How to Improve at Soccer in the Winter

Soccer players can try to improve their skills during the winter months by working out indoors. A player can build leg strength for the soccer season by lifting weights during the winter, for instance. The player can develop footwork skills by doing ball handling drills or playing one-on-one soccer against a training partner indoors. To stay in shape for the regular soccer season, a player can run on a gymnasium track or join an indoor soccer league.

Things You'll Need

  • Gym membership
  • Weightlifting equipment
  • Soccer gear
  • Racquetball court
  • Watch
  • Training partner
  • Indoor soccer team
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Instructions

    • 1

      Join a gym that has a hamstring curl machine, a squat rack and a calf raise machine to increase your leg strength for soccer. Use the weightlifting equipment to train your legs three times a week. Do three sets of 10 for each exercise that you perform. Increase the amount of weight that you lift as your legs grow stronger.

    • 2

      Run indoors at the gym to increase your fitness level for soccer. If the gym has an indoor track, run laps for 20 minutes three times a week. Play basketball to work on your fitness if the gym does not have a track. You can also jump rope if you cannot find a gym in your area that has an indoor sports court.

    • 3

      Juggle a soccer ball on a racquetball court at the gym to improve your ball control skills. Juggle the ball with your feet, knees and head. Train on your own or with a partner who also plays soccer. Wear a watch so you can keep track of how long you juggle the ball without letting it touch the court. Have a competition with your training partner to see who can juggle the ball the longest. Juggle for at least 30 minutes three times a week.

    • 4

      Play ball possession games on a racquetball court with a partner. Dribble a soccer ball on the racquetball court while your partner tries to steal the ball from you. Stop play momentarily if the ball goes into a corner so you avoid a potential injury. Let your partner have a turn and try to stop him from possessing the ball. Play for at least 30 minutes each time you train on the racquetball court.

    • 5

      Join an indoor soccer team to stay in shape during the winter. Playing on an indoor team will also help you to keep your competitive edge. Ask some of your outdoor soccer teammates to join your team so they can also stay in shape during the winter.