Being a good footballer is not something you have from birth. It takes years to improve one's strengths and correct one's flaws. You may be quick but not very strong physically or maybe good at jumping on corner kicks but not as good at passing the ball. Thanks to the workouts, repeated every day, you will be able to improve and become very good.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Handling the Ball
Step 1. Practice blocking the ball
Find a long wall in an isolated place. For this exercise, the best surfaces are brick and concrete. Kick the ball against the wall, about three feet off the ground. As the ball comes back towards you, lift your foot in the air. Stop it by letting it tap your foot and fall to the ground. Repeat the exercise for 10 minutes a day.
- It is important not to kick the ball. Just lift your foot where the ball will land, letting it hit you.
- When the ball bounces off the ground, put your foot on it to stop it.
- Begin the exercise near the wall. As you become familiar with the technical gesture, move away gradually. Try to get within 10 meters of the wall at the end of the workout.
Step 2. Dribble
Even the strongest players take years to become masters of dribbling. However, it is a very useful exercise for improving your ball control and eye-foot coordination. Keep the ball balanced on one foot, then kick it up. When it comes down, send it back into the air with the other foot.
- Make sure you kick the ball with the center of your foot. If you're not careful, he may hit you in the face or walk away from you. Your goal is to keep the sphere close to the body, about 30cm away.
- To keep the ball from moving too far away from you, bend your knee upward on impact. Stretching your leg would send him farther.
- Repeat this exercise for at least 10 minutes a day. Don't worry if you can't do more than two dribbles in the beginning. Keep trying and eventually you will be able to improve. Try to do at least 10 dribbles before stopping.
Step 3. Start stepping ball and chain
Find an obstacle-free lawn, or practice in the garden. Walk around the perimeter of the court, bringing the ball forward with gentle touches. Make sure you rest your body weight on your toes before hitting the ball. Each touch of the ball should move it no more than 30-60 cm. Repeat the exercise for 10 minutes, or until you have completed a couple of laps of the court.
- While some footballers can use both feet to great effect, every athlete has a favorite foot. Usually, this is the dominant foot, the one on the side of the hand you use most often. This exercise will help you figure out which foot is your best.
- You will use your non-dominant foot to support your body weight and to stay balanced. When advancing with the ball, it is important that your non-dominant foot stays fairly close to your body, otherwise you will end up moving the ball more than you want to.
- As you begin to feel more comfortable with the ball between your feet, raise your head. You will have a tendency to watch the ball while dribbling, but during matches you will have to look around. You may stumble a few times during training, but you will gradually get used to not staring at the sphere.
Step 4. Move the ball in different directions
You can proceed left and right, but you cannot abruptly change direction using only the top of the foot. To do this, you will need to use the sides of the boot. Begin by advancing normally for about two and a half meters. Once you have picked up speed, overtake the ball slightly and plant your dominant foot on the ground. As you roll, the ball will hit your foot on the ground and bounce in the direction you want to continue.
- The direction the ball will take depends on the position of the foot. For example, if you were using your right foot, you would have to hit the ball with your inside foot to go left and with your outside to go right. With your left foot, you should hit the ball with your inside foot to go right and your outside to go left.
- If you just want to deflect the ball's path, plant your foot on the ground and hold it still. If, on the other hand, you want to change the direction of the ball a lot, move your foot towards it, pushing it in the direction you want to proceed.
Step 5. Overcome obstacles in dribbling
Find a series of pins and come in a straight line, at least 1 meter apart. Advance between them with the ball at your feet. If the cone is on your left and you use your right foot, push the ball gently with the inside of your foot. Hit it hard enough to move it to the left side of the next cone. If the cone is on your right and you use your right foot, push the ball gently with the outside of your foot. Make sure the sphere reaches the right side of the next cone.
- If you are left handed, follow the same instructions, but reverse the sides of the foot. If the obstacle is to your left, hit the ball with the outside of your foot. If it's on the right, use the inside.
- After snaking through the pins in a straight line, you can change their arrangement. Put them in a zigzag or place them randomly around the field.
Part 2 of 3: Improving Your Skills
Step 1. Pass the ball to teammates
In football, passes are mainly divided into two types, low and mid-air. Ground passes are the ones used most often, usually for covering short distances. Ask a friend or teammate to stand approximately 20 feet away from you. To pass the ball correctly, use the flat or outside of your dominant foot, not the toe.
- Plant your non-dominant foot about 12 inches from the ball, then swing your dominant leg back, using half your strength. Bring your leg forward and hit the ball with the inside of your foot.
- Your goal is to pass the ball to your partner without making him bounce. He must always remain low to the ground.
- Pass the ball to each other. Perform the exercise for 10-15 minutes a day. Make sure you kick the ball directly at your teammate, because during a match you will have to be very precise. Over time, you can increase the walking distance up to 12 meters.
Step 2. Throw the ball farther
The second main type of pass is the long throw in mid-air. Use this essential to reach companions who are more than 15 meters away. To do this you will use the instep instead of the inside. Ask a friend or teammate to stand at least 15 meters away from you. Take at least half a meter of run-up to give more strength to the pass.
- As you approach the ball, place your non-dominant foot next to it, as you did for the low pass. Swing your dominant leg back at full strength.
- Hit the ball with your instep to give it the thrust and angle needed to cover the distance between you and your opponent.
- Continue to correct the strength of the pass. You may not need full leg power to complete the long throw successfully. Try to be as specific as possible. Continue the exercise for at least 10 minutes a day.
Step 3. Keep the ball away from the defender
During a football match, the defenders will try to put pressure on you and take possession of the ball. To prepare for this game situation, ask a teammate for help. To start, walk normally around the field with the ball. Your partner will then have to get close and run close to you. His goal will be to get the ball off you, while yours to protect it at all costs.
- The best way to defend the ball is to position the body correctly. If the defender presses you from the left, move to that side to get in between him and the ball. If the defender approaches from the right, move to the other side.
- You can use your arms to keep the opponent away. Don't be too aggressive though, or you might get a yellow card.
- Repeat the exercise for 6-10 meters. You can switch positions to train attacking and defending.
Step 4. Take a corner kick
When the ball goes over the back line following a touch by a defending player, the referee awards a corner kick to the attacking team. The goal of this free kick is to create a defense hazard with a cross inside the box. Place the ball next to the flag, on the side where it came out. If you just want to train, choose the angle you prefer. Take at least three running steps.
- Run for the ball. Once you have picked up speed, plant your left foot to the left of the ball. Swing your right leg back at full strength.
- When kicking the ball, hit it with the inside of the instep (if you take the corner from the left). This way, you will give the sphere a retracting effect towards the net.
- Repeat this until you have mastered the distance and power of the kick. Ask a teammate to position themselves in the box and try to score after your cross.
Step 5. Score a goal
While it is not possible to substitute the experience of a real game for learning to score, you can practice alone or with a teammate. Position yourself about 11 meters from the goal, at the height of the penalty spot. Use the kicking technique you used for the long balls, but try to get your "pass" inside the goal. Take a few running steps to give maximum power and speed to the ball.
- Run for the ball. Plant your non-dominant foot next to it. Swing your dominant leg back at full strength. Make sure you kick with the instep.
- Aim at a specific point on the door. Try to place the ball three times in that spot before choosing another one. You can ask a teammate to act as a goalkeeper to make training more realistic.
- Move the ball to different places on the pitch. Vary the power of your shots according to the distance from the net.
Part 3 of 3: Perfect Your Playstyle
Step 1. Hit the head
Headers often follow a cross. To practice this fundamental, ask a partner to stand in front of you, about 3 meters away. He will have to throw the ball with his hands, from the bottom towards your head. Start by hitting without jumping. Tilt your chest back as the ball approaches. To get to impact, bring your head forward.
- Hit the ball directly with your forehead. Arrive on impact with your head aligned with your shoulders. Avoid hitting the ball when you are tilted too far back or too far forward. Do this when your head is in the normal upright position.
- To perform a jump header, repeat the previous steps, but while jumping. During the ascent phase, bring your back back. Give your head a forward whip to hit the ball. Arrive on impact when your forehead is aligned with your shoulders, at the highest point of the jump.
- Repeat the head strike exercise 10 times, on the ground and in the jump. It is important not to overdo the head shots to avoid bruises.
Step 2. Perform a body feint during a game
This is probably one of the simplest movements in football, yet extremely effective. Advance ball and chain for about 3-6 meters. When the defender approaches, lean your shoulders to the left, as if you are about to move in that direction. Then, move the ball 45 degrees to the right with the outside of your right foot.
- You can repeat the exercise in the opposite direction. Tilt your shoulders to the right, then move the ball 45 degrees to the left with the outside of your left foot.
- The defender will think you are about to move in the direction of the feint and will be disoriented. After completing the feint, dribble past him.
- Ask a teammate to act as a defender. Practice completing the feint at least 10 times.
Step 3. Perform the fake shot made famous by Cruyff
The goal of this feint is to surprise the defender. To do it, advance with the ball for about 3-6 meters, in order to proceed with good speed. Pretend to attempt a pass, planting your non-dominant foot on the ground, a few inches in front of the ball. Swing your dominant leg back, as if you are going to kick.
- Instead of shooting, hit the ball with the inside of your dominant foot. Move it sideways, behind the foot already on the ground.
- Rotate your body clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the foot you used to kick. Find the ball and continue in the new direction.
- To practice, ask a teammate to play as a defender. Do not reveal the feint you are about to perform and try to surprise him. Remember: this feint can only work if the defender is directly in front of you, otherwise you will send the ball straight into his foot.
Step 4. Learn the double step
This feint is also designed to confuse the defenders. Advance ball and chain for about 3-6 meters to gain speed. Plant your left foot about 12 inches to the left of the ball and swing your right leg back as if you were about to kick. As you bring your right leg forward, swing it around the ball in a circular motion, without touching it.
- After completing the feint, plant your right foot to the right of the ball. Use your left leg to move the ball to the left.
- To make the defender believe that you will move to the right, move your right leg without touching the ball and use your left to move it forward. To make the defender believe that you will move to the left, move your left leg without touching the ball and use your right to make him move forward.
- You can perform a double repeated step by feinting with both legs. After completing both feints, use your right foot to proceed to the right.
Step 5. During a game, try the feint made famous by Zico
This feint allows you to trick the defender and outrun him at speed. Advance with the ball for about 3-6 meters to reach a good speed. Plant your right foot about 30cm to the right of the ball, then, touch the right side of the ball with the outside of your left foot (both feet should be to the right of the ball).
- Maintain control of the ball with your left foot as you rotate your body counterclockwise.
- After completing a 360 ° rotation with the body while maintaining control of the ball with the left foot, begin to bring the ball forward again. Your opponent will be caught off guard and think you will move in the opposite direction.
- You can also perform this feint in the opposite direction. Just plant your left foot on the ground and keep control of the ball with your right. Rotate your body clockwise 360 degrees before resuming dribbling.
Advice
- Play for the team and pass the ball to the best placed teammates.
- Run on your toes to sprint faster.
- Pass the ball back if you have too many opponents in front of you.
- Before the game, eat a banana to avoid cramps. Don't try too hard to avoid cramps and excessive fatigue.
- Practice with friends and organize impromptu games.
- You should always do some stretching before training and matches.
Warnings
- Make sure you always look around. Don't risk hitting another player with the ball.
- Always stay hydrated. Dehydration can lead to fainting. In an emergency, call an ambulance right away.
- When performing a header, do it with the forehead and not the top of the skull. In the long run, head shots can cause problems in that area of the body.
