This document provides an overview of the key rules, techniques, positions, and strategies for soccer, including discussions of passing, shooting, dribbling, heading, formations, positions on the field, receiving, trapping, and nutrition and fitness. It covers the number of players, equipment, referee, game time, offside rules, scoring, throw-ins, penalty kicks, goal kicks, and corner kicks. The techniques of shooting, dribbling, and heading are explained with a focus on form and practice. Common formations like 4-4-2 and positions like defense, midfield, and forward are also outlined.
In soccer there are 21 players on the field. Each team has 11 players. It is required that a player wears cleats, shin guards, socks, and is dressed in the team uniform. There are 3 referees, one is a center ref and there are two line refs that stand on the outside of the field. The refs judge and make all calls. They blow the whistle for the game to start and stop and also keep track on the time in the game. In soccer there are two half's and in a typical high school game each half is played for 40 minutes with a ten minute break in-between.
Offsides is called when the player is behind their opponents last defender. To not be called offside, the player must stay even with the opponents last defender until the ball is kicked. When the ball is passed and the player is even with the defender he can take off running to the ball…but if the player is behind the last defender before the ball has been kicked and he receives the ball behind the last defender, then offsides will be called. Scoring is typically low in soccer. A point will be earned when the ball passes the line even with the goal and goes into the net. Throw-ins happen when the ball goes out of bounds. The team that kicks the ball out of bounds loses the ball and gives the other team a throw-in. To have a proper throw-in, the player must throw the ball in with both hands. Your hands must go all the way behind your head, almost even with your shoulders and the player must follow through by throwing it in and keeping at least one foot on the ground at all times during the throw-in. A pk stands of penalty kick. This can happen for multiple reasons. The main ones is when there is a hand in the box or if there is a illegal push in the box. During a pk there can not be any players in the box, only the one shooter and the goalie.
Goal kicks happen when you kick the ball out behind your opponents net. For the most part this happens when an attempted shot has been made but missed and went out behind the net. For a goal kick, the opponents put the ball on the goal line and kick the ball back into play. Corner kicks happen when a player kicks the ball out behind their own net. When this happens the other team receives a shot from the corner flag near your net. These can be dangerous and you don’t want to give the other team too many of these opportunities to score.
Passing always happens with the inside of the foot. This helps make your passes more accurate.
You have to know when to dribble because sometime you could be dribbling too much or when it is not necessary. You always want to dribble and pass into space and not towards the opponent. Dribble is something key to practice because the more touches on the ball the more comfortable you will be with the ball. This will help you dribble faster and have more control with the ball.
With headers you only want to use your forehead. This will give you the most power and will allow you to direct the ball when you head it. If you use your forehead you can direct it down or direct it to another player. When you head the ball, follow through to put more power on the ball.
In soccer there are many types of formations on the field. The two most common are the 4-4-1 and the 3-4-3. To use 4-4-1 for example, this means you would have four defenders, four midfielders and 2 forwards. In the 3-4-3 you would have, 3 defenders, four midfielders and 3 forwards. A more defensive type of formation is the 4-5-1 which is four defenders, 5 midfielders and 1 forward.
Typically there are three or four defenders. One left outside defender, one right outside defender and either one or two center defenders typically called the stopper and sweeper. Coaches like to play a diamond shape in the back with their defense or sometimes a four flat back. The midfielders are located in the middle of the field and like the defenders there are outside defenders and middle defenders. The typical job for a midfielder is to distribute the ball and create plays. Forwards are located at the top of the field, their job is to score. Most of the time there are two forwards or sometimes three. Left, center and right. There is only one goalie on the field for each team at a time.
Call for the ball if you want to receive it. Show your team mate your open and you want the ball. Come to the ball and receive with the inside of the foot.
You can basically trap with any part of the body minus your hands and arms! The best way to trap a ball is to bring it down to your feet and to cradle it to not let the ball go too far away from your body. If the ball goes too far away from your body it is a really good chance that another player will steal it from you. Other ways to trap the ball would be using your knee, head, and chest and then bringing it down to your feet.
Running is an important factor in soccer. In an average game you will run about 8 miles. So it is a good idea to keep up on the out of practice running and strength conditioning. Because soccer is such a demanding sport, eat a healthy and well balanced diet. It will keep you healthier and more energized for the games.
