Soccer is a hot-button topic among sports fans, with proponents of the sport lauding its inherent creativity and teamwork, and detractors saying that scoring occurs too infrequently for the game to be exciting. There's one thing, however, both sides can agree on: You need a variety of skills to play the sport, even at the high school varsity level.
Endurance
To play varsity soccer, you need endurance and stamina. The field is about 100 yards long and 60 yards wide for most high school games, and other than goalies, most players only stop running momentarily. In a survey by ESPN ranking the 60 most difficult sports, soccer was judged to be No. 8 in the endurance category. Before you try out for the team, jog for distance and run sprints on a regular basis.
Footwork
Soccer is unique in that players may only use their feet to advance the ball. This would be trying if you were stationary, let alone having to dribble the ball while running and cutting in different directions. To make the varsity team, you need to be able to dribble the ball and shoot with either foot.
Versatility
When it comes time for a coach to decide who gets the final few roster spots, he may lean toward those who have shown the ability to do a variety of things well rather than those who have one exceptional skill. Make yourself valuable by learning to play multiple positions and developing your shooting, passing, defending and dribbling skills. If the coach believes he can use you in virtually any situation, that peace of mind can earn you a spot on the team.
Leadership
Coaches love a player who motivates and leads her team. You don't have to be the best goal scorer or defender to be a leader. There are different ways to act as one. By working harder than anyone else on the team and downplaying individual accomplishments in favor of team goals, you'll show your prospective teammates -- and coach -- that you're unselfish and have a team-oriented mindset. This is leading by example. Or you can be a vocal leader, encouraging teammates and helping promote communication. Coaches see such players as extensions of themselves on the field.
Speed
Soccer games can come down to speed. The team that has it is often the team that wins. If you're speedy enough to blow past defenders or race into place and smother opponents' scoring attempts, you have a better chance of making the varsity team.
Position-Specific Qualities
A varsity soccer player should be able to pass the ball proficiently. This includes not only tapping the ball to stationary teammates, but also kicking it to a spot where you anticipate a streaking teammate will be when it arrives. If you're a forward, you must also be adept at shooting the ball accurately and powerfully. Midfielders are expected to be able to pass, score and defend. Halfbacks and fullbacks must have the ability to squelch opponents' scoring chances by knocking the ball away. Goalies must have quick reactions to move quickly in any direction to block or catch an incoming shot.
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