You may find yourself wanting to learn to play soccer to share quality time with a significant other or your children, or you've decided to add the beautiful game to the team sports you enjoy. Or perhaps you look at soccer as a means to get in shape and meet new friends. You can learn to play basic soccer quickly and then explore endless nuances on the road to mastery.
Step 1
Participate in informal pickup games at a park or mixed-use athletic field at a high school or university. Look for these at midday on Saturdays and Sundays or after work on weekdays. Visit Socster or Meetup's "Pickup Soccer" section or search Facebook for "pickup soccer" if you can't readily find where pickup games are held. If you are a beginner, look for coed games, which while not guaranteed to be easier, may be more encouraging for new players. Use informal play as the core of skill development.
Step 2
Attend a clinic at an indoor soccer facility, which often has a pro on staff to conduct lessons on passing, dribbling, shooting and defending. Work on basic skill drills led by the staff pro. Augment your clinic work by looking at online coaching, such as standout player Mia Hamm's soccer videos at Sportskool.
Step 3
Ask the front desk of the indoor soccer facility about leagues for beginners, often listed as soccer moms or soccer dads, where you can build on your clinic skills in real-game situations.
Step 4
Contact your city or county department of recreation and parks for a list of team managers in an entry-level league so you can join a team and develop your skills. Ask the manager or the coach for a clear explanation of what position you will play and the duties and expectations of the role.
Step 5
Sign up for a goalkeeping clinic if you want to be highly in demand, even as a beginner, if you have quick reflexes and an ability to read the game. Purchase goalie gloves, padded shorts and pants, and a colorful jersey for comfort during the clinic and in actual games.
Step 6
Conduct self-guided practice by finding a wall, such as the smooth side of a building, a racquetball court or walled tennis court, to practice passing and volleying to yourself. Work on headers and throw-ins as well, taking aim at a scuff on the wall or taping up a target. Kick a practice-quality, cheap ball rather than a game ball, as you will be putting wear on the ball.
Step 7
Watch high-level soccer on TV and ideally in person to gain a grasp of tactics, strategies and moves. Study how players move into open space and use fakes to get open for a shot on goal. Observe how defenders slow down and steer attacking players away from the middle of the field.
Step 8
Read the Laws of the Game on the FIFA website. Learn the proper terms for the markings on the field, how the offside rule works, what constitutes a foul, proper conduct, and rules on free kicks, penalty kicks, throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks.
Tips and Warnings
- If you want to have your child learn to play soccer, sign her up for either Soccer Tots if she is 18 months to 6 years old, or for your area's recreational league, if it offers a U6 league for children 5 to 6 years old.
Things You'll Need
- Practice ball
- Goalie gloves
- Padded shorts
- Jersey
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