In soccer, two teams of 11 players compete to kick or head a ball into their opponent's goal, but rules governing game play vary by region and league. For example, some leagues allow games to end in ties, while others add extra time to give a team a chance to gain the lead.
Dribbling
Soccer players may not use their hands. To move the ball across the field, players kick the ball in the direction they want to move. Proper dribbling requires much practice to develop control of the ball. If players kick the ball too hard, the other team might intercept it. If they kick the ball too gently, they fail to speed past defenders.
Trapping
To trap the ball, a player absorbs the force of a speeding ball. Properly done, the ball will drop to the ground in front of the player, who then can pass, shoot or dribble. Though players can trap a ball with any part of the body other than the hands or arms, the easiest method is to use your chest or feet. Have a partner toss the ball to you. Watch the movement of the ball and shift your body so that either your foot or chest receives the ball. On contact, draw back slightly to slow the ball's movement. Proper execution takes practice, but once you master this skill, you can control even the speediest passes and interceptions.
Tackling
Tackling in other sports, such as rugby or American football, consists of dragging your opponent to the ground. Tackling in soccer is different. Rather than tackle the player, you use your foot to strip the ball away. To perform a block tackle, stand facing an oncoming opponent. Plant one foot securely to preserve your balance and use your other foot to stop the ball's progress. This will either knock the ball away or cause your opponent to stumble. To perform a sliding tackle, run and slide toward the ball to knock it away from your opponent.
Free Kicks
A free kick punishes a team that performs an illegal action. For example, it is illegal for a player to perform a sliding tackle that misses the ball but hits the legs of an opponent. If this occurs within the area around the offending player's goal, the goalie box, the referee will grant the aggrieved team a free kick directly at the goal from a short distance. In this situation, the free kick is called a penalty kick. Only the goalie may stand between the kicker and the goal. The difficulty of blocking a shot taken at close distance means penalty kicks typically result in goals.
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