| If you are a beginner at soccer and want to learn | | | | gets back to help out the defence. In front of the |
| how to play soccer or if you just want some extra | | | | midfielders are the strikers- they are expected to |
| information, then this article should have all you need. | | | | score the goals! Once you have grasped all these |
| I introduce you to all the different aspects of the | | | | positions, and you know the rules, you can decide |
| game and let you know the four different areas you | | | | which position you want to play in and start playing |
| need to know about to become a great soccer | | | | there!! |
| player. | | | | The understanding of the game has now been dealt |
| First you need to understand the correct soccer | | | | with! Onwards then to the actual playing of the |
| rules- it is not essential that you know every single | | | | game- the third step. There are numerous skills you |
| minor rule at first, but a grasp of the basics would be | | | | need as a soccer player so I will just indicate some |
| good. (If you already know the fundamental aims of | | | | of the most important ones here. Passing the ball is |
| the game then please feel free to skip to the bits | | | | how you kick the ball to one of your team mates- |
| relevant to you!!) The game involves two teams, | | | | you can practice kicking the ball with the side of your |
| with eleven players each, and is played on a | | | | foot and aim for where you want it to go- gradually |
| rectangular pitch with a goal at each end. It is the aim | | | | your accuracy and power will improve. Next is |
| of each team to score in the other sides goal and | | | | controlling, or in other words how to trap the ball |
| whoever gets the most goals by the end of the | | | | when someone passes it to you. |
| game wins. | | | | Get balanced, then put the side of your foot out |
| Each side has a goalkeeper who may use his hands in | | | | towards the ball and let the ball come in to it. Try to |
| his goal area, in order to stop the other team from | | | | keep your foot nice and gentle so it cushions the ball |
| scoring- no one else may use their hands except the | | | | rather than letting it bounce off. Now, what if you |
| goalkeeper. It is the referees job to official the game | | | | want to score the goals? Shooting is when you kick |
| and give free kicks when fouls are committed. | | | | the ball to try and get it in the back of the net. If |
| Examples of fouls are handballs, kicking, tripping, | | | | you want to kick the ball with power, then you need |
| pushing and shirt holding. When the ball goes off the | | | | to position yourself so that you have your wrong |
| pitch, the play is re-started with either a throw-in (at | | | | foot next to the ball and your head over it. This is a |
| the side of the pitch) or a corner or a goal kick (at | | | | good position. Then strike your kicking foot through |
| the end of the pitch). If you know all these basics | | | | the ball with your laces. Keep trying and your shots |
| then you can start playing the game of soccer in no | | | | will eventually get harder and harder for the keeper |
| time, but beware there are far more details. | | | | to save! |
| Your second step in learning how to play soccer | | | | So you know the game, you have some of the basic |
| should be to understand the positions. This means | | | | skills, now what? In order to really know how to play |
| the place on the pitch/team role each of the eleven | | | | soccer, you need to develop those skills. You can |
| players in a side has. Every team has one goalkeeper | | | | achieve this fourth step by playing in a team and |
| who has his own area by his goal. As previously | | | | doing some soccer drills with them, but before you |
| suggested it is his job to prevent the other team | | | | get to that stage you can play soccer on your own |
| from scoring and may use his hands to do this within | | | | for hours with endless enjoyment. It will all make |
| his area. A team will normally then have four | | | | your game better. Try anything inventive that works |
| defenders in front of the keeper- they provide a line | | | | on your skills- even simple things like kicking a ball |
| of cover in front of him also to try and stop the | | | | against a wall, or kicking the ball at a target to |
| other team from scoring. | | | | improve the accuracy of your kicking. You could also |
| The defence is made up of two centre backs, a left | | | | try kick ups so that you improve your touch and |
| back and a right back- they are positioned on the | | | | control (you can search online for videos of how this |
| pitch accordingly. In front of them there are normally | | | | is done!) |
| four midfielders- again two centre-mids, a right | | | | Wow! We have now been over the basics of the |
| midfielder and a left midfielder. These players will | | | | soccer rules, positions and skills- and mentioned how |
| generally be more on the offensive and help to | | | | you can develop these skills. These are the |
| attack the other teams goal. One of these | | | | fundamental areas you need when learning how to |
| midfielders, however, will be a holding player who | | | | play soccer. |