How to Be Successful in Soccer

Starting young makes a huge difference in soccer success. Lionel Messi and Mia Hamm, for example, both started playing the game at age 5 and kicking the ball even earlier. While you can't hop in a time machine and get your earlier, kindergarten self working at skills and drills, you can dedicate yourself to achieving soccer success, even in middle age.

Things You'll Need

  • Plastic cones
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Instructions

    • 1

      Work on the technical elements of soccer: dribbling, passing, receiving, heading and finishing. Combine playing in scrimmages, pickup and real games with practice with teammates and even kicking the ball against a wall to get as many repetitions and touches under your belt as you can.

    • 2

      Polish your tactical game, which in simple terms involves knowing where to stand to benefit your team as a match unfolds. Increase your understanding of tactics by working on team defense or switching the point of attack from one side of the field to the other with long passes. Move into a new position right after passing to receive a return pass or make overlapping runs, going from the back or middle of the field to the front, to receive a return pass from a midfield teammate.

    • 3

      Run sprints, change direction as you dribble through cones and rest the day after games to increase your fitness, agility and endurance. Add strength-training sessions twice a week to work on leg, core and upper-body strength. Focus on a healthy diet with carbohydrates to fuel your muscles, fat only in modest quantities to keep your weight at a healthy level and protein to rebuild muscles.

    • 4

      Include the mental game of soccer as part of your success project. Focus on making good decisions and staying positive, especially if you play goalkeeper. Study the game in terms of its top players by watching games in person or on television, looking for examples of mental strength as exemplified by late comebacks and of creativity shown by scoring when faced with a stifling defense.

    • 5

      Stay late after practice to work on your weak points, especially your weak foot. Take inspiration from players such as David Beckham, who took hundreds of extra kicks to develop a right foot that can bend balls and create goals and assists.