| So you want to learn how to play soccer? Well you | | | | midfielders. As a midfielder your task is to score goals |
| have come to the right place. To become a good | | | | and to stop your opponent's midfielders from scoring. |
| soccer player you need to master several skills. You | | | | Usually a midfielder is either offensive (means playing |
| cannot just focus on one single skill, instead, you | | | | higher in the field) or defensive (which means playing |
| must also have other good skills like good control on | | | | nearer your defensive line). |
| the ball or quality passes. | | | | In front of the midfielders there are forwards and |
| You must always tend to improve your soccer skills | | | | centers. The main difference between these two is |
| because there is always something you can improve | | | | that a forward normally has good sprinting abilities |
| in your game. So, let's take a look at main how to | | | | while centers are stronger and better target players. |
| play soccer skills that you need to master as soccer | | | | How to Play Soccer - Shooting |
| player. | | | | Good shooting abilities are vital if you want to score |
| How To Play Soccer -The Formations | | | | goals. With soccer shooting mastered, you will be |
| A soccer formation describes how the players in a | | | | able to score more goals. Good scoring ability is also |
| soccer team are positioned on the field. Different | | | | important because it may increase your chances of |
| formations are used from match to match depending | | | | becoming a professional soccer player. |
| on the skill of your opponents. If your opponents are | | | | How to Play Soccer -Kicking |
| ultra defensive then of course a more offensive | | | | Having god kicking skills is not the same as good |
| formation like 4-3-3 is preferable. | | | | shooting abilities. A good example on this is the free |
| But if your opponents are ultra offensive than a | | | | kick. A direct free kick is a great chance to score |
| 4-4-2 formation is more preferable. For example the | | | | goal especially if you have a good technical shoot. |
| 4-4-2 describes the formation of playing with 4 | | | | You don't have to be the hardest shooting player in |
| defenders, 4 midfielders and two forwards/centers, | | | | your team to become a good free kick taker; |
| and is the most widely used formation in soccer | | | | instead, you should focus on hitting the goal. A hard |
| today. | | | | shot is more difficult to control and will often end up |
| How to Play Soccer - Dribbling | | | | 50 yards behind the goal. |
| In soccer, dribbling is one of the most difficult skills to | | | | The Rules |
| master but also one of the most useful attacking | | | | To learn how to play soccer or simply to understand |
| moves. In a typical soccer game, you and your | | | | how soccer is played you need to look at some of |
| teammates attempt to propel the ball toward your | | | | the basic rules. Let's start... |
| opponent's goal through individual ball control, such as | | | | Each soccer team consists of eleven players who |
| dribbling your opponents. | | | | plays together (similar to a orchestra) to score points. |
| If you master the art of dribbling you will be pretty | | | | These points are called goals and the team that |
| hard to stop and opponents will need to make | | | | scores most goals during a match is the winner. |
| unsuccessful tackles on you which will result in useful | | | | A goal is scored when the ball is over the whole goal |
| free kicks and sometimes even penalty kicks. | | | | line. As a soccer player you can use your whole body |
| How to Play Soccer - Heading | | | | to control the ball (beside your arms). Only the |
| To dominate the game in the air you need to have | | | | goalkeeper is allowed to grip the ball with hands. |
| good heading skills. Heading can be painful in beginning | | | | However, as a goalkeeper you may only use your |
| because you must hit the ball with right part of your | | | | hands to grip the ball while standing in your goal area. |
| head. But don't worry about headache because there | | | | Outside the goal area you have same responsibility as |
| is no medical evidence proving that heading in soccer | | | | the rest of your team and cannot use your hands |
| should cause brain damage. There are four main | | | | anymore. However, you can act like any player on |
| methods for hitting a ball. | | | | the field and you may also score if you get a chance |
| How to Play Soccer - Passing | | | | of course :-) Typically a soccer match last 90 minutes |
| To perform well in soccer you need to have good | | | | with two 45 minute halves. However, the younger |
| passing skills. Passing may seem easy from first sight | | | | the players are the shorter matches, generally |
| and in fact it is. What makes passing difficult is the | | | | The soccer ball should be of size 5 for adults and 4 |
| tempo of a match. A low tempo will give you more | | | | and lower for players younger than 12. You will also |
| time to think and you will not make so many | | | | need a pair of shin-guards to protect the front of |
| mistakes as in high tempo where you need to think | | | | your lower legs against slide tackles. You will also |
| fast and pass the ball with accuracy. | | | | need a pair of shoes but this is only necessary during |
| How to Play Soccer - Positions | | | | a regular soccer game. Rings and earring must also be |
| First player in front of the goalkeeper is called | | | | removed before the start of match. |
| defender. As a defender your mission is to stop your | | | | A soccer field can range in size dependent upon the |
| opponents from shooting and getting into your goal | | | | league you are playing, how old you are, indoor field, |
| kick area. There are also teams playing with a | | | | outdoor field, etc. The most common size of a |
| defender closer to the goalkeeper than regularly. This | | | | soccer field will range from 100-130 yards in length. |
| position is called libero or sweeper. The libero | | | | There are also flags on each corner to mark the |
| sweeper must always be the last player in defense | | | | corner spot. On a soccer field there are usually |
| and help his/her defenders. | | | | eleven soccer positions including a goalkeeper. |
| Behind your forwards and defensive line there are | | | | |