A good soccer player must have skills, conditioning, and game sense. A player must work on all three to become the best player they can be.
A soccer team does not have backs, midfielders, or strikers only soccer players. No matter what position you start the game in, you will still head, pass, receive, shoot, make space, and contribute in all areas of the field.
Your team is limited only by each team member's effort. Working together and including everyone in the game goes a long way toward winning against a skilled opponent.
Soccer requires balance on both feet. To improve your abilities, practice shooting, passing, and receiving with both feet during drills.
In a soccer game, one team plays soccer and the other team chases. Choose to maintain possession.
Good dribblers give up the ball before they are in trouble, not after.
A two way effort of less than one hundred percent on offence and defense will not win games or championships against good competition.
Win, lose, or tie, if you have given one hundred percent when you walk off the field, you should have no regrets.
Passing and receiving are essential. Practice passing to a teammate or into space with proper pace, and work on receiving both ground and air balls.
Do not simply kick the ball unless it is in a dangerous position near your goal. Take a “picture” of the field before receiving the ball so you can make the best decision when it arrives.
Do not run forward when your team has the ball unless you are also willing to run back when the other team has the ball.
If you lose the ball, be the first player to defend. Immediate chase is the first rule of defense.
When transitioning from offence to defense, sprint to get between your mark and the goal you are defending.
Beat your opponent to the ball. It is harder for them to score if they do not have possession.
If your opponent has the ball with their back to you, do not allow them to turn or they will be able to pass, dribble, or shoot.
Never criticize the goalkeeper after a goal. Before the ball reached them, several teammates also failed to stop it.
Never harass or criticize a teammate. If they make a mistake, help them learn by showing them the correct technique.
Players should not say “I can’t” or make excuses. “I’ll try” or “I’ll do better next time” is the better mindset.
When your team has the ball, everyone is on offence. When the opponent has the ball, everyone is on defense.
