Soccer Game Tips

How to Use the Weather and the Elements to Improve Your Soccer Play

When you’re playing in a soccer game, the weather and the elements can play a strong role.

You might have grumbled when you had to play in the rain, for example, and bemoaned the negative effect it had on you and your team’s play.

But the elements around you don’t have to be a bad thing. Here are four tips for using them to your advantage.

Tips for Playing Soccer in Rainy Conditions

If the field is wet, you know the ball will skip.

If you make better adjustments than your opponent, you will have a big advantage.

First, when trapping or receiving a ball, you must be sure to get your body behind it.

This is always good advice, but it becomes paramount when the ball is skipping.

If the rain has been heavy, there will likely be some puddles on the field. Depending on your style, you may have to make some big adjustments, because you simply will not be able to dribble through the puddles.

Although this may seem like an obvious point, I’ve seen a lot of players throw caution to the wind and attempt to dribble all around the field just as they normally do.

Don’t try to do too much and play smart. If you do get the ball stuck, however, the most effective way to get it out of a puddle is to scoop it out.

Finally, for shooting, you want your shot to hit the ground before it gets to the goalie because it will pick up momentum as is skips off the wet surface.

Just about all of your shots should be on the ground because it it much more difficult for a keeper to judge the skip and make a save.

Crashing the box becomes extremely important as well, as there will almost always be a rebound opportunity.

Adjusting to Playing in Windy Conditions

When playing with a strong head wind, you will need to play balls on the ground, because the wind will hold it back.

Goalkeepers especially need to avoid punting high in the air. For both field players and goalies, however, there will be times when you need to play the ball in the air.

When this time comes, make sure you drive the ball so it will cut through the wind. There are also a couple special circumstances to be aware of.

For one, you will be able to put in more teasing crosses from the wing because the wind will either hold the ball up or push it a little bit away from the goalie.

When there is a strong wind at your back, you know the ball will carry further. This means you will be able to shoot from further distances, but you will have to take a little off of your long balls.

Finally, with strong side winds it is easier to cross the ball from one side than the other. Be sure to note which side is with the wind and adjust your gameplan accordingly.

Adjustments for Sunny Conditions

When you receive a pass, you should always take a quick peak over your shoulder to assess the situation.

How close is your defender? What side is he or she pressuring? Can you turn?

In sunny conditions, you can do this even more effectively.

By using your opponent’s shadow, you can often answer these questions without having to take a peak over your shoulder.

Naturally, you tend to look down when trapping and receiving the ball, so with the sun on your side, you will be able to see if there are shadows around.

Playing in Extreme Hot and Cold Temperatures

For games with excessive heat, staying hydrated is the most important factor, and it needs to begin long before kickoff.

As far as your gear, some players wear just their jersey, others opt for a t-shirt underneath, and still others cut off Under Armour heat gear.

When you’re facing frigid conditions, some players like to wear a jersey and gloves, while others wear Under Armour cold gear in addition.

Personally, I used to put Vicks VapoRub just below the collar of my jersey so it would be in the center of my chest.

I did this to help with my breathing, and I’ve seen EPL players with something in the same spot during cold games.

Finally, although it’s less obvious in cold temperatures, staying hydrated is just as important as it is during hot games.

Don’t forget the Gatorade or water just because you are shivering.

How Watching Soccer on TV Can Make You a Better Player

By Parker & Walsh Leave a Comment

It’s pretty obvious that playing more soccer helps develop your skills, but you might not know that watching games on TV can also make you a better player.

This sounds pretty cool, doesn’t it? Just flip on the tube and see your skill level skyrocket.

Of course, watching soccer alone won’t turn you into a superstar, but I believe that most players greatly underestimate the value of regularly watching matches on TV.

First of all, there is value in following a favorite team, becoming emotionally invested in the results, and talking about professional soccer with your family and teammates.

Engaging with the sport outside of your own games will certainly have a positive effect on your play.

But this isn’t what I’m talking about here. This post isn’t about what games you watch, it’s how you watch them.

There are particular ways to watch a soccer game that will provide real benefits, and it won’t matter if you’re watching the World Cup final or a non-conference college game.

What to Watch For in a Soccer Game on TV

These benefits will require a shift in what you focus on during the game.

First, the most common tendency is to follow the ball as you watch. This is very common, and we do it all the time too.

But it’s much more valuable to follow a particular player, and see how they move off the ball, create space for themselves and interact with their teammates.

It’s an incredible experience to follow a player like Lionel Messi for a whole half of play, and see how much he does for his team both on and off the ball.

My advice is to pick a player who plays your position, either up top, in the midfield or in the back.

How to Identify a Soccer Team’s Formation

Of course, a lot of these things depend on the formation and overall strategy of the team in question. And that brings us to the second major thing you can do while watching a soccer game: analyze the formation and tactics.

At the beginning of soccer matches, the announcers go over each team’s starting line-up and formation. (a 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, etc)

I recommend not watching this part so you can test yourself on what formation the two teams are playing.

In order to do this, focus on one team at a time. The best way to determine what formation a team is playing is on the defensive side of the ball.

When a team retreats to play defense, you will be able to see distinct lines of defense (ie. the backline, midfielders, and forwards).

You will also be able to see where the team likes to hold their defensive line, whether it is high (putting pressure on the ball) or low (preferring to sit back).

Most teams stay in one formation defensively and offensively, but sometimes teams change formation on the offensive side of the ball to add numbers into the attack.

A team that changes formation from defense to offense likes to get numbers behind the ball to defend but once they get the ball get numbers forward. In order to get numbers forward, the team must be able to keep possession.

Do not mistake outside backs making overlapping runs to be a change in formation. Depending on the formation, outside backs will be overlapping outside midfielders or wingers.

When teams change formation on the attack, they will most likely move either one or both outside backs forward into a midfielder role, most likely outside mid. Then a midfielder will move into a forward/striker/winger role.

This type of knowledge can be quite valuable to your own game.

By knowing what formation the opposing team is in, you will be able to exploit their weaknesses.

You will know what spaces the opposing team is giving up, so you will know what spaces to exploit.

Don’t get discouraged if you find this difficult at first; the more you watch, the easier it will get, and the more you can apply it to your own game.

Do you have any other tips for getting the most out of soccer games you watch on TV? If so, let us know in the comments below.

Photo Credit: romexico