How to Get Better at Soccer: A Player’s Guide

Soccer, or Football as it is referred to in Europe, requires a blend of physical fitness, technical skills, tactical understanding, and mental strength. Whether you are brand new at soccer or an established player looking to improve your skills, this guide will help take your game to the next level. We’ll go over important key areas such as technical skills, general fitness, mental preparation, and how tools like SkillShark can help you get better at soccer.

1. Master the Basics of Soccer

a) Ball Control and Dribbling in Soccer

As a soccer player, the ability to control the ball is the foundation of your soccer skills. Without good control, it will be hard to pass, shoot, or dribble effectively.

Follow these steps to improve your soccer dribbling skills:

• Practice Juggling: Do some juggling drills to improve your coordination.
• Cone Dribbling: Set up cones in various patterns and practice dribbling through them using both feet. This helps in improving agility and control. Eventually, try to dribble without looking at your feet – that’s where the real challenge begins.
• Wall Passes: Use a wall to practice passing and receiving the ball to help with a soft first touch.

See our blog: Mastering Soccer Dribbling: A Guide for Soccer Players, here to learn more specifics.

b) Soccer Passing and Receiving

The art of passing and receiving is the essence of soccer:

• Short and Long Passes: Practice not only short but also long passes to your team members or targets for improvement in your range.
• One-Two Drills: Work on the one-two quick passing drills with your partner to keep fine-tuning your reaction time and accuracy.
• Receiving Techniques: Learn how to receive the ball with parts of your foot to maintain possession and set up the next move.

c) Soccer Shooting

Practice soccer shooting techniques that can make you more dangerous in front of the goal:

• Placement Over Power: First, focus on the placement, then gradually add power.
• Different Angles: Shoot from different angles and distances, simulating situations that can happen during the game.
• A Weak Foot: Do not be lame to one side of the field. The ability to shoot with both feet will make you unreliable for defenders.

2. Fitness Levels to Get Better at Soccer

a) Stamina

• Interval Training: Train your stamina through HIIT training.
• Long Runs: Run at a moderate pace over large distances. This will improve your cardiovascular stamina, which eventually will lead you to keep going for the full 90 minutes.

b) Speed and Agility

• Sprint Drills: You will also want to add sprints at various distances to your training to develop more explosive speed. Agility ladder drills develop quicker feet and coordination, in turn making you much better around the pitch. Plyometric exercises like box jumps and burpees will make you more explosive and quick.

c) Strength Training

• Core Workouts: A strong core equates to better balance and power. Incorporate planks, Russian twists, and leg raises.
• Lower Limb Strength: Squats, lunges, and calf raises are the three most important exercises for the legs, that guarantee the stable groundwork upon which powerful shots can be made.

3. Tactical Understanding in the Game of Soccer

a) Soccer Game Observation

• Professional Match Watch: To understand positioning, movements, and decision-making, watch professional matches.
• Performance Analysis Tools: Use analysis tools such as SkillShark to break down your performances and find a way to get better. SkillShark can track key metrics, review video footage, and give direct feedback from coaches.

b) Positional Awareness for Getting Better at Soccer

• Know Your Role: Each and every position on the field has distinct in-game responsibilities. Knowing what your role is, greatly enhances your functionality as a contributor to the team.
• Spatial Awareness: Be aware of positioning at all times, including that of the ball, your teammates, and opponents. This will help in making better decisions and placing your body in matches accordingly.

4. Soccer Player Mental Preparation

a) Confidence in Soccer

• Positive Visualization: Regularly practice visualizing plays and their outcomes that instill confidence in them.
• Set Goals: Ensure both short-term and long-term goals are set to keep yourself motivated and focused.

b) Focus and Concentration in Soccer

• Mindfulness Techniques: Undergo mindfulness or meditation to enhance your ability to focus and work under pressure.
• Pre-Game Routine: Identify a pre-game routine that puts your mind in a good place before matches.

c) Managing Pressure in a Soccer Game

• Controlled Breathing: Learn various ways of breathing to help you control your nerves in high-pressure moments.
• Experience: The more you compete, the easier it will become to be under pressure. Compete in various ways, such as in indoor and outdoor soccer to challenge yourself in competitive situations.

5. Utilize SkillShark to Track Your Soccer Player Improvement

SkillShark is something no serious player should ever have to go without. By using SkillShark, you are going to be able to:

• Performance Indicators: Monitor key statistics such as shooting accuracy, run time, and ball control.
• Video Analysis: Coaches can upload game footage so you can review & analyze where your strengths and weaknesses are.
• Coaches’ Feedback: You have the capability to get personalized feedback from your coach or trainer on where you should focus your energy for the next level in your game.