Another passing technique is the “push pass,” where you basically shove the ball with the inside of your foot. It’s more accurate but less powerful—usually used for short passes across the grass to a nearby teammate.
In a match situation, you need to be able to quickly pull the ball in close to you if your progress is challenged by a defender so you can change directions or pass. Make sure you’re always controlling the ball and the pace. Don’t kick the ball harder than you can run and it won’t get away from you. Over time, you’ll get a sense of how hard you need to kick the ball depending on how fast you’re moving. It can take a little practice to get the hang of this skill, but once you find your rhythm there will be no stopping you!
Practice this skill with shooting drills where you aim at a specific corner of the goal with each shot. Ramp it up by getting a buddy to play defender and try to block you.
Shoot at an empty goal to improve your aim. Shoot at a goal with a goalkeeper to master shot selection. Shoot with a defender and a goalkeeper to improve your timing and ability to shoot on the run.
For example, if the ball is coming across the grass, a quick, short drop of the instep of your foot will bring the ball to a complete stop. Practice this skill by getting a friend to throw the ball at you (not to you), or kick the ball against a wall and stop the rebound. Juggling is another good way to build your ball control skills. It also helps you get used to using different parts of your body to stop the ball.
Always keep your body between the ball and the goal. This helps eliminate scoring opportunities. Because the positions in soccer are so fluid, most players will be playing defense whenever the opposing team has the ball. This is a skill for all players, not just defenders.
Watching pro matches can also help you build this skill mentally. Pay attention to where all the players are on the field and focus on how players choose their passes and shots. Advanced players often already know who they’re going to pass the ball to before the ball even comes to them—this is the level of awareness you want to strive to reach.
Playing in small groups and doing soccer-specific drills, such as dribbling practice, can also help improve your cardiovascular endurance. [10] X Research source
In a really casual pickup game, you don’t necessarily need shin guards or cleats (although you’re likely to end up with some bruises on your shins). This minimalism is part of why soccer is so popular around the world.
In a competitive match, you can have up to 7 substitute players on the bench (usually including 1 goalkeeper), but each team is only allowed to make 3 substitutions per match, regardless of injuries. This is where the minimum number might come into play.
During the match, you’ll return to the center circle for a kickoff every time a goal is scored. The team that got scored on is the one that kicks.
If you’re the goalkeeper, you’re allowed to use your hands—but only when you’re in the penalty box in front of the goal. That’s the part of the field where goalkeepers typically stay anyway, but watch the lines if you’re diving for a ball. This rule doesn’t apply to incidental touching. If another player kicks the ball and it bounces off of your arm, you’re all good—as long as you didn’t move your arm in an attempt to control the direction of the ball.
For example, if you’re defending, you might slide to kick the ball away from an opposing player. If they happened to trip, that wouldn’t be your fault. But if you tried to trip them by kicking their leg, that would be a foul. In a competitive match, it’s up to the referee to determine if contact was incidental or intentional and issue penalties accordingly. Competitive soccer referees issue yellow cards or red cards depending on the number of fouls the player has or the severity of the violation. A red card means the player must leave the field, so their team will be at least one player short for the rest of the match. [16] X Research source
In a casual pickup game, you can set your time however you want, but it’s usually a good idea to plan it out ahead of time with a break at the half. Even in competitive matches, the total play time may vary depending on the age of the players. For example, younger kids tend to play shorter matches.
Time doesn’t stop when the ball goes out of bounds, so players quickly decide who should throw it in. Usually, it gets thrown in by whoever happens to be closest.
Corner kicks are infamous “set pieces. " Teams have plays already set up that are designed to score a goal. If you’re making a corner kick in a competitive match, you’ll put one of these plays into motion. While any player can make a goal kick, it’s usually the goalkeeper who does it—and they’re usually going to kick the ball way over to the other side of the field.
If the match ends in a tie, that’s often how it ends. In tournament play where there has to be a winner to move on to the next round, a tied match is resolved with penalty kicks, an overtime period, or both. The specific rules depend on the tournament.
Goalkeeper: You would do anything to keep that ball from going in your goal. You’re focused and alert and have a sixth sense of where the ball is going to go. Defender (back): You’re strong, stubborn, and maybe a little aggressive. You’re good at passing as well as clearing the ball away from the goal and out of danger. You prefer a supporting role to the spotlight. Midfielder: You’re fast and have good cardiovascular fitness. You have a mind for strategy and know how to see the whole field and make plays. You have a decent shot and a better pass. Forward (striker): You’re the star of the show, the one responsible for shooting goals. You have a strong, accurate shot and stay mentally focused. You’re also comfortable in a leadership position.
If you’re not sure which foot is your dominant foot, try this little trick: have a friend stand behind you and lightly shove you forward. Whichever foot you step forward on is your dominant foot. Typically, you’ll be playing on the side of the field that matches your dominant foot—but not always. For example, if you have a more powerful left foot, you might end up as a left wing (midfielder) or left forward.
This technique comes in really handy in passing situations and can help you move the ball to a teammate the opposing team left open.
There are other variations of this kick, such as crossing your kicking leg over your standing leg or kicking the ball up in the air with your heel, that require a lot more training and flexibility. If you’re really good at juggling, it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to master kicking with your heel.
Look for an open space on the field and bolt in that direction—it spreads everyone out and gives your team more options to work with. A well-timed sprint across the pitch can also serve as a distraction that might take your opponents’ eyes off the ball for a brief second—which is sometimes all the time you need to make something happen.
Heading is a particularly good skill to use as a defender to clear the ball away from the goal after a corner kick. You might also head the ball as an offensive player to pass it to a teammate. Many people are anxious about heading the ball because of the concussion risk—but as long as you use the correct technique, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. At the same time, if you don’t feel comfortable with this skill, just don’t do it. This is an advanced skill typically not taught to younger players. Many leagues ban heading for players under 11 years old.
Over time, you’ll get a strong sense of your own strengths and weaknesses. Work on tricks and unexpected moves to get the most out of your strengths. Juggling and playing around with the ball can help you come up with creative ways to move and kick. Anything unexpected will give you a leg up (no pun intended!) in match play.
You do want an even number of players per side, but you can play casual pickup games with anywhere from 2 to 11 players on each team. The more people you have playing, the larger the space you’ll need to play.
If you don’t know enough people, you might post flyers on a community bulletin board or post about the game you want to start on social media to try to find players.
Rec league teams often don’t have coaches and might not even have standard practices—it really just depends on how well organized the team is. Players on rec leagues come from all skill levels. Chances are, you’ll have at least a player or two on your team who plays or used to play for their school—you can really learn a lot from them.
Even if you don’t make the team, you’ll pick up some skills during tryouts that you can practice in the hopes of making the team next year. Show enthusiasm for the sport and a willingness to learn—that’s an attitude that will really impress the coach, regardless of your skill level.
Most soccer camps have scholarships available for players who might not otherwise be able to afford the camp fees. Professional soccer teams often run skills camps as well. Some of these are by invitation only, while others are open to anyone who pays the program fee or qualifies for a scholarship.
Starting relatively young is usually the best way to ensure you have the skills to play at an advanced level. But even if you’re already in your teens, it’s not too late! With focus and dedication to the sport, you’ll notice consistent improvement.
