There is a simple rule in soccer that can help your team either start an attack or shore up a possible risky play. The rule that must be followed is relatively simple. When two players on the same team are going at the ball from opposite directions, the player going forward always has the right of […]
Soccer Game Tips
How to Head Better: Basics of Proper Heading in Soccer
Improving your 50-50 Challenges in Soccer (and 60-40 and 40-60)
During a soccer game, there are a variety of different types of challenges we make when going after a loose ball, including 50-50, 60-40, and 40-60 challenges. 50/50 challenges are when you and a player from the opposing team arrive at the soccer ball at the same time. Each player has a 50 percent chance […]
The Block Tackling Method in Soccer: Keys and Principles
There are a couple of ways to tackle in soccer, and each carry different advantages. One method is called block tackling as described in the the excellent book Soccer: How to Play the Game: The Official Manual of the United States Soccer Federation. Block tackling is just like it sounds: you place your foot in […]
1v1 Soccer Defending: Key Principles of Individual Defense
In soccer, defending is a team concept. When you’re defending, your entire team, not just the defenders, is working together by communicating and staying compact in order to protect the goal. If just one player is not doing his or her job, your team can suffer a breakdown. This is why 1v1 or individual defending […]
The Importance of Receiving the Ball Across Your Body
Soccer coaches often encourage their players receive the ball across their body. Some even demand it. When I was younger, for one, my coach Brian Jaworski told me that if I watched the English Premier League (EPL), I would see that all the best players receive the ball across their body. I do watch the […]
How to Get Open on Corner Kicks with Separation
Corner kicks are extremely important in the game of soccer. In European club leagues, there are about 5-5.5 corners taken per team per game, and in your 0wn games there may be significantly more. Since corner kicks happen so frequently, you must take advantage of every opportunity you get. Getting Open for a Corner or […]
Doing the Little Things in Soccer
In sports you may have heard coaches saying that a particular player “does all the little things correctly.” It’s a nice sounding phrase, but not very specific. What, exactly, are these little things the coach is talking about? In soccer, there are all kinds of “little things” you can do. Just because they are referred […]
Tips for Being an Effective Soccer Player
Soccer coaches look for players who are effective, but this isn’t a neatly defined concept. There are many ways to be effective on the soccer pitch, ranging from not giving the ball away, to playing simple, to completing 90% of your passes, to winning 50/50 balls and knowing your own skill set. I believe that […]
