There aren’t a lot of team sports that are both as rewarding and physically demanding as soccer. If you’re one of countless soccer fans that have always wanted to play competitively, there’s no better time to start than the present. It’s important to be well-informed about what to expect and develop a solid practice regimen to prepare. Even after you’ve joined a team, if you wish to be competitive, it’s critical that you maintain a regular, if not rigorous, daily practice routine to keep your body and skills up to par. There are a variety of ways to get into the game and some of the most effective are listed here. With any new skill, it’s important to take your time and to increase any type of daily exertion incrementally. If you were to start out with the practice routine of a professional, you will burn yourself out immediately and risk injury. You’re not going to achieve pro level abilities overnight, so don’t try. Besides, it doesn’t have to be difficult at first. Start small and work your way up. Patience, tenacity and dedication are the most important tools to bring and, when applied in the right way, practically guarantee you a position on a competitive team.
1. Nurture a passion for the game. If the thought of cleats, morning dew on the field, and a checkered ball doesn’t raise your heart rate, you might as well give up before you get started. To be truly competitive at any sport requires powerful motivation. It’s true that some days you may be less excited to get out and practice than others, but if you can’t quickly motivate yourself with a thought of scoring that goal, you’re going to be running uphill the whole time. Beyond the obvious of watching professionals on TV at the local pub, take time to go to local games and imagine yourself in their shoes. Put a soccer ball somewhere in your home where it can call to you every day – one in every room is not overdoing it. Surround yourself with images of soccer’s finest, doing what they do best. Want it, and want it badly.
2. Know the game. For many sport enthusiasts, studying does not fall on the list of favorite ways to spend an afternoon; however, learning the ins and outs of the game is critical if you wish to play competitively someday. But you don’t need to learn it all in one day. In truth, learning the rules of soccer is fairly easy to do and shouldn’t take too long. Understanding all the tricks and nuances will take a good deal longer. Set aside 10 minutes a day to study a portion of the rules. When you watch the next big match, try to run through all the rules you recognize in your mind. You’ll be an expert before you know it. A list of rules can be found here.
3. Practice. This is easily the most important part of being a competitive player. Daily training is absolutely essential if you wish to get onto a good team and cannot be rushed or taken lightly. Remember, you can easily run through some standard daily practice routines if you wish to be an average player, but the goal here is to be exceptional. Besides practicing dribbling, passing and shooting drills, it’s important to work on specific supportive fitness exercises. Running laps and other speed drills are a highly effective part of regular practice. A good question to ask yourself is: what kind of drills do the pros use? Search online for some simple exercises to begin with and, once you’re ready, increase the intensity and amount of your drills. Once you’ve gotten comfortable with some basic routines, seek out others in your area to practice with.
4. Network with other Soccer fans. Finding other like-minded soccer fans is a crucial step in achieving your goal. For practice, it will be important to work with others to run drills and practice games. However, beyond that, you should try to talk to a wide variety of soccer fans to broaden your own horizons and stay up to date with what’s going on in the soccer world. Regular and stimulating conversation will also keep your passion for the game alive. The best resources for this type of networking are found online. Kopworld.net is an excellent website devoted to soccer fans. Interact with as many as you can and make some new friends. With ideas flowing freely, you’ll be well on your way to having the inside scoop on the game.
