot.

Winning relies upon a winning attitude. When you believe in your team, you have the necessary confidence to make passes and kick goals. By holding a positive attitude in winning, you will help your to victory.

TIP! Although your individual skills are important in soccer, remember that it is a team sport. Soccer depends on the entire team for success, so team goals must be more important than your own.

Ask all of the parents to buy a ball for their child to bring to practice. This is necessary in order to practice regularly. Have extra balls around just in case one of the players forgets their ball. If you notice that players are forgetting their soccer balls, have them run extra pass plays.

Each team member needs to practice passing, kicking and dribbling often. Although some may fuss and say this type of practicing is boring, teach the importance of learning the basics. Show films of popular soccer players practicing the skills to help your players understand the importance of practicing these basic skills.

Peripheral Vision

Work on improving your peripheral vision. Peripheral vision is something you can train with and is what you need to use to be sure you’re watching the field and the ball. The idea is not to concentrate on the ball itself, but on a point somewhere between yourself and the actual ball.

TIP! To ensure you are in excellent physical condition, aim to run three miles on a daily basis. Excellent cardiovascular fitness is essential because soccer requires nearly continuous running.

Sprinting is a key element of a soccer game. Only sprint after you have gone through the proper warm-up. For about half a minute, run as quickly as possible. Next, rest for about a half a minute. Doing this every day for about 15 minutes can really help to strengthen your game on the field.

If you’ve got the ball, run it toward the goal if you can. The other option is to race toward open space. If your wish is to be the defense, you need to move quickly. Keep the other players from closing in around you. Make them sit back and defend.

TIP! Don’t only play soccer outside. When you play inside, you are on a smaller field.

Practice soccer skills even when alone. The key is to train as much as possible. When training with others, it can be tough to concentrate on essential skills. Training alone will help you concentrate on the skills where you need the most practice.

You can be a better player as you get more knowledge. Use the information above to help you become a better player. You also need to keep learning so that you can stay up with the game and your competition.