Simple Tips for Beginner Soccer Players

I’m going to give you two very simple tips for when you’re just starting out in soccer: practice alone and watch soccer. Both of these activities require no one else’s help, and you are in total control! No one has to tell you what to do. Isn’t that a great feeling sometimes?

1. Practicing Alone

Practicing alone is something I really enjoyed as a kid and still enjoy as an adult. I could get up, train whenever I liked, and practice whatever skill I wanted.

Find a time that consistently works for you. Is it before school? After school? During PE? Are you in college? If so, between classes or on the weekends?

Stick to that time. You don’t have to train every day unless you really want to. Sometimes we get busy or tired for various reasons. Be careful not to turn your reasons into excuses.

Think about the areas you want to improve in. Is it your first touch? Is it your ability to handle the ball with your weaker foot? Do you want to be able to run for long periods without getting tired?

Write down a plan before you train. This will help you stick to it. Write down how much time you want to train and create exercises for your session. You can learn how to create your own session plan here.

Repetition is the mother of skill. The more you train, the better you’ll be. It’s that simple. I’m not sure if this is true—you can do your own research—but I read that David Beckham used to practice 30 to 40 free kicks every day. Repetition is important, but you need to make sure that when you train, your technique is crisp. Every repetition you take must be clean, feel the same, and look the same as the previous one. Your last few reps need to be as good as your first few. A good way to ensure you’re performing the right mechanics and technique is to watch soccer.

2. Watching Soccer

Watching soccer is the perfect visual aid for players to improve their technical skills and understanding of the game. There are hundreds of games played in many different countries across the globe. There are lots of different leagues consisting of various levels. You have top leagues like the Bundesliga in Germany and La Liga in Spain. You have lower leagues like the MLS and NWSL in the US and Eliteserien in Norway. You have local leagues in your city and college soccer in the US. Whatever you’re watching, pick out a few players you like. Look at their playing style. Pay attention to how they handle the ball and what they do when they don’t have the ball.

Social media is also a great way to directly improve your technical ability. Get on YouTube and search “how to…” when looking to improve certain skills. One thing I really had fun with, and that helped me improve on the ball, was watching my favorite players’ highlights on YouTube. I loved watching Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Robinho, Zidane, Henry, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

I started training alone when I was about 10 years old because I loved it so much, and I figured there was a world of soccer I could discover on my own. It was a really cool feeling. I loved the challenge and getting better. When I was probably 12, I started taking training alone a lot more seriously. Fun was important to me, so I made sure it was enjoyable, but I always tried hard to accomplish the things I wanted to. Soccer was introduced to me at the age of 8, and after starting to train at a young age in my backyard, I knew I could be good at soccer if I really wanted to be and if I really tried.

If you are a beginner player, I hope you love the game and are inspired by these two tips to improve your technical skills and understanding of the game. Let me know how I can help you on your journey and what I can do for you. I wish you the best and have fun!

See you when I see you,

Coach Ashleigh