I have been playing Outdoor soccer for 6 years in a community soccer league. The things that have helped me to become a great soccer player is practice, and dedication. Over my 6 years I have developed a soccer instinct / stratagey that has helped me a lot when playing games, to play your position to the best you can.
Basic Tips :
- Do a lot of running, to build your speed and endurance.
- Dribble frequently, getting used to the size of the ball, giving you a 'ball sense'.
- Play and practice with friends, who can encourage you, and challenge you to play harder.
- Practice almost every day, for how long and hard you practice should build up as you go on.
- Work on your competitive spirit, you will do better if you believe you can.
- Ambition! You have to want, and love soccer to be a great soccer player.
Pushing yourself is great, but don't over-exert yourself. If your sore the next day at practice from yesterday, you're probably doing to much.
Now, some basic rules to follow when your in a game:
Goalie:
- Pounce on the ball.
-Use your hands to your advantage.
-When passing from your net, do it off to the side!
Defense:
- Never let someone from the opposing team get closer to your goal than you. This said, there are very few exceptions. When the ball is way up on the other side of the field, and one person is behind you, they are very un-expeiranced. They are doing nothing to help their team, however, you cannot let the ball past you. If you are behind them, then a quick rebound, passing up again to the forwards, very easily, and quickly, becomes impossible.
- Out of the 2 defense, when the ball is being handled up the field, one should tail the action, while the other one should stay back. The first defense can provide a quick pass back and back up to the forwards and the mid-fields but if it gets past the first, the second can defend the goal much more quickly.
- Follow the play when it's on the other side of the field. They go to the right, you go right. They go left, you go left.
- When your goalie is passing our from your goal, don't fight over a certain spot where lots of the opposing team is. Or, some of your team may distract them, but having one player totally off to the other side, fairly discreetly, is a good advantage.
Mid-fields:
- Out of the 3 mid-fielders, specifically, I find it's great to have 1 a little back a bit from the play, and none of them should be crowded in a certain area.