| The fundamental skills needed to play soccer center | | | | reality you're going to pass the ball or run in another |
| around learning to control a soccer ball with your | | | | direction. |
| feet. Soccer's rules restrict players to using only their | | | | Practice with a friend by playing keep away. One of |
| feet, their body or their heads to pass the ball and | | | | you begins with possession while the other tries to |
| score goals. | | | | take the ball away. See who can maintain possession |
| Only the goalie is allowed to use their hands to block | | | | of the ball the longest. |
| or to catch the ball to defend a scoring attempt. The | | | | Learning and mastering ball control is a critical skill set |
| goalie is also allowed to use their hands to throw the | | | | to master. The best players have the skills to |
| ball into play. | | | | maintain control of the ball while under pressure of a |
| Probably the most fundamental of the skill sets that | | | | defender, while running downfield at full speed, and |
| need to be developed to play soccer are the basic | | | | have the ability to make accurate passes at speed. |
| kicks. Passing the ball a long distance from one side | | | | Learning to pass the ball with pinpoint accuracy to |
| of the field to the other accurately, is typically | | | | your teammates which puts them in a position to be |
| executed with a strong side kick striking with the | | | | able to make a play on the goal is critical to scoring. |
| instep of the foot. | | | | Getting the ball to the right player in the right position |
| Short kicks that need pinpoint accuracy while passing | | | | at the right time results in scoring goals. |
| to another player are executed using the side of the | | | | Communication on the field is a fundamental skill set |
| foot giving the player more control. Short passes are | | | | that must be learned as well. Team members need |
| sometimes made by a push kick with the outside of | | | | to be able to communicate both verbally and through |
| the foot. | | | | body language with each other. Soccer is a team |
| Dribbling is another fundamental skill set to be | | | | sport and you have to be able to rely on your |
| developed. Dribbling is the ability to control the ball | | | | teammates to be in the proper position to receive |
| with your feet in small increments similar to controlling | | | | passes and to make passes while executing the plays |
| a basketball through the use of dribbling. | | | | designed to result in scores on goal. |
| Dribbling in soccer allows you to defend against a | | | | Accuracy is key when it comes to shooting soccer |
| defender by keeping the ball away from them by | | | | goals. There are a variety of drills designed to help |
| positioning your body between the defender and the | | | | you improve your accuracy. Create a simple target |
| ball. | | | | to aim for and hang it in the goal net. You can move |
| Dribbling skills are also used to fake out or to fool the | | | | your target around to practice shooting at different |
| defender using misdirection, making the defenders | | | | angles. |
| think you're going to pass the ball one way while in | | | | |