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Soccer takes several years to develop as a player. There’s the physical side to the game and the know-how.
Here are 16 of the most asked questions a player has when starting out as a beginner, plus there’s information that many experienced players won’t know.
Once you’ve read this FAQ, head to our article on How To Play Soccer: 41 Cool Coach Tips, this is where you find top technical information for each game part.
- Should I Start Playing Soccer?
- Never Played Soccer Before But I Want To?
- Can I Learn Soccer?
- What Are The Basics Of Soccer?
- What Are The Basic Soccer Rules?
- How To Play Soccer Positions?
- How To Be A Good Soccer Player?
- How To Play Soccer Better?
- How To Play Soccer Well?
- How To Play Soccer For Kids?
- How To Watch A Soccer Game?
- How To Play As A Goalkeeper?
- How To Play As A Defender?
- How To Play As A Midfielder?
- How to Play As A Striker?
- How To Play Soccer Like A Pro?
- Top Soccer Pro Tips
Should I Start Playing Soccer?
You should start playing soccer; it’s a great way to meet people, have fun, and get fit. It’s also a team game that helps you work together as a collective to win.
Playing soccer can benefit you in several ways to improve yourself individually, so start as soon as possible.
The main focus is to have fun, so enjoy yourself, and you will improve over time.
Never Played Soccer Before But I Want To?
It’s never too late to start playing soccer, you can learn to play at any time in your life. First, play with your friends at home or school to see if you enjoy it.
Then you can ask your local clubs or Facebook groups if they need any players.
All you need is a ball to start, and if you have two players and a goal, you’ll have fun.
Can I Learn Soccer?
You can learn soccer if practice for long enough you can learn. Doing it for fun will help you learn the quickest way.
If you’ve got a good soccer coach they will guide you to learn the essential skills required.
It will take time to progress, but learn the basic passing skills with a ball, such as passing and control – master these, and you’ll be a good player.
What Are The Basics Of Soccer?
The game aims to score more goals than the opponent. A goal is scored when the ball crosses the line and goes into the opponent’s goal.
The game is normally split into two halves with a break in between.
The players will be positioned to cover certain areas and have a role depending on their position.
Soccer is a team game, and for you and your team to succeed, you must work for each other.
Outfield players kick, pass and dribble the ball to the opponent’s half, and the gaolkeepers are the only ones who can handle the ball with their arms – this must be done in their penalty box.
What Are The Basic Soccer Rules?
The ball must cross over the line to be a throw-in, corner, or goal. Soccer is a contact sport, but if you block, mistime a tackle, or are too aggressive, the referee will blow the whistle for a foul or a penalty.
A penalty is given when a foul is committed inside your penalty box; then, the ball is placed on the spot for a free shot against the goalkeeper.
If a foul is serious, the referee can give you a caution with a yellow card, and for extreme fouls, a referee will send you off with a red card, meaning you will have to leave the field for the rest of the game.
A player can also show a red card if a second yellow card is given.
How To Play Soccer Positions?
There are four main positions in soccer:
- Goalkeeper
- Defender
- Midfielder
- Attacker
- The goalkeeper will save or block the ball from going into the goal with any body part.
- The defenders will do their best to stop the opponents from shooting by tackling or blocking the ball.
- The midfielders will be in front of the defense, defend when your team does not have the ball and attack when in possession.
- The attackers will mainly be attempting to score goals but will be required now and again to help the rest of the team.
How To Be A Good Soccer Player?
You must work hard for the team to be a good soccer player. Top players like Messi and Ronaldo work hard by making runs and helping their teammates.
A coach will demand from all players that they give 100%; if you do this on the field and in training, you will be a good player.
How To Play Soccer Better?
To play soccer better than before, it’s important to notice areas that let you down.
Make a mental note of it when you’re playing so that you can focus on that area when you are training.
It will take time to practice and strengthen in that area. Repeat the practice in training 10+ times; you will get better each time you play.
How To Play Soccer Well?
To play well, you must be a team player and communicate well to work as a team.
When you play in a team, play to each player’s strengths, this can be done by getting to know what your teammates are good at and not so good at.
This will help you decide what type of pass to make, slow/hard/in front/behind.
Talking to your teammates throughout the game helps everybody, for example, warning a teammate of a player behind them.
How To Play Soccer For Kids?
Kids enjoy games if you’re a coach, so the more you have in your training, the better.
Vary the practice so that no one gets bored, and you’ll know by the players’ reactions if they enjoy the session.
Instead of doing running, incorporate it into a drill – it’s surprising how much more players run when there’s a ball involved.
Kids, have fun and enjoy the interaction with other players.
Try new skills and invite your friends over to play; you can even invent your games/drills.
How To Watch A Soccer Game?
Watch a soccer game with your friends and family. Look for the skills, formations, tactics, tackles, passes, and shots.
I appreciated watching a soccer match more the older I became.
When you are young, you don’t see the finer details of the game that make it more of a study, for example, the formations and tactics involved.
If a full match is too much for you, just watch the highlights and enjoy the best parts. For me, I now see the game as a fast-paced chess game.
The top players can do special things in the right positions; some players are solid and dependable.
So it’s all about making moves at the right times to strike when you’re in position. Pass and move until your queen can say check-mate!
How To Play As A Goalkeeper?
Goalkeepers must do everything to stop the ball box from going in the goal. Pro’s will even save the soccer ball with their faces!
So they need to be brave and if the ball is coming towards your face, just turn your head to the side, and it does not hurt, flicking off your cheek.
Stand on the edge of your penalty box when the ball is in the opponents’ half, ready to intercept any long balls.
Stay on your line when the ball is around the penalty box, ready for shots. Stay on your tiptoes, ready for any dives you need to make.
Control the defense by giving instructions if there’s an unmarked player.
How To Play As A Defender?
Defenders, you need to stop shots on your goal; blocking, tackling, and clearing are your main duties.
Like the GK, you will need to be brave to stop the attackers from taking control of your box. Form a partnership with the players around you so that you work as a team.
Keep ‘goalside’ of the attacker so that they don’t have a head start if you get into a race.
Safety is the best option as a defender, but if you have time, it’s nice to start an attack by passing it forward.
How To Play As A Midfielder?
Midfielders, you need to do a bit of everything on the field. Protect your defense first and then support your attackers. Midfield players are good around players that have good energy to cover distances.
Be clever on the ball and pass and move to create space. When there’s space in front of you, run into it until there’s a defender.
Set up your strikers will ‘balls to feet,’ or balls in front of them to run on to.
How to Play As A Striker?
Strikers, it can be a lonely job upfront; most times, the defense outnumbers you, so watch every move and pounce like a tiger when you get your chance.
Defenders will ‘go to sleep’ in games, just watch and wait for your moment.
Strikers will lose the ball more than any other player because of the position – don’t let that set you back; it’s just how it is!
Form a good partnership if you have another striker with you so that you can set each other up. A lot of the time, you will have to be selfish and take risks to score as your team depends on goals.
How To Play Soccer Like A Pro?
The top pro players rarely lose the ball – keep possession. The best players can beat another player to get past – this takes a player out of the game.
Professional players are at the top of their game because they have worked hard for many years – it takes commitment and dedication.
If you work hard in training and give it your all, you will do the same in a game.
Listen to your coach and learn all that you can. Watch other players and see what they can do that you can’t and practice.
Don’t give up and enjoy yourself at the same time.
Top Soccer Pro Tips
- Give it your all
- Never give up
- Play as a team
- Learn every game
- Warm-up + warm-down
- Play in all weather conditions
- Eat healthily
- Keep hydrated with water
- Listen to your coach
- Respect everyone involved in the game
- Train whenever possible
These are the most fundamental questions in soccer. Hopefully, this will encourage you to enjoy the game and improve as a player.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
