How to Play Soccer

Soccer is fun, for children and adults. It is easy and so much fun to play that you really have something great to look forward to, even those that do not know how to play soccer. You will learn in no time.

Play for fun, with your friends or on a team. The most important is that you focus on how fun it is to play.

You can play one on one, with a friend and all the way up to 11 against 11, with a judge and two lines men or woman.

If you refer to how the game officially is played, on a soccer pitch, then 22 players, 11 on each team is the basic rule.

The pitch is like 64 meters wide and about 110 meters long. On each end of the 110 meters, there is a goal where the main purpose of the game is to kick the ball inside the net of the opposite teams goal.

Each team has a goal keeper that is aloud to use his or her hands to save the ball.

The goal keeper has an area of 16 meters from the goal where he can keep the ball in his hands. However he has to kick or throw the ball away, preferably to a player on his team, before he has kept the ball in his hands for 7 seconds.

A standard line up is 4-4-2. That means that a team has a lineup of 4 defenders, 4 midfielders and two attackers.

When your team has the ball in their possession it is a team effort to try to pass the ball, dribble and shoot the ball in the back of the net of the other teams goal.

The same team effort is put forth to try to stop and win the ball back when the opposition has the ball and trying to put the ball in the back of the net behind your own goal keeper.

If you would like to know how to play soccer just for fun, it can be done everywhere, just make two goals of stones or two t-skirts or what ever. Divide the player into two team and start playing.

Remember, one of the ground rules, is that it is only the goal keeper that are aloud to use his hands.

You can even play by yourself, by training your self to be a better dribbler or to pas the ball, or to juggle the ball for better control.

All in all, how to play soccer is a very broad question but playing soccer can be done by everyone everywhere.

Did you now that soccer is one of the largest sports in the world?

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Youth Soccer Drills

There are several things that the coaches need to keep in mind while giving lessons to the players during youth soccer drills:

Receiving The Ball

When it comes to youth soccer drills, there are several key teaching points in receiving the ball. These key points are as follows.

The coach must teach the players about how to get in the line of flight of the ball.

The players should learn to present the body part to the ball the right and the impressive way.

One of the most important things for the coaches is to teach the players that they must have their eyes on the ball at the moment of contact.

The coach should teach the players that they should Cushion the body part while receiving the ball, just as if they are as in catching an egg.

How To Strike A Ball

It is very sad to see that many coaches do not teach the players the correct way to strike a ball. The right way of striking the ball is something that can make the ball to go straight in the air with velocity.

It is the duty of the coaches to teach the players about this technique in a correct way. One of the best methods that the coaches can use to show this technique to the players is to show them NFL place kickers or MLS goalkeepers taking a goal kick.

However, these techniques can be listed as follows.

The players must keep in mind that the ball should be out of their feet. The obvious reason is that they will not be able to kick the ball over distance if it is underneath them.

The player?s approach must be slightly from the side.

A long hop or driving step is the final step, which places the support foot alongside the ball. The coaches should teach the players that their support foot must point towards the target. What is more, head must be steady, and eyes must be on the ball. Further, the player?s left hand should point at the target.

Coaching youth soccer drills is an important task and it must be taught the correct way.

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of youth soccer drills. His web site, Soccer Drills and Tips, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

Soccer Shirts

In comparison to other sports, soccer enjoys a respectable reputation and endless fan following. The English, European and Spanish soccer leagues along with other teams have allowed the world to be a part of the soccer revelry. This intense ninety-minute sport is an adrenaline rush and can make or break a country's sporting status.

Numerous amateurs, regulars and professionals practice soccer as a relaxation activity, hobby and as professional players. When soccer gained a reputation as a competitive and professional sport, comparable to other games, soccer shirts were introduced. The main reason being they served as a uniform. Soccer shirts allow team members to recognize each other and viewers can display their loyalty by wearing favorite team soccer shirts.

Apart from providing a professional and sporty look, which helps distinguish between teams, soccer shirts are made keeping in mind the wearers needs. The correct size, fit and material usage assists professionals and plays a major role in their performance. When selecting soccer shirts customers need to check comfort levels. This is because tight soccer shirts obstruct free movement and players' concentration. Soccer shirts that are worn by league or team players are essentially uniforms are mostly loose fitting. This is because players are dependent upon free movement of the arms, shoulders and hips. For aficionados and cheerleaders soccer shirt preferences vary. They may opt for tight fits and shirts that are stylish.

Soccer shirts are mostly short sleeved and some goalkeepers may choose to wear long sleeved designs. They may or may not have buttons on the face and are made of user-friendly materials that can give relief when players sweat during play. This includes cotton, blends of cotton and polyester, rayon or polyester. Numbers, names, designs, logos and players names may be embroidered, screen-printed or patched on soccer shirts.

Shirts provides detailed information on Shirts, T Shirts, Custom Shirts, Funny T Shirts and more. Shirts is affiliated with Board Shorts.

English Soccer - England's Football League Division One Review

It would appear that Swindon Town have been keeping an eye on Football England recently, at least that's what I'm claiming anyway. Since I tipped them as most likely to stay up in the now ferocious relegation battle, they haven't put a foot wrong.

This was confirmed by another good win at home to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

The 2-1 victory, gives them three on the bounce on the row, and confidence seems to have been restored. Any struggling teams yet to visit the County Ground - beware.

Manager Iffy Onoura was well pleased with the latest result, and also seems optimistic of survival. Perhaps he's also in a good mood because the proposed television project featuring Big Ron has been booted into row z, early doors.

At the top, Southend reconfirmed their promotion credentials with a fine 2-0 away defeat of Yeovil, which keeps them top. Shaun Goater scored the second, and his goals could be vital in the remainder of the season.

Brentford too perhaps have been reading this column. Last week I voiced a concern that letting DJ Campbell disappear to Birmingham for a pittance could harm their promotion aspirations. Seems I'm wrong.

The Bees absolutely paggered Walsall 5-0, proving that they can score without the DJ (League one player of the month for Jan), and heaping misery on a forlorn Paul Merson. Brentford still look nicely poised, sitting 5th with games in hand. Walsall look to be in terminal decline, and Merson has hinted that he will quit if results don't improve.

Colchester continue to make us marvel at their impressive record this term. A comfortable 3-1 home win over Bradford City, after going 1-0 down racks up a club record of nine consecutive wins, and perhaps more impressively winning 19 out of 21.

Bradford went ahead through stocky veteran Dean Windass just before half time - the chunky striker is still a force to be reckoned with at this level. The game, now a tough test, was turned by the inspirational Richard Garcia who headed home twice early in the secone half. Garcia has now notched 6 in his last 4 games. A confident display was rounded off by Chris Iwelumo, also heading in just after the hour.

Colchester must now believe they can go up without the lottery of the play offs - they sit second, 1 point behind Southend, with a game in hand.

Also at the top, Barnsley have slipped in unnoticed in recent weeks, while others have floundered. A 2-0 victory over Bristol City at home this weekend lifts them into fourth spot. Much of this recent form can be attributed to striker Marc Richards, who bagged both goals, bringing his tally to 10 in the last 15 outings. His first was an exquisite finish after lobbing a defender on his approach.

Back at the bottom, a predictable dour affair between Rotherham & Hartlepool ended 0-0. Both these sides are in deep trouble and must turn the corner soon or bye bye. Hartlepool were under the instruction of Youth team coach Paul Stephenson for the first time after the much publicised turmoil at the club. Hopefully he can get them on track.

MK Dons look to be adrift without a paddle after going down 2-0 to Scunthorpe. Scunny will be glad of the points to keep them above water, thanks again to their prolific goal getter Billy Sharp. Another brace for Sharp put the game away after just 10 minutes.

As for the Dons - it looks like they are going. Will anybody miss them?

Blackpool continue to show great determination at home, and look to have what it takes to stay up. The Seasiders were very unlucky to take only the 1 point from their home meeting with Notts Forest.

A creditable 8,399 turned out for this 2-2 draw in which Blackpool were always in control, until the last minute equaliser by Forest's Julian Bennett.

Oldham Athletic tripped themselves up by going down 1-0 in an eminently winnable game at home to Port Vale. This leaves the Latics adrift by 7 points from the play off spots. Manager Ronnie Moore knows he has to improve quickly.

Finally, Chesterfield kept up their unbeaten run and their play off hopes with a late home equaliser against Gillingham. Chesterfiald lie in 7th, with the Gills out of trouble, for the moment.

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Norbert Wartle is Football correspondent for Football England. All content Copyright www.football-england.com © 2005-2006

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