Training for Soccer: How to Get Started

Soccer training comprises various skills that you have to learn and perfect. Before getting on the field to play against another team, you should ensure that you are conversant with the rules and that your body is strong enough to handle different activities.

When training for soccer, your coach will guide you on ball control, shooting, kicking, dribbling, and scoring. Soccer involves intense and vigorous activities that require a sound mind and a fit body. You will also need speed, agility, and balance as you run around the field, performing duties assigned to your respective position.

It would help if you did the following to get started on soccer training:

• Work on Positioning and Fitness

Fitness requirements in soccer training rely on your playing position. For example, if you are a midfielder, you must focus on improving your stamina, foot stability, and speed. This position involves continuous running and swiftness to receive, control and pass the ball as fast as possible.

Goalkeepers need to be fast in thinking and acting. Powerful reactions help you prevent the ball from getting behind the goalposts, adding to your opponent's victory chances.

As a defender, you must invest in strength training for your upper and lower body. Your muscles must also be strong enough to accommodate the sprinting speed and ball-blocking skills that come with this position.

• Set the Timer

Allocating a specific period towards a particular workout or skill training gives you a clearer purpose on the field. For example, you can set 30 to 60 minutes of shooting skills training before focusing on first ball reception, passing, dribbling, and controlling. 

You can also split your warm-up routine into achievable portions like 10 minutes of jogging, 60-seconds sprints, body stretches, and presses, among other simple workouts.

• Engage in Scrimmages and Mock Soccer Games

Practicing as you play creates a more accurate image of how far you are from perfecting your skills. Often, your coach creates two teams, and your teammates play as the opponents while you play on the offensive team. 

These games apply fundamental soccer rules that you should follow in an actual game. You can switch positions as often as possible to assess your strong and weak points. Playing in various positions also equips you with comprehensive fitness training.

• Agility and Endurance Training

Soccer is a vigorous sport that needs endurance and patience. Long-distance running, biking, swimming, and jogging uphill are among the most recommended stamina-building methods. Depending on your determination, you can set an additional 30 to 60 minutes of your time for endurance training away from what your coach requires you to do during practice.

Cone runs, ladder drills, box, and hurdle jumps are typical agility workouts. They can also help you train on speed and changing direction since the ball keeps rolling from one side of the field to the other.

• Explore Your Full Potential

You must learn your limits when soccer training and push yourself to the best level. Train like you're in an actual match and give it your best whenever you step into the field. 

During training, you can work out until you get tired and rest for a few minutes to reward your body's resilience. Afterward, you can stretch your limits with sprints and finish strong by jogging around. In addition, you can engage a like-minded teammate and become each other's accountability partners, keeping tabs on how far you are to achieving your goals.

• Improve Your Ball Control Ability

Your ability to control the ball determines how well you pass it to the next player or shoot it into the goalpost. Proper ball control is achievable when you make the first touch and ensure the ball remains close.

You can gain ball control skills by training on juggling and mastering close touch techniques. For example, keep your head up when dribbling the ball instead of fixing your gaze on it. This drill improves your focus and lets you plan the next move by assessing the other players' formation and spacing.

Ball control training also involves kicking the ball using different parts of your foot, like the toe tips, side, and laces. Using the top of your foot to hit the ball enhances precision, and the ball can reach your target without a follow-through.

• Practice Turning 

Fast turning prevents you from losing the ball to the opponent's defense. It also helps you prepare to receive the ball if the other player calls for you from behind. 

Turning with the ball can be challenging, but your body's flexibility determines your success. It would help if you constantly practiced how to make this drill while the ball remains at your feet. Controlled turning enables you to pass the ball or score a goal without hesitation.

In conclusion, soccer training comprises many workout exercises that you can combine to increase your skills. The main focus points in soccer include agility, strength, stability, and the ability to control the ball. 

Participating in scrimmages gives an overview of how aggressive an actual match is, preparing you to handle the challenges. You can get a partner to gauge your achievements and push you towards your utmost potential. In addition, you are playing in different positions when training can help you discover other skills and make you a multi-talented player.