Soccer Moves

Running

The most fundamental of soccer moves is running. Soccer players can run several miles in one game if they are actively involved, which means that players at all levels need to understand the importance of and techniques behind running.

As soccer moves go, running is also one of the easiest. It requires athletes to develop endurance and provides a healthy heart. Players can practice running by themselves and without additional equipment. To run properly, athletes should keep their backs straight and their heads up, focusing on landing on the ball of the foot and pushing off again as quickly as possible. Doing this helps keep the momentum up instead of letting it absorb into the ground, making it more difficult to push off again.

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Faking

No discussion of soccer moves would be complete without a mention of faking. Soccer players have to learn to effectively fake an opponent in order to keep control of the ball, gain control of the ball, and outmaneuver a goalkeeper.

Faking is as much about mental strength as physical strength. A player has to convince their opponent, through eye movements, head movements, and body signals, which way they are going to go. Then, the player must command the body to do the opposite, catching the opponent off-guard and ensuring that the player is successful.

To successfully fake, players must use their eyes, heads, and body momentum. The eyes usually lead the body where it is going to go, so players should train their eyes in the direction they wish the opponent to go. In the same way, the head is usually turned in the direction the body will go. Players must develop fast enough muscles to begin to move in one direction and stop suddenly, reversing course and getting past an opponent before that opponent can recover.

The final trick to faking is to make it believable. Players must commit themselves entirely to moving in the fake direction before changing course. If not, the opponent will realize the strategy and compensate with enough time to stop the player from succeeding. Fakes are often called upon in 1v1 soccer situations.

Mental Moves

The mental moves required in soccer are as important as the physical ones, and often harder to develop. Mental moves include the strategy, decision-making, and personal toughness required in sports. Soccer, in addition, is a highly strategic game that requires players to always be thinking one step ahead of the opponent.

In soccer, mental preparedness is key. When soccer coaching, it is important to develop players for mental toughness by using techniques such as visualization, role-play, and meditation to calm players and focus them for the competition ahead. To help athletes prepare for situations that require quick decision-making, coaches should simulate competitions, letting athletes try their hand at strategy and quick thinking. Then, together with the team, the coach can dissect the simulation and comment on good and bad decisions by players.

By including players in the development process and showing what went right and what went wrong, coaches can show athletes how they need to develop mentally. Just like with physical soccer moves, coaches must correct the techniques and execution of mental moves.

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