1. Improve Foot Skills the Easy Way
Practicing individual skills until you've locked them in is the best and easiest way to improve as a soccer player. When you're having a practice session, don't aimlessly cycle through five or six different techniques. Instead, focus intensely on just one skill and repeat it until it feels like second nature to your feet.
2. Juggling the Rigors of Training
Soccer practice is mentally demanding and physically exhausting. After one to two hours of drills, sprints and small-sided games, most players don't feel like working on their foot skills. Fortunately, there's an easy solution to this problem--juggling. Even if you're not great at it, juggling works wonders for your ball control and self-confidence. Start by seeing how many times you can kick the ball without it hitting the ground, then try controlling it with your knees, head, chest and shoulders. All of these improve your balance and feel for the ball, which gives your foot skills an incredible boost.
3. Don't Forget the Basics
For many players, there's a direct link between foot skills and dribbling tricks like the stepover and the flip-flap. However, remember that the most important skills in soccer are also the most basic. Passing, dribbling, shooting and trapping are the four essential elements of any player's game. Remember to devote time during your practice sessions to each of these basics or you'll lose your edge on the field, even if you're a flashy dribbler.
4. Tools of the Trade
If you don't have access to a partner who can help you with your skills, practice kicking and trapping against a wall. Be creative and come up with drills that represent real-life situations you'd encounter in games. Because the wall won't get tired or complain about your errant shots, you can practice your skills as much as you want. When you're on the field, use aids like cones, rebound nets and mini-goals to work on your accuracy and control.
5. Skills That Rub Off on Your Shots
Improving your foot skills makes you more aware of where your feet are in relation to the ball. Not only does this make you more comfortable with the ball at your feet, but it also improves the accuracy and power of your shots. By increasing your ability to make contact with the ball right where you want to, you'll have an easier time executing precise shooting techniques such as the banana kick and the instep drive.
Practicing individual skills until you've locked them in is the best and easiest way to improve as a soccer player. When you're having a practice session, don't aimlessly cycle through five or six different techniques. Instead, focus intensely on just one skill and repeat it until it feels like second nature to your feet.
2. Juggling the Rigors of Training
Soccer practice is mentally demanding and physically exhausting. After one to two hours of drills, sprints and small-sided games, most players don't feel like working on their foot skills. Fortunately, there's an easy solution to this problem--juggling. Even if you're not great at it, juggling works wonders for your ball control and self-confidence. Start by seeing how many times you can kick the ball without it hitting the ground, then try controlling it with your knees, head, chest and shoulders. All of these improve your balance and feel for the ball, which gives your foot skills an incredible boost.
3. Don't Forget the Basics
For many players, there's a direct link between foot skills and dribbling tricks like the stepover and the flip-flap. However, remember that the most important skills in soccer are also the most basic. Passing, dribbling, shooting and trapping are the four essential elements of any player's game. Remember to devote time during your practice sessions to each of these basics or you'll lose your edge on the field, even if you're a flashy dribbler.
4. Tools of the Trade
If you don't have access to a partner who can help you with your skills, practice kicking and trapping against a wall. Be creative and come up with drills that represent real-life situations you'd encounter in games. Because the wall won't get tired or complain about your errant shots, you can practice your skills as much as you want. When you're on the field, use aids like cones, rebound nets and mini-goals to work on your accuracy and control.
5. Skills That Rub Off on Your Shots
Improving your foot skills makes you more aware of where your feet are in relation to the ball. Not only does this make you more comfortable with the ball at your feet, but it also improves the accuracy and power of your shots. By increasing your ability to make contact with the ball right where you want to, you'll have an easier time executing precise shooting techniques such as the banana kick and the instep drive.
