10 Quick Tips for Playing Better Soccer

10 Soccer Tips from Coach Steve September

Here are some quick tips and techniques from coach Steve September to consider for improving your soccer performance.

1. Keep the ball moving with one or two touches. This is also known as inter-passing within a team setting.

2. Play the ball with pace; make a crisp solid pass, whether it is a 3-meter or 20 meter pass.

3. Play the ball and move.  Playing and moving covers the basic idea behind making runs, but the important thing to remember is to make these runs dangerous and make runs that lead to goal scoring opportunities or open up space for a team-mate.  Get the ball and lay it off and then make that run behind the defender again, so your team mate can chip the ball to you over the opposing players.

4. Give it and get it back.  Give and go or wall pass.  The basics for all of soccer is the ability to pass accurately to force opportunities. The key is setting up your defender.  You almost need to draw in the defender towards you, as though he or she is going to be able to intercept the ball, then give it and go – accelerating into the open space to receive the return pass.

5. When dribbling change your pace after making a move to beat an opponent player.  Attack quickly when there’s an advantage or an opportunity.  Try to keep the ball moving as quickly as possible. If there’s a chance to break, then counter-attack with a few precise passes.

6. Keep the ball close to your feet when controlling the ball. Keep your head up and watch the field as everybody is moving.

7. Get the cross in. Try and aim for the area between the 6 and 18 yard boxes. This will make the goalkeeper come out and try and collect the ball.  This makes the goal open and vunerable. A cross directly infront of the goalkeeper is easy for the keeper to handle.

8. Take shots on goal and test the goalkeeper as often as possible in the first part of the game.

9. Always watch the ball; don’t get caught because you were watching your opponents feet.

10. Stick to your teams strategy and tactics for the day.

Bonus Tip: Show respect for yourself by respecting the officials, the coaches, the opposing team and your own team.

Steve September of On The Ball Soccer Training has been involved in soccer for over forty years and on three continents. As a player, player coach and high performance coach Steve wants to share the knowledge and experiences with all levels of people involved in the soccer scene.

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