Do you like soccer? Do you want to improve playing soccer? If the answer is yes, then this article is perfect for you as it is off-season time! Even if you are reading this during the season, all of these tips are very important! Honing your skills is very crucial to get better and play better. Here are some tips to help you improve and have more fun playing the beautiful game! Before we get into it I will give some information about soccer. Soccer is becoming super popular in the US and in recent years we have seen a huge growth in the amount of people starting to play soccer. Yay! We also have Lionel Messi playing for Miami which brings lots of popularity and revenue for the sport!
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Begin with conquering the basics like shooting the ball, dribbling, passing, and your first touch. Even the professional players master the basics to this day which gives a perfect example of how important it is. As something a lot of people might say around you, “Practice makes perfect!”. When you start to become better at some of the drills you do, you can move on to more advanced ones. If you get frustrated, always know that all of the really good players went through this too and it is okay to mess up!
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Next you should start focusing on your weaknesses. Knowing what your weaknesses are, is very important if you would like to get better as it is good to know what you need to work on. For reference, if you have trouble with dribbling, then it is best to work on dribbling. A major common weakness is people not being able to use their non-dominant feet when playing. Focusing on your weaknesses helps you become an overall better player.
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A very common misconception is that mentality is not as important as the drills you do. Soccer is not just played on the field. Mentality is a huge part of soccer and probably more important than anything. Players like Messi, Neymar, and Ronaldo have mastered their minds and it helps them stay disciplined to keep on going! You have to be willing to stay determined and disciplined and that comes from the way you think. Always keep a positive mindset! You can develop this by meditation! Watching games of your favorite teams like Manchester City, Real Madrid or F.C. Barcelona can help you improve too, even if it doesn't seem like it is helping, it will help you learn new tactics and how to play better and apply the stuff they do in the game and try it out for yourself!
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Following a routine also helps you grow. When you are more organized and know what you are going to do, it tends to make it easier to get better at soccer! Start by taking five to ten minutes creating a calendar or list of what you want to do each day so you don’t have to waste time thinking of what to do for practice. Once you have that list, start working on it and stay disciplined!
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Stretching is very important in any sport otherwise you could get injured and that is not fun at all! I am talking from experience as I did not warm up and I sprained my ankle. I am back to normal now but I learned from my mistake! Recovery can be in many ways like, icing with caution, sleeping enough, stretching and foam rolling or yoga. Stretching also helps you move faster and more agile giving you an advantage over others!
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Finally, set goals. Setting goals or something to reach towards helps you know what you are trying to do. When you accomplish these goals it feels great! An example of a goal would be doing maybe 10 keepy-ups or juggles with the ball, then 20, 30, and more. To make it more fun you can have a reward.
That is all the steps I have on how to get better at soccer. I hope this article helps you learn and grow. Keep practicing and good luck with your journey to get better at the sport. Have a great season!
References: Futbollab.com ; Futmastery.com ; Steamboatsocceracademy.com; Technefutbol.com; tocafootball.com; traceup.com
About the Author: Advit Gude is an 8th grader in Stafford, VA. He enjoys soccer, piano, exercise, and travel.
