Pro soccer players are often the product of elite soccer academies in Europe, Brazil and the United States. By the time they are in their early 20s, they have had a decade of intensive coaching on how to play the game. Tips from soccer pros blend timeless fundamentals with touches of individual creative flair.
Dribbling
Real Salt Lake midfielder Chris Klein notes the obvious yet important fact about soccer: It's important to keep possession of the ball; and dribbling offers the way to keep the ball on your side and moving toward the goal. Most players have a dominant foot, typically the right, and need to use both feet to avoid being predictable and easy to defend, he notes in a video interview with EliteSoccerConditioning.com. Work one on one with a teammate to attempt to dribble past her defense, using your weaker foot as well as your strong foot and fakes to get into the open field.
Receiving
American soccer icon Mia Hamm notes on the instructional site Sportskool the importance of receiving the ball correctly in preparation for seeing the field and helping your team mount an offensive move. Align your body with the oncoming pass on the ground and quickly decide which surface of the foot to use to accept the ball. Relax your body and foot to absorb the speed of the ball. Look up and plan your next move before the ball arrives, so you can open your hips in the best direction and gently nudge the ball toward where you plan to dribble or pass it. To practice with your team, set up a 20-by-20-yard square with cones or disks and a smaller box within, Sportskool recommends. Set up players in each corner of the box and pass the ball counterclockwise within the lanes created by two squares of cones. Players must work on receiving correctly, opening their body 90 degrees and making an accurate pass to the next player.
Shooting
England's former captain, David Beckham, breaks down the essentials of shooting for the BBC Sport website. The first priority is hitting the target, so accuracy will be more important than power, he notes. Try to disguise where you are shooting. Glance up into one corner of the goal to fool the keeper and strike the ball into the other. Double-check your stance. Place your planted foot neither too close to the ball not too far away, judging where to best place your foot to keep your balance. Curl your body over the ball so that the ball stays low after you strike it. And practice as much as possible, the star striker recommends.
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