Tips on becoming a better soccer player

by Jake
(Camp Zama, Japan)

Hey my name is Jake and I'm 16. When I first started playing soccer, I was 9. I had no clue what to do and I was a total failure. However, my coach gave me some tips on practicing and I found them extremely helpful. I want to pass these on to other soccer players who want to get better.

These tips made me a whole lot better.

1. Practice running with the ball, as fast as you can run with it. This will help you get more comfortable with the ball and you will gain more and more control over the ball.

2. Practice dribbling (try around cones or markers).

3. Try juggling the ball. First with one foot, then the other. This is probably the best thing you could do to improve balance, control over the ball, and eye-foot coordination.

4. Go to the gym and get in shape. Building endurance is a key point to becoming a better player.

5. Play in as many games as you can, and try to play as many positions. That way, you know which position to depend on while playing and it will help you understand your job on the field.

Just keep on practicing, and if you don’t see some improvement at first, don’t worry about it. With practice I guarantee 100% that you will get better. I hope this will help you the way it has helped me!