Rules of Soccer

                

 

Playing soccer is easy; being good at soccer takes a bit more effort. To be competent on the sport, the only way is to practice and play.

Like basketball, soccer players that are on the game field have their own designated positions. In the game of soccer there are eleven designated soccer positions on each team in the playing field. A single soccer team on the playing field has one goalie or goalkeeper and ten outfielders to play a variety of defensive, attacking and midfield positions. Each of these soccer positions has their own role and area of operation and certain set of skills are required in each of these soccer positions.

Defensive Positions or Defenders
Defenders are the players that are behind the midfielders. The main responsibilities of players designated in these soccer positions are to provide defensive support to the goalie and prevent the opposing team from scoring. Defenders usually stay on their side of the field.
* Centerback ? the centerbacks? main responsibility is to stop the opposing team from scoring or more particularly the strikers and to get the ball out of the penalty area as much as possible.
* Sweeper ? sweepers are the adaptable type of centerbacks. They sweep the ball if the opponents manage to break through the defensive line. A sweeper must have excellent ball handling, ball control and ball passing abilities to counter any attacking moves that the opponent does.
* Fullback ? fullbacks are the players that prevent the ball from crossing or cutting back into the penalty area.

Midfielders
Midfielders are positioned midway between the strikers and defenders. Their primary responsibilities are to make sure that they have possession of the ball, take the ball from the opposing team?s defenders and pass it to the strikers. Being a midfielder is one of the most exhausting soccer positions because midfielders? duties are broad. They are either called back into defensive position or sometimes attack the opposing team along with the strikers.
* Defensive midfield ? duties of players with these soccer positions is to take the ball away from the opposing team?s attackers.
* Attacking midfield ? players with in these positions are responsible for creating scoring opportunities.

Strikers or Forward or Attackers
Players with these soccer positions are the ones nearest to the opposing team?s goal. Their main duty is to score goals. The other duty of players with these soccer positions is to set up goal for their team mates. Most well known soccer players are strikers because strikers tend to score more than any of their team mates.

22 players and 11 members per team play soccer. Positions can be variable depending on the soccer formation and strategy employed, but usually a team roster includes a goalkeeper and a couple of defenders, midfielders and attackers.

Passing the Ball
Passing the ball is very easy, though the hardest part of passing accuracy. This is the starter player?s handicap. To do a standard rolling pass, you should kick the ball with the inside of your foot (instep and toe part). Your kick should hit the lateral part of the ball for it to travel in a roll. Kicking with the inside part of the foot also allows accuracy, wherein the arch is used to provide the ball direction. Ok, try it. Kick the ball with modest force with the arch providing direction.

Intermediate Passing and Shooting
The link also featured how to do a high pass. Notice how his foot made contact with the ball. For the ball to fly, the bottom of the ball should be hit while kicking. And to provide direction, the inside part (the toe part) of your foot should be the main contact of the bottom (of the ball)
Shooting the ball is the same as passing by a high ball. Even a rolling pass is considered shooting if it is used to score a goal. So now you see the importance of passing.

Playing soccer is easy; being good at soccer takes a bit more effort. To be competent on the sport, the only way is to practice and play. To be better, yet more practice and playing. But to be the best, again practice and play.

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Junior Soccer Defending - Directing the Play

                

 

http://www.juniorsoccercoach.com
Do your players know whether to show an opponent inside or
outside when they are defending?
You may want to consider this tactic when coaching your
players. There are two schools of thought on this; One says
that your defenders should show the opponents outside
towards the touchline.
The reason for this is that if your player does get beat
then the opponent will still have to get a cross in. Also,
they should be at a more acute angle to get a shot on
target if they have been successfully pushed outside.

The alternative to this is showing the opponents inside,
towards goal. If this is to be your style of play then the
players need to be organised so that there is strength
inside. This can be a risky tactic if players are not
switched on or don't know where to best position
themselves.

Showing them inside would be a good tactic if you where
playing with five in defence with a good sweeper.

If your team lacks some direction on this tactic, then it
will be very difficult for them to get an organised shape
and take a position which is best suited to holding up or
breaking down an attack.

Both young and older players can be coached on this.

As players get older, and become more tactically aware
& proficient in defending techniques, they will be able to
influence the build up play and therefore your defensive
line can react, and adjust, by taking the lead off the first
defender.

Build this simple tactic into some small sided games in
training and watch the beneficial results on match day!
For more Junior Soccer help, drills, exercises and coach
development visit http://www.juniorsoccercoach.comand
join the free junior soccer tip of the week.
Or send a blank email to:
mailto:tips@juniorsoccercoach.com