In the game of soccer there isn’t much equipment. It’s just your feet, the ball, and your brain against the opponent and you have to use those three tools to your advantage. Developing your soccer skills can be pretty tough at the beginning. You might find yourself awestruck by players with Ronaldinho soccer skills who can twirl the ball over their heads, make tricky curving shots at the goal, and deke you out like nobody’s business and you might get frustrated that you can’t do some of those things. Don’t fret; just like the tortoise and the hare the slow and steady learner usually wins the race and if you follow some basic guidelines for practicing your soccer skills you will improve them greatly over time.
Soccer is one of those simple games that are fairly easy to pick up but almost impossible to master. The greatest soccer players, when asked how they got to where they are, will always say that consistent effort and dedicated practice is to blame. There are no quick-fix answers to improving your soccer skills so if that’s what you are looking for here, go elsewhere. This article will give you three simple guidelines that you can use in your games and practice regimen that over time will improve your performance.
Soccer Skill Tip #1: Keep it Simple, Stupid.
The K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple, stupid) rule applies to many areas in life but with soccer it is particularly prudent. The fancier you try to make your play the more likely you will be to lose the ball to the opponent. If you want to be a better soccer player you need to work on the core fundamentals of the game before you work on your pretty juke moves and fancy penalty shots.
Here are some simple playmaking techniques that are often overlooked by newbie soccer players but are generally game changers:
Passing Plays:
The less time you have the ball in your possession the less likely you will be to muck things up. A skilled soccer player knows that he is only as good as his team. Practice with the people you play with and don’t be a ball hog. Pass the ball when you have an opening and trust that your teammates will return the favor.
Shoot Often:
Everyone wants to make the pretty goal play. They want to pass it five hundred times in front of the net and make the goalie flip and dive in the wrong direction when most of the goals scored in soccer are just straight on shots that are taken at the opportune times.
Soccer Skill Tip #2: Condition Your Body to Increase Endurance
Soccer games are like marathons. The field is massive and there is a lot of time on the clock from start to finish and there is hardly any down time. The best players will ultimately be the ones who have the energy to compete throughout the entire game. If you want to have amazing soccer skills you must first start with your body’s endurance.
If you want to be a great soccer player you have no choice but to alter your life style. Sure, going to practice and playing in the games is great exercise and all but if you really want to stand out you are going to need to eat right and go to the gym. To build up your endurance and condition your body specifically for soccer it is a good idea to start on a regimen of Plyometric exercises.
Plyometrics are exercises that focus on building muscle strength and improving your speed. Some examples of plyometric exercises are: running up and down the stadium stairs, the standing long jump, hurdles, box jumps, sprinting, and tuck jumps.
You can also employ what is called “interval training” to improve your soccer skills. If you’re a fan of the gym you can hop on a stationary bike, elliptical, or treadmill and do an hour of interval training every day. Interval training mixes high intensity sprints in with your regular cardio work out. You want to move at a decent speed (maybe about 5-6 RPMs) for 15 seconds and then double your speed for the next 15 seconds; alternate speeds for 1 minute and then use the next minute to rest at a reduced speed. If you keep the rotation up for 45 minutes to an hour each day you are sure to condition your body and find it easier to learn soccer skills afterwards.
Being able to outlast your opponents on the field with strong endurance is one of the keys to winning the game.
Soccer Skill Tip #3: Practice in Confined Spaces
When you first started playing soccer you probably just ran out onto the soccer field, ball in hand, and started kicking it around in the wide open area but now that you’re getting better at it it’s time to be more focused on your practice drills.
To get the most out of soccer practice it is a good idea to play and perform your drills in a confined space. You can learn a lot from the guys who have indoor soccer skills as the closed in walls and borders force players to think faster and make better plays.
The less time you have on the ball the less time you will have to make play-making decisions. Employ all of your soccer skills drills inside a tight space for a few practice sessions and then get out on the field and see how much clearer you can see the game in the open space.
So much goes into improving your soccer skills and we can’t possibly cover it in one small article. If you have any more information on how to improve soccer skills or know of any good soccer skills videos like the one below that would be helpful, feel free to leave them in the comments section.