Football is a sport that everyone can have fun playing. However, to become a great player, you need to start early and work hard. You have to work on your fitness level and learn to emulate the great players, though most importantly you have to be enthusiastic about the game. Practice is the only key to proficient soccer skills, but make sure that you practice properly.
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Method 1 of 3: Improving the Game in General
Step 1. Play as much as possible with your friends or the local soccer team in your area
Gather friends for a match, or join a local club for a weekly practice routine. You'll never get better at it if you don't play soccer as often as you can. In the end, there is no shortcut to becoming a great player, except by practicing and playing regularly.
- Take trials for the best teams in your area. Better coaches as well as competition will help you improve much faster.
- If you don't have anyone to play with, go outside and shoot the ball 100 times at the wall, or pass it over and over again. Do some juggling exercises or practice your tricks in your backyard. You just need a ball and the will to practice to become a better soccer player.
Step 2. Train your playing speed to increase
Skilled players can see someone, make a decision, and make a pass or shot in a matter of milliseconds. The best way to become an expert player is to practice quick decision-making skills. To do so:
- Don't hold the ball too long. 1-3 touches and passes or shots are usually sufficient. The longer you hold the ball, the longer the opposing defender will have to prepare for it.
- If you want to dribble, do it quickly. Make opposing defenders react quickly instead of giving them time to position themselves.
- Let the ball work. You can never run faster than the ball. So make sure the ball is moved frequently. Change the game with crosses or direct passes to mess up the opposing team.
- If you lose the ball or are beaten, quickly turn things around and try again to win the ball or position yourself.
Step 3. Practice with your non-dominant foot as often as possible
The best players can't just use one leg. If you are like this, other skilled players will immediately notice and force you to use your weak foot, so that your ability to pass, shoot, and defend is greatly reduced. Whenever possible, focus on your less dominant foot, even if it feels weird the first time you play. A soccer player who is able to use two legs is a formidable threat, no matter which side he plays.
Step 4. Learn to endure
Regardless of your position on the field, the ability to win the ball again is an important skill for skilled players. The ability to defend individually (one on one) is one of the main skills of a soccer player, in addition to passing and shooting, and escape from the opponent's guard. To practice, play against friends by taking turns taking turns to attack and defend. Great defenders usually:
- Continue to use the sole of the front foot with both knees slightly bent and in an athletic position.
- Can create a direction. Move one leg forward and adjust the angle of the body so that you force the opposing player to go in a certain direction. Usually, this direction goes to another defender or the court line, but it can also be arranged for the opposing player to use his weaker foot, for example if you know he never uses his left foot.
- Don't rush to get the ball unless necessary. Don't just hit the ball. A great defender can wait until he has a good chance, for example the ball is a little too forward or the attacker is too close to you.
- Pay attention to the movement of the opponent's hips. This move almost always indicates which direction a player is headed. Players feet will move quickly (especially when doing tricks) and the head and shoulders are also often used to cheat. However, the waist is the player's center of gravity and is difficult to change direction when he is moving.
Step 5. Use practice to improve your weaknesses, not show your abilities
Practice is when you get better, not constantly repeating the skills you already master. You should indeed make mistakes in training, try the other foot, play in roles you don't normally play (such as defending even if you're a striker), and practice new combinations and passes with teammates. The best players are not afraid to embarrass themselves while training; they want to embarrass the opposing team in the match.
Step 6. Watch the pro players play
A good way to learn is to pay attention to someone who is more skilled than you at doing it. If you are playing in a specific position, focus on players who are also playing in the same position and pay attention to what they are doing. Where are they when they don't have the ball? How often do they advance or retreat to defend? What types of operands do they perform?
- European leagues, such as La Liga, the English Premier League and the Bundesliga are the best places to start learning, in addition to international tournaments like the World Cup.
- You can also buy or borrow football match recordings. Records like these usually describe different drills and tactics that help you become an elite player. These recordings are also easy to follow and prove to be very useful for football players around the world.
Step 7. Accept suggestions and guidance with gratitude
Coaches are there for a reason, and they can usually see things you can't when you play. Learning to accept and take advantage of the coach's advice will prevent you from repeating the same mistakes, as well as help you discover your weaknesses.
- Ask your coach once or twice a season about what you can do to improve. Where he thinks you can perform better, and what kinds of exercises or ideas you can practice on your own. This is a good way to keep finding ways to improve yourself.
- Hire individual coaches if your goals differ from those of the team you are playing for. Many well-qualified coaches or university-level soccer players provide hourly coaching services at affordable prices. Direct attention to players and their needs is a great way to become an expert player much faster.
Method 2 of 3: Improving Legs
Step 1. Learn to dribble with all parts of the foot
Practice dribbling on a 27 meter long area. Vary the speed and the part of the foot you use to move the ball. Make sure the ball feels like a natural leg extension so you can stop, move, and change direction at will. Some ways to practice this include:
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Obstacle training:
Set up traffic cones or small objects on a winding path, then dribble past them at a controlled maximum speed. Your goal is to get past all of them without hitting or ignoring them. As your abilities increase, increase your speed.
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Juggling ability:
Although this ability isn't immediately used in a real soccer match, becoming a juggler will increase your overall 'touch' and feel for the ball. Juggling is essentially about using your entire body (except your arms and hands) to keep the ball in the air for as long as possible. Start by trying to touch it 10 times in a row, then 20, 50, and 100.
Step 2. Keep your head up while dribbling
This trick requires good leg skills, but you should practice it as early as possible. Expert soccer players can intuitively know where the ball is at their feet so they can keep their heads up and look for their next shot or pass opportunity. Although you may sometimes have to look down, the longer you can hold your head up the better.
Practice keeping your head held high every time you dribble, especially during practice
Step 3. Practice ball handling skills
This quick, simple exercise is an effective way to improve your leg skills, even if you'll never actually do it in the game. Move both feet as fast as you can while keeping control of the ball in any of these exercises.
- Bounce the ball between your calves as if you were passing it from the inside of your right foot to the inside of your left foot. Do it quickly. Try practicing small movements to "throw" the ball back and forth.
- Perform a toe tap by allowing the ball to be in front of your body and touching the top with the soles of your feet alternately. To do this quickly, try to land the ball on your feet at all times and keep your knees slightly bent.
- Place the ball between the calves. Roll the bottom of your right foot over the ball and bring it to the right. Once you've rolled it, return your right foot to the center and pass the ball to your left, then repeat the same process. You can also do this the other way around, rolling the ball inside, pushing it to the right with the outside of your foot, then returning it to the center. While this exercise is not easy, it is a good way to practice total control.
Step 4. Practice passing instantaneously
The best soccer players know that soccer is a team sport. Dribbling for too long will result in losing it. So you should spend as much time working on your passes as you can on your footwork. You need to be able to pass quickly with one touch (without stopping the ball coming at you) and be able to provide a good cross in just two touches.
- Hit the ball against the wall for an easy quick workout. The worse the pass, the harder it will be for your team to get the ball and score.
- Enlist the help of a friend (usually a forward) to practice crosses with you. Stand in a corner and ask a friend to point the ball in the direction he wants the ball to go. Get him to run, then cross him so he doesn't have to slow down to get the ball.
- Think about your areas of weakness and commit each week to working on them. For example, if you want to practice your shooting skills, set aside 2-3 days a week to go out on the field and practice shooting the ball for an hour. Once you feel capable, spend the same amount of time practicing your dribbling or crossing skills, or any other advanced skills needed.
Step 5. Perfect the advanced moves
Warm up by spending time alone with the ball: dribble much more quickly but with accuracy. Keep your head straight while dribbling, so you can see the state of the field. Here are some popular moves you should learn:
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Flip Flap/Snake/The Ronaldhino
- Move the ball with the outside of the foot outward, then immediately throw it back with the inside of the foot.
- Your foot will cover the ball so it moves away and comes back closer to trick the opposing defender.
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Stop and Go
- Run slowly while dribbling the ball.
- Pause for a moment and place the soles of your feet on the ball.
- Then, roll the ball forward and to the side of the defender, then kick the ball forward suddenly and run past the surprised opponent.
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Scissors
- Place your foot on the ball and pretend to push or pass it.
- Once your feet are on the ball, bring the ball back and stop halfway. Then, go in the opposite direction of the player you are tricking.
- You can do this trick with the inside or outside of the foot.
Step 6. Follow the exercise schedule
This schedule should be a ritual, not something you choose to do on certain days or times. Practicing with a soccer ball 3-4 times a week will improve your skills. Do a volley against the wall, or try shooting with both feet on the trampoline/pointing at the goal (if you have a goal to practice with). Develop leg and juggling skills. Juggling will help to control the ball. Do it with both feet so you get used to using both; as well as when making regular shots and volleys.
Many trainers recommend that you spend 30 minutes or more on each skill, practicing daily
Method 3 of 3: Improve Fitness
Step 1. Focus on achieving "competitive fitness."
This means you can play the full game, usually 90 minutes, without significant fatigue and loss of ability. Football is a constant game that moves fast and requires endurance. Your first point of reference is being able to run for at least 45 minutes without getting tired. There are many ways to practice this ability:
- To train your stamina, run 3, 2-4, 8 km a week and keep track of your time. Try increasing the distance each week to 8-9.6 km each time you run.
- Play sparring. The best way to get used to being fit while competing is to train. This exercise does not have to be done in full; Hour-long 3 on 3 matches are an excellent way to have a real, match-like training session.
- Make sure you are tired every time you practice. Training is when you develop your endurance to prepare for a match. If you train hard and are exhausted, your body will get used to performing its functions with less energy, so you will be more effective at the last minute.
- Try interval training. Interval training is a combination of jogging and sprinting in one running session, with jogging at twice the rate of your running time, without stopping at all. This is a good way to simulate a match when training alone.
Step 2. Increase speed with sprint practice
Find a sports field and start at the goal line. Then, run fast to the center, then continue to jog until the other finish line. Repeat this step and walk the length of the court to cool down. Do it as long as possible until you are exhausted or continue for about 15 minutes.
Speed is also determined by genetics, but the time it takes to reach your maximum speed and your ability to continue to run fast is determined by training. The more you try, the faster your running ability will be
Step 3. Try a full body workout
Some types of exercise that are useful for all ages are the tiger jump, hand cart, and lunges. When doing the tiger jump, start from a crouched position and jump forward as far as possible. After that, rest a few seconds then repeat. If the jump starts from a standing position, step forward as far as possible with one foot and touch the ground with the knee of the non-footing leg. Then, put your weight on the foot you first stepped on, and move forward with the other leg. Touch the ground with the knee on the opposite leg. Continue doing this until you reach the entire length of the court. You need a partner to do the handcart move. Ask this partner to stand while holding your ankles. You should be in front of him, with only your hands touching the floor. You both have to walk simultaneously (you use your hands and partner with your feet) to the center of the court. Change positions at that point. Do all these exercises 2-3 times a day and you will drastically increase your abs/calf strength.
Step 4. Work on core and upper body strength, not just your legs
Just because you can't use your hands doesn't mean you shouldn't practice them. Having a lot of body strength means you can fight hard for wild balls, hold tackles from opposing defenders, and win positions to head the ball. While you don't have to be like the Hulk, building your upper body is important for expert players. Light weight training is the perfect type of exercise for soccer players in any position. Try to train the following muscle groups 3-5 times a week.
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Chest and back muscles:
These muscles are important to keep you strong while dribbling and in the air. Do 100 push-ups a day and as many pull-ups as possible in 3 sets.
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Arm muscle:
Standard bicep curls, dips, diamond push-ups (which are done with your hands touching under your chest), and pull-ups are great ways to work your upper body without going to the gym.
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Abdominal and core muscles:
Important for every position. The core is how you transfer energy from your upper body to your lower body, essential for tough maneuvers, powerful shots, powerful headers, and trapping opponents. Do sit-ups, crunches, and planks in training sessions every day until you're too tired to continue.
Tips
- Always practice your weak points. Do each exercise with both feet. Try practicing in all the different positions.
- Practice will bring perfection. Sitting quietly in the house won't help. Go outside and play! Make friends and train together, then compete using the skills you've learned. Don't just play games!
- Don't train (or play) with people you can beat. Playing with more powerful players will also improve your skills.
- Focus on all areas of the game. For example, being in good shape may not be good enough as this doesn't necessarily mean you'll be able to touch or dribble quickly.
- Always drink lots of water.
- Anything you can do with one leg must work with the other. You must Be ambidextrous with both feet to become a great soccer player.
- Practice with more skilled players so you can learn from their techniques.
- Try to be a team leader. Be vocal and encourage others to do the same. The coach will be impressed by this. This is where they usually choose the captain.
- Head the ball hard so you don't hurt yourself and follow the movement.
- When heading, try to hit different parts of the ball as this will be necessary in the match.
- Always practice using traffic cones to dribble. This will help improve your dribbling technique.
Warning
- Stay hydrated every day. Dehydration is a big problem and a dangerous thing for all athletes. This is the reason why muscle cramps often occur in soccer players. Drink plenty of water and Gatorade a few hours before the game. However, be careful not to overdo it. There's nothing worse than being forced to run with a belly full of water or Gatorade. You should also get used to eating healthy.
- Set aside days of rest to help your body develop.
- If you have long-term stomach pain after playing soccer, see a doctor.
- Make sure you always stretch properly before and after all training sessions. Torn ligaments and other injuries can be very dangerous for a football player's career. Warm up before stretching, otherwise your ligaments may also be injured because they are still "cold".
