Tips on How to Play Soccer

In learning how to play soccer, it is necessary for players to familiarize themselves with a number of defense and offense formations.

The two most basic defenses are man-to-man and zone. Sometimes combinations of these are developed.

Man-To-Man Defense

The man-to-man defense is much the same as in basketball where one defender follows one offensive player wherever he goes.

This defense can be particularly good in keeping the best players on the opposing team from scoring as they are constantly being shadowed. It is also easy to break up plays when using a man-to-man defense if the ability of one player is greater than that of the other. Plays can be broken up and interceptions made.

The man-to-man defense does have weaknesses, especially if the opposing team can draw a player out of position, leaving a gap from which an attacking player can get an advantage on moving up or scoring. This is why man-to-man defenses may use a sweeper to roam around and take on any offensive players who have escaped their defender. The sweeper is not assigned to any one player and thus is free to roam at will.

Zone Defense

Learning how to play soccer also entails learning to play the zone defense. A zone defense is set up in two lines across the width of the area of play - one is the defender line and one is the midfielder line. These lines should be as straight as possible with coverage across the field.

In a zone defense, the idea is to keep opponents from being able to score by pressuring them when they reach a certain point of their attack. The zone has different formations of players depending on the style of the other team.

A classic formation would be 4-4-2 with four people in defender positions, four midfielders, and two forwards making up the layout.

Soccer Formations

Which soccer formations a team uses depends on the make-up of the team. Consider if players have the speed or defense for one formation or another.

How strong are the players?

Do they have the individual speed and endurance to play man-to-man over the course of a match?

The other teams’ strengths and weaknesses also need to be considered as well as which players might be matched up with each other.

Many teams choose to use a combination of man-to-man and zone defenses at different times during a match.

Physical Soccer Skills

Learning to play soccer requires that you have knowledge of the seventeen rules of soccer as well as of the mental and physical skills necessary to play the game.

Physical abilities include:

Pace

Stamina

Strength

All of which can be worked on and increased as time goes on.

Mental Skills In Soccer

You'll also need to develop the necessary mental skills, such as:

Playing under stress

Aggression

Creativity

Anticipation

Positioning

All of these skills can be developed as players increase their experience.