Soccer Training Information

Strategy.

Where you play the ball, when, and how will come with experience. Try to get in as many games as possible. Often the pace of the game will dictate where you play the ball. In a way soccer is about getting the ball into the right person's feet; the one who has the most time and space (the least pressure) and the most advantageous position to score or make that goal scoring pass.

Here, the rule that you can follow to achieve this is keep the ball moving. Let the ball do the work. A number of ideas have probably been repeated throughout this site, and the fact is that these themes are what should guide you as a player.

Here again are the key themes of this site:

Keep the ball moving with one or two touches.
Change of pace after making a move to beat a player on the dribble.
Keep the ball out of your feet when controlling the ball.
Play the ball with pace; make a crisp solid pass, whether it is a 10 yard pass or 20 yards.
Get the cross in.
Take shots.
When dribbling, touch the ball with every step you take. To ensure close control and enhance your ability to cut the ball away from defenders.
Play the ball and move. Give it and get it back. Always want the ball.

Also, you should add to the above: spend time with the ball on your own, whether it is practicing your dribbling moves, juggling, or striking the ball against a wall.

Back to strategy, in terms of style of play, selfish play becomes contagious. When some is dribbling all the time, others will pick that up and do it themselves. The great thing about soccer is that this will usually correct itself because the game doesn't allow you to play that way. The team that moves the ball around and shares the ball the most makes things the easiest for themselves and will have the most scoring opportunities.

Additionally, when picking out a player and serving the ball in from a long distance you should have a plan in your mind of what is going to take place next. The player you are making the pass to, should have someone to lay the ball off to, or you yourself should support the pass if nobody is available, as when a defender drives the ball into a forward who lays the ball back to another midfielder.

Again, the key's are to play the ball hard, to pass and move, essentially to play and follow your pass or to give it and get it, and to always want the ball or put yourself in a position to receive the ball and make a play.

Making Runs.

Playing and moving covers the basic idea behind making runs, but the important thing to remember is to make these runs dangerous and make runs that lead to goal scoring opportunities or open up space for your teammate.

Make a run in behind the defense for instance, and then if that is not on, check back to the ball, lay it off and again make the run behind the defender, so the midfielder can chip or loft the ball to you in the air. Or if the midfielder on the left side has the ball you as the center midfielder can make a run down the line to receive the ball or open up space for the left sided midfielder to take his opponent on and run into the space in the midfield.

Another quick example could be where the center midfielder has the ball and is dribbling towards the right. The right winger or midfielder can break down the sideline to receive the ball and if he or she is covered check back to the center midfielder receive the ball, see if there is an opportunity to take the defender on, if not, lay it back to the center midfielder and break down the line again to receive the ball. Or the center midfielder can make an overlapping run. Or the right sided midfielder can play a one two with the forward who is posting up.

To execute these types of exchanges, whether a give and go or overlap you need to lead the defense into believe you are going a different direction, keep them on their heels, and lay the ball off at the right time. You can always start over. If one side of the field is too clogged up and crowed then switch the ball to the other side.

Making an angled run into the middle and then checking to the outside. Essentially, this is making space for yourself by taking the defender with you into the middle and then breaking to the outside. Draw the defender away from the space you want to receive the ball in - and then check back into the space you just opened up. It could even just be walking five yards towards the sideline and then breaking back to the middle. Check back to the ball at an angle, not running straight back to the ball. This way you will have more space to turn and see the field.

Running in behind the defense.

Again, making a diagonal run in behind the defense usually will give you a break on the defense in beating them to the ball. And often this run will open up space for a teammate. They can then take up the space you just left.

Give and go or wall pass.

The basis for all of soccer in a way. The key is setting up your defender. You almost need to sucker the defender towards you, as though he or she is going to be able to intercept the ball, then give it and go - accelerating into the open space to receive the return pass.

The cross over exchange.

This is where you dribble the ball towards a teammate and exchange the ball with them. You can also fake the exchange and keep the ball if the defender has read the play. You exchange the ball with same feet as your teammate. Meaning, that if the player dribbling is using his or her right foot then their teammate will pick the ball up with their right foot, since they are coming in the opposite direction. This enables you to shield the ball from the defender with your body.

Exchanging positioning.

This is another good way to open up space for a team-mate and confuse the opposition. An outside midfielder can exchange with a center midfielder for example, if during the game, they end up in close proximity when making a run or when exchanging the ball. The outside midfielder makes a run into the middle, receives the ball, makes a pass to the forward who holds the ball and then lays it back to the outside midfielder who sends it down the line where the center midfielder has made a run. This kind of movement can take place all over the field during a game. Although it is important to fall back into your position or make sure each position is covered, and your team shape intact. Again, change of pace it the key, even when making run. A slow jog, and then a quick movement towards the area where you want the ball. You need to bring the defender away from where you want the ball played. Pushing up the field so you can break back towards the ball or if the defender follows you. Bring him or her back to the ball, so you can break in behind him or her when your team-mate plays the ball through and behind the defense.

Team Shape.

Expand on offence and close in on defense. On defense you want to become a compact unit - enclosing the area where your opponent has possession of the ball, making it difficult for them to make a pass. You will have enough time to reach an opponent if they make a long pass if your positioned right and open to the field to read the play. Then on offence you want to become big and use all of the available space on the field. This is why it is good to switch play and keep the ball moving on offense - so your opponent cannot close down your space and make it difficult for you to make a pass. By moving the ball laterally you can find time and space and pick out a team-mate in a goal scoring or more advantageous position.

Creating Space.

Movement and more movement, whether interchanging positions with other players or checking in to space and then out. You first make a run to where you don't want the ball, let's say a ten yard run towards the sideline so you can create space in the middle for you or another player.

Serving the ball in.

Often you can target a player and drive the ball in to a player, most likely a forward. The important thing to keep in mind, as almost always, is playing the ball at the appropriate pace. You can't serve the ball in to a player from thirty yards away without striking the ball crisply and solidly. If you send in a soft lofted ball it is likely to get cut out or intercepted by a defender. A crisp pass is also easier to control and redirect the ball to another player. It is in this way that you should play soccer: see the next play that should take place before you make a pass.

Angled Passes.

Dribble down the line and cut the ball sharply to an open teammate in the middle. So, say you are a wide midfielder, you sell like you are going to take the ball down the line. You are on the left side dribbling with your left so your body is protecting the ball and if the defender tries to poke the ball away you will get a throw-in. But you dribble at pace down the line and then pass the ball squarely to a midfielder or a forward who is checking back. Dribble across the field, cutting in, and chop the ball out wide just as a defender approaches. In both cases, waiting until the last minute to release the ball. Also, the key is making the defense think you are going to do one thing but do the opposite. Selling like you are going to dribble down the line or as though you are cutting across the middle of the field.

On Defense.

1. Stand up the player.

2. Watch the ball, not the player.

3. Keep the player in front of you.

4. Bend your knees and be on your toes.

5. Be prepared to move quickly backwards and or to the side.

6. Listen to your team-mates behind you. They can give you directions, such as steering the player to the touchline or inside or to make a tackle when there's an opportunity.

Fitness.

It is important to maintain a high fitness level to become a good soccer player. This means running at least 30 to 40 minutes five days a week. Although if you are trying to improve your skill level you will be practicing everyday and will be keeping up a good fitness level and thus won't need to run on a daily basis. Also, push-ups and sit-ups will help you be strong on the ball and a weight lifting program will help you prevent injuries.

Also see: Patterns, Heading, Plyometrics, Drills