A good soccer player must have skills, conditioning, and game sense. A player must work on all three to be the best player he or she can be.
A soccer team does not have backs, midfielders or strikers-only soccer players. No matter what position you may start the game in, you will still have to head, pass, receive, shoot, make space, etc., as any player would do regardless of position.
Your team is limited only by each team member's effort. Working together as a group and including everyone in the game goes a long way towards winning the game against a skilled opponent.
In most sports you need to be balanced on both feet. In soccer, you not only have to have good balance but need to be able to shoot, pass, receive, etc. with both feet. The best way to develop and improve your foot skills is to use both feet during practice drills.
In a soccer game, only one team plays soccer. The other team chases. What would you like to do? Maintain possession of the ball!
Good dribblers give up the ball before they are in trouble, not after they are in trouble.
A two way (offence & defense) effort of 99 percent or less will not win championships or ball games against good competition.
Win, Lose or Tie, if you feel you have given 100% when you walk off the field, you have nothing to be ashamed of and should not have any regrets.
If you can't pass and receive a soccer ball, you can't play soccer. Practice passing to a teammate or to space with proper pace and receiving ground and air balls.
Do not just kick the ball unless it is in a dangerous position in front of our goal. Instead, take a "picture" of the situation before you get the ball. In this way you can perceive the situation, determine the best solution, and act accordingly when the ball arrives.
Don't run forward when your team has the ball, unless you run back when the other team has the ball.
If you lose the ball, you should be the first person on defense. Giving immediate chase is the first rule of defense.
When changing from offence to defense, sprint to get between your mark and the goal you are defending.
Beat your opponent to the ball. It is more difficult for your opponent to score a goal if they don't have the ball.
If your opponent has the ball and their back is to you, do not let them turn with the ball or they can pass or dribble forward or shoot.
Never criticize the goalie after a goal: Before the ball got by him or her, eight or ten players also let the ball get by them.
Never harass or criticize a teammate: If they make a mistake help them learn to play properly by showing them how to do the required skill.
Player - shouldn't say "I can't or make excuses for their play. "I'll try" or "I'll do better next" time is a better way to go.
When your team has the ball, everyone is on offence; when your opponents have the ball, everyone is on defence.
