Soccer demands specific skills that separate it from most other sports. Field players control the ball primarily with the feet, head, torso and other parts of the body except the hands and arms. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use his hands. As with any other activity, you must first master the fundamentals.
Kicking
Kicking is one of the primary ways to move the ball down the field. The basic motion is to stand over the ball, point the toes down while keeping the ankle firm and make contact the ball with the laces of your shoes or cleats. Plant your non-kicking foot aligned with the ball at a shoulder-width away and keep your eye on the ball at contact. As your skills increase, work toward hitting a moving ball.
Dribbling
The other principal way of moving the ball is dribbling, lightly kicking the ball down the field with it close to your feet. As you move, tap the ball with your foot so that it moves but stays within your reach. Start at a walking pace and increase your speed as you become more comfortable. As your skill increases, work on changing direction by tapping the ball with the inside or outside of your foot.
Control
Controlling or trapping is the way that a player receives a pass from a teammate or takes possession of a loose ball. As the ball comes to you, keep yourself balanced, raise one foot slightly and twist it so that your toes point to the side. Let the ball hit the inside of your foot; catch it as you would a baseball, giving slightly so that the ball stays at your feet. As your skills increase, control the ball with other parts of your body, such as the legs and chest.
Shooting and Passing
Shooting and passing involve the same motions as kicking. The difference is that you are trying for accuracy, whether it's kicking a shot at the goal of passing the ball to a teammate. You can maintain accuracy by keeping the knee of your kicking foot over the ball as you make contact. This will help keep the ball low or on the ground. Also, keep your shoulders square in the direction where you want the ball to go.
Defense
The main objective when playing defense in soccer is to keep yourself between your opponent and the goal. The defensive stance similar to the one taken up by basketball players: knees slightly bent and balanced to move quickly. If the ball gets far away from your opponent, attempt to take it with a tackle. The basic tackle is a poke tackle, where you stick your foot in to poke at the ball.
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