Simple Soccer Techniques

Stretching

• When stretching try and use the ball as much as you can.
• Stretching should be kept short and simple for the young kids.

Dribbling

• Angle your feet so the wide surfaces of your feet are making contact with the ball.
• Keep your eyes on the ball BUT look up between touches.
• Keep the ball close.
• Start practicing dribbling slowly and progress.
• You must understand – just kicking the ball and running after it is NOT dribbling.

Shielding

• One foot close to the ball and one foot back.
• Arms stretched out and down the side, make your arms rigid and strong.
• Keep your back and hip facing the opposition.
• Be on your toes ready to shift left or right.

Inside Hook Turn

• Plant foot next to the ball.
• Keep your eyes on the ball.
• Pivot on your plant foot and drag round with the inside of the foot.
• Keep your foot a little off the floor.

Outside Hook Turn

• Plant foot next to the ball.
• Keep your eyes on the ball.
• Pivot on your plant foot and push round with the outside of the foot.
• Push off non
• kicking foot.
• Keep your foot a little off the floor.

Stop Turn

• Put foot on the ball
• Stop ball – do not drag back.
• Turn back around.
• Take ball and accelerate away.

Pullback Turn

• Eyes on the ball.
• Plant foot next to the ball.
• Pull ball back from bottom of heel to toe.
• Keep your belly button always facing the ball.

Push Pass

• Place your non kicking foot (plant foot) next to the ball, knees slightly bent.
• Plant foot should point towards the target.
• Bend your kicking leg.
• Put your weight on your plant foot.
• Rotate your kicking leg at the hip at a 90 degrees angle and make sure the ankles are locked and rigid on the kicking foot.
• Keep your eyes on the ball when striking the ball and strike the center of the ball with the inside of the foot.
• For more power in the pass, follow your kicking leg all the way through the ball.

Instep Kick

• Place your plant foot next to the ball pointed towards the target.
• Bend your knees slightly.
• Put your weight on non kicking foot.
• Balance with your arms.
• Bend your kicking leg and withdraw your leg.
• Lock your ankle on your kicking foot with your toes pointing towards the floor.
• Keep your eyes on the ball when striking the ball. Keep your head, knee and foot all in a line over the ball on the impact when kicking.
• Strike the middle of the ball with the laces of your shoe with toe remaining pointed towards the ground.
• For more power follow your kicking leg through the ball when striking.

Bottom of Foot Control

• Keep your eyes on the ball when controlling.
• Lift controlling foot off the floor with toes pointing in the air at a 45% angle.
• Gently bring controlling foot down on the ball, like an alligators mouth chomping on the ball.

Side of Foot Control

• Keep your eyes on the ball when controlling.
• Raise the toe up on the receiving foot.
• Raise the foot from the ground a little.
• Withdraw the controlling leg back as the ball arrives.
• Let the middle of the ball hit the inside of the foot.

Body Control

• When controlling a bouncing ball allow the ball to hit your legs or body.
• Try and make contact with the ball as it’s hitting the floor at its lowest point.
• Move forward and lean over and into the ball.

Toe Taps

• Keep on your toes.
• Gently start of by just tapping the top of the ball changing feet.
• Add a hop and tap the ball.

Block Tackle

• Plant foot next to the ball.
• Tackling foot pointing out with the inside of the foot facing the ball, toes pointing slightly up.
• Both knees slightly bent.
• Lean over the ball.
• Strike the middle of the ball with inside of the foot.
• Make sure the striking leg is slightly bent.
• Ankles should be locked and strong.

Throw-Ins

• Hands behind the ball in a “W” shape, thumbs close together.
• Put the ball behind the head as if you were scratching your back with the ball.
• Both feet must remain on the floor until the ball has been released from the hands.
• Pretend the kids are wearing big steel boots that are very heavy and can’t leave the floor.

Juggling

• Keep your eyes on the ball when juggling.
• Be ready to adjust your feet and body by being on your toes.
• Strike the middle of the ball.
• Start with simple thigh juggles back into the hands.
• Then use the foot to juggle. Striking with the laces, foot pointing out and toes pointing slightly upwards.
• Progress to thigh then foot juggles.
• Make up different combinations.