Soccer is a sport enjoyed all over the world. Even elephants play it in some parts of the globe. In the US, most kids start playing it at a very young age. As soon as you can walk, you can already start playing the game. It teaches people how to be patient. It’s also good for your health. But what do you really need to be effective in the sport?
- Have fun. Soccer is a game. It is important that you play the game and not to think of it as work. Even in professional soccer you see the players having fun. This is what makes the sport so good.
- Know your ability. This is an important aspect in playing soccer. As in anything, there are some things that you can do well and some things that you can’t. People may run faster than you but you may be better in passing the ball. They may be more agile, but you may have a better balance. It is best to know what things you excel at and apply it in the game.
- Ball handling. Passing, dribbling, receiving and kicking a goal all fit in this category. You can start by walking with a ball and practice kicking it around, and then move forward to running with it. It is necessary that you get a good grasp of how to pass the ball properly, how to receive it, how to turn with it, how to change directions with the ball and so on.
- Quick mind. Soccer is a fast game, thus you need a quick mind. You need to be able to make decisions quickly. You also need to incorporate the things that you know and can do at the right moment. You need to know when to pass the ball and when to run with it. Ball possession changes quickly so you also need to quickly shift your focus from offense to defense and vice versa.
- Defense. In defense, you have to react to what your opponent is doing. You must anticipate what he is about to do. Guard you area of responsibility and don’t run all over the field trying to chase the ball. Don’t over commit. Make sure that when you do, it is a calculated risk.
- Offense. Soccer is not just about scoring goals. It is about a team working as one for a common goal. Your goal may win a game, but you have to remember that when you play you can also count on your team mates. Of course, it is good if you can kick hard, be sure that you can control it as well. Know the opening and take them if you can. Pass the ball to your team mates whenever are open. Make sure you realize formations so you know what works best.
- Be mentally prepared. Allow yourself to handle pressure in and out of the field so you can be ready to play. Remove distractions when playing to be more effective in the field.
Playing soccer allows you to know the value of team work and camaraderie shared. Have fun!
