47 Soccer Tips for Victory On and Off the Field (2024)
Are you looking for soccer tips to become a better player? Do you have dreams of playing professionally or D1 college?
I’ve been playing soccer ever since I can remember and I’ve played at decent levels in the U.S soccer pyramid from UPSL to University. My goal has always been to play at the highest level, and it still is, but my passion has also shifted to helping other soccer players, youth to adults, become their best selves on and off the field.
I graduated from SJSU with a degree in Kinesiology: Rehab science and before I graduated I thought I wanted to go into Physical Therapy and help players after they got injured. Now that I graduated I have shifted my focus to helping players not get injured in the first place and help them unlock elite athleticism so that they can better express themselves on the pitch.
I am grateful for my education and for the professor’s I’ve had and I learned a lot during my college years, but I have learned life-changing information from other resources about performance, injury prevention, and health that sometimes goes completely against the things I was taught in school. The following tips includes everything I wish I knew when I was younger about unlocking elite performance and health as a footballer.
By applying the tips on this list you may be able to achieve exponential progress in your journey to the next level.
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Play the Game
This sounds very obvious, but the best way to improve as a player is by playing the beautiful game as much as possible. If you are really serious about becoming a better player, then you should be in a team environment and be training consistently every week with the goal of becoming the best player on that team, if you are not already.
Once you become the best player there you need to join a better team, become the best player there, and repeat until you reach the level you are satisfied with, or until you get scouted by a bigger team. Also, on days off from team training you should still be touching the ball and playing variations of the game such as small sided games, pick up games, futsal, and beach soccer.
Understand the game
Soccer is a simple game, but playing simple is not easy and to play simple you have to understand the game which means knowing the rules of the game, terminology, tactics, positions, formations, basic skills, and you must have a good understanding of what makes professional soccer players elite in the first place.
Develop a real passion for the game
Passion for the game is something that everyone feels differently. To improve as a player one of the first things you have to do is develop a real passion for the game. This will help fuel everything you do and help you remember why you stared playing in the first place. Players that are able to foster that inner fire and motivation usually make it further than those who are not intrinsically motivated.
Don’t get injured
This next tip is something very simple, but it is something a lot of players struggle with. The best advice I can give you when it comes to injuries is to read this blog on soccer injury prevention tips. Remember if you are injured you cannot play the game and if you cannot play the game you cannot get better so do everything in your control to not get injured and stay healthy on the field.
Improve your mindset
Talent and athleticism are what help players stand out, but it is the mindset that helps players stay at that high level and go even higher. Check out the following article to read our best tips to develop a winning soccer mindset.
Play other Sports
Cross training is an excellent way to improve athletic performance and help decrease the risk of injury. Playing other sports gets you familiar with movements that don’t usually occur in a soccer game, which enhances your coordination, overall body control, and athleticism, which can indirectly make you a better soccer player.
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Train your breathing
Your breath is directly related to your biomechanics, or how you move, and vice versa. Fixing your breathing patterns by using our breathing techniques for soccer players will enhance performance, stamina, and overall health.
Train your fascia and tendons
Most soccer players follow a traditional weight training program that is based on the foundations of bodybuilding and cadaver science. This mainstream muscle-based way of training can be beneficial, but only after you understand and feel the role of fascia in movement, which is the key to effortless athleticism.
Your training should focus more on the elasticity of your fascia, or connective tissue, as well as improve your overall body awareness, and body control. Plyometrics, even as simple as walking, running, and jumping, can be considered fascia training, however there are specific ways to do fascia training that emphasize how you apply fascial tension in the body starting with the feet, hands, tongue and spine.
Spend a lot of time barefoot
Spending time barefoot is very important for proper foot care because it forces you to engage your feet in a more natural way than how you might engage your feet inside the cleats. Barefoot soccer training is also a great way to improve your athleticism, overall ball control, and you get the many proven benefits of grounding therapy.
Work up to being able to play barefoot on concrete
If thinking about playing barefoot on concrete sounds painful, or if you have had pain while playing barefoot, then there is a lot of fascia strength that needs to be built. Most, if not all, of the best soccer players in the world grew up playing barefoot and playing barefoot on concrete with ease should be a standard for all players looking to play at a high level.
Take proper care of your feet
As a soccer player, or a footballer, your feet are your most important tools and you want to make sure your feet work properly by using our foot care tips.
Work with Nature
Simply put, we are part of nature and working with nature will help you in ways you could not have imagined. Working with nature is free and there are daily actions you can start doing today to become more aligned with nature that will help with every aspect of your life that affects health, performance, and recovery.
Fix your Sleep
Sleep is one of the most basic essentials that you should be optimizing daily to improve your performance and recovery. Soccer players need to get 7-8 hours of high quality sleep daily for optimal results. But remember sleep is not just about sleep quantity, but about sleep quality.
Eat healthy food
Nutrition is also one of the most important essentials that players should be optimizing daily. Your body becomes what you consume so you want to be sure that you are eating healthy foods and snacks and avoiding junk food.
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Stay hydrated
Part of proper nutrition is learning about what real hydration is because foods can also be hydrating, not just liquids. Check out this blog to learn more about soccer hydration.
Protect yourself from Non-Native EMF
Non-Native EMF which is the radiation from man made electronics are always interacting with you, even if you cannot see them. Protect yourself from this radiation, which harms your mitochondrial function, with EMF protection products, and you will feel a huge difference in your recovery, energy levels, and mental clarity.
Record your games
Recording your games with a soccer camera is a very effective way to analyze games and figure out what you need to work on and what you’re doing well at. Getting game footage is also good to create highlight videos to send to potential clubs and coaches.
Create a soccer CV or resume
When you record game footage it is important to make a highlight video and a soccer resume to go along with it. This way you can send potential teams your highlights and resume so they have an idea of the type of player you are.
Analyze professional soccer games
Besides analyzing your own games and team performances, it is also very important to analyze professional soccer games to learn from the players that you are trying to become like. Analyze teams from the best leagues in the world or choose your favorite player and figure out what makes them stand out.
Attend live soccer games
There is nothing like attending live soccer games and you may learn a lot more from live matches than by watching games through streaming services. By watching live games you can analyze various players and you can see things that you will not be able to spot in a TV, since the angles are limited. With that being said, watching games through a reliable streaming service is still a great option.
Train with quality equipment
Training with high quality gear and equipment can improve the quality of your training sessions and help you make better use of your limited time. Check out this blog on the best soccer training equipment for a full list of equipment that is actually worth your money.
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Buy a lot of training balls
Having a lot of soccer balls allows you to spend more time training instead of ball shagging, which can make training sessions more efficient and fluid. Think about it, wouldn’t you rather have a shooting session with ten soccer balls instead of just two?
Buy a soccer ball bag
If you are going to buy a lot of soccer training balls then it would also be wise to invest in a soccer ball bag. This is a very helpful piece of equipment that can make transporting the rest of your equipment much easier.
Have a reliable ball pump
Almost just as important as the soccer ball itself is a ball pump. A reliable ball pump is one of the most essential pieces of equipment that will help keep your soccer balls at the right air pressure.
Wear Wide Soccer Cleats
Wearing wide soccer cleats is a great way to take care of your feet because these types of shoes usually provide more room and comfort than regular cleats.
Wear Leather Soccer Cleats
Even better than wide soccer cleats are wide leather soccer cleats because these cleats naturally mold to the shape of your feet and provide a truly custom fit. Leather cleats might be a bit more expensive than synthetic cleats, but you can definitely find some high quality cheap cleats made of leather.
Wear barefoot shoes outside of training
Outside of training it is also very important to wear the right footwear. One of the tips on this list was to be barefoot as much as possible, which you should do, but when you have to use shoes try to use barefoot shoes.
Buy comfortable shin guards that suit your playing style
There are various types of shin guards and not everyone likes the same ones. Some players like smaller shin guards, but some like bigger ones, so try various designs and see what suits you best. Just make sure the shin guards fit you properly and use shin guard sleeves if you have to.
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Consider cutting your team socks
Sometimes your team socks are not very comfortable and investing in high-quality grip socks or regular socks can be a great investment. If you invest in a high quality pair of socks you also need to learn how to wear them properly, which involves cutting the socks and using a pair of pre-cut socks.
Have a soccer bag to transport essentials easily
Having a soccer bag with designated compartments for your cleats, training ball, and other essentials is a very convenient way to transport your items from one place to the next.
Invest in a quality soccer goal
If you do not have access to a full sized soccer goal, or even of similar size, then investing in a quality soccer goal can be very beneficial. Shooting at goal is one of the most important parts of the game that you have to be training consistently no matter what position you play because getting better at shooting can translate to getting better at passing and crossing the ball.
Train with walls or with rebounders
When you have to train individually it is best to train with walls, but oftentimes finding walls to train on can be hard. This is where rebounders come in. A soccer rebounder can bounce the ball back to you without ever getting tired, similar to a wall, making it one of the most beneficial pieces of soccer equipment.
Read books of your favorite soccer players
Reading soccer books is a great way to improve your mentality as well as learn valuable lessons from your favorite players. I suggest starting out with a book of your favorite player, especially if you are new to reading, so that you can get the hang of it.
Watch documentaries of your favorite soccer teams
Watching soccer documentaries of your favorite players and teams is a great way to get behind the scenes looks at some of the biggest names in soccer. Similar to reading books, this is a great way to learn more about the game.
Listen to Soccer Podcasts and Interviews
Another great way to learn about the game is by listening to soccer podcasts and interviews. Podcasts and interviews are great ways to learn more about the game itself, but also about other things that affect performance like health, nutrition, and training.
Listen to podcasts about training and biomechanics
Another great resource, similar to the last one, is to listen to podcasts about training and biomechanics. How you train is one of the most important parts of your entire career so you want to make sure you understand why you are following the program you are following by understanding biomechanics. The Art of Move is the best podcast to learn about essential biomechanics and training topics.
Watch soccer anime
Usually I would say that spending time watching TV shows and using streaming services is a waste of time. However, there is one soccer anime that I highly suggest watching that can actually help improve your game called Ao Ashi.
Play a lot of soccer tennis
Soccer Tennis is a great variation of the game that can improve your touch, control of the ball, and reaction times. You can play soccer tennis as a warm up before a training session or you have an entire session of soccer tennis, ideally with a lot of players to have tournaments.
Play a lot of soccer ping pong
Soccer ping pong is another variation of the game that can greatly improve your touch, technique, and overall game. Again, you can play soccer ping pong as a warm up before training or have tournaments with friends.
Master the basic skills of soccer
Mastering the basic skills of soccer is crucial for optimal development. The essential skills include passing, shooting, dribbling, ball control, crossing, heading, and volleying the ball.
Have a wide variety of skill moves in your toolkit
Soccer is a simple game and you don’t have to master the fanciest tricks to reach a high level. Pick a few skill moves to master and get very comfortable doing them at high speeds and with high pressure.
Be able to play various positions
Being able to play various positions allows you to understand your teammates more and can help you gain new tactical understandings of the game. Also, the more versatile you are the higher chance you have of being chosen into your team starting XI since you can then be considered for various positions.
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Be able to use both feet comfortably
Being able to play with both feet comfortably and efficiently will transform your game. Think about how much faster you can play when you can do everything with both feet instead of worrying about getting the ball to your more dominant side all of the time.
Make scanning automatic
The best players in the world scan the most and are aware of everything going on around them. Scanning helps you read the play and can help you know what the best choice is once you do get the ball. It is also important to think about getting the most information when scanning, not just scanning a lot without gathering information.
Understand the soccer pyramid system in your country
By understanding the soccer pyramid system in your country you find out how you can climb your way to the top. Most soccer systems in the world have a promotion and relegation system, except the MLS in the United States because it follows the format of other major sports in the country, a fixed system.
Learn how to make money as a soccer player
As a soccer player you need money whether that is for equipment, transportation, or trials. There are ways to make money and stay close to soccer so that you can keep learning about the game and get paid along the way.
Invest in yourself and in your dreams
To make your dreams come true you have to invest in yourself and in your dreams. This means investing everything from energy to finance because if you truly want something you have to do everything to make it happen.
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Contact us for Private Training
If you liked the tips on this list and would like to learn more from us, through in-person training or online training, make sure to contact us using the contact form, or you can email, or message us through Instagram. We also run leagues if you’re interested in playing the beautiful game in the Bay Area, California.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get better at soccer fast?
To get better at soccer, start using all of the tips on this list and join the best soccer training program.
Conclusion
In this blog I have provided you with life changing advice and soccer tips that can help make your dreams come true. If I could give you one final tip, it would be to reread this list and think of the many ways you can start applying them today. The sooner you start the sooner you will see results.
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