How to get better at football (soccer)- Three top tips to crush your game.

Evidence Based

Fact Checked

If you’re a passionate soccer player like us, you’ll always be wondering how to get better at soccer. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veteran, there’s always room for improvement when it comes to your soccer skills.

We’re here with the three most important tips on how to take your game up a notch – and your soccer skills to the next level.

Let’s kick off!

How to get better at soccer.

#1 Start by Getting in Shape

how to get better at soccer woman at the gym improving her football fitness

You can’t play soccer if you’re not in shape. It’s that simple!

Soccer is a physically demanding sport, and if you want to be any good at it, you need to have the stamina to run up and down the field for 90 minutes straight.

That means hitting the gym and getting your cardio in. Go for a run, do some jumping jacks, anything to get your heart rate up.

We also love yoga for conditioning and strengthening our body and improving our balance.

Eat healthily too – make sure you’re consuming the right nutrients to fuel your body as you play.

Once you’re in better shape, you’ll be able to stay focused during games or trials and have more energy to put into your playing.

Skills gained: Fitness, Speed, Endurance.

Watch and learn: How to improve your football fitness.

YouTube player

Get in shape: Key takeaways

  • Getting in shape with cardio and strength training is the foundation for good soccer performance.
  • Make sure you’re eating healthily too, to fuel your body for peak performance on the field.

#2 Study the game

soccer tactics to improve game sharpness

In order to get better at anything, it’s important to have a good understanding of what you’re doing!

That’s why studying the game of soccer is so important if you want to take your skills to the next level.

Watch professional matches and analyze what the best players do in different situations. Then try to incorporate those techniques into your own game. This will up your soccer intelligence and vision on the pitch.

Many players use visualisation to give themselves a positive mindset. This means picturing yourself in a game, running around the pitch and scoring goals.

This technique helps to focus your mind on the task at hand and give you that extra bit of motivation.

You can also learn a lot from reading books or articles about soccer tactics and strategy. The more you know about the game, the better equipped you’ll be to make strategic decisions on the field. And that knowledge will help you take your game up a notch. 

Skills gained: Tactics & Strategy, Mental Toughness.

Watch and learn: How to improve your soccer IQ

YouTube player

Study the game: Key takeaways

  • Get an understanding of how high-level players play the game by watching professional matches and studying their techniques.

#3 Practice, Practice, Practice

woman practising her soccer skills to get better

As with anything in life, practice makes perfect—or at least better!

If you want to improve your soccer skills, dedicate some time each week to practicing drills by yourself or with friends.

The more time you spend practicing shooting, dribbling, and passing, the better you will become at them.

In addition to practicing your skills, it’s also important to familiarize yourself with different game scenarios so that you know what to do when those situations arise during an actual game.

The more you practice, the better your skills will be.

Skills gained: Muscle memory, game awareness, teamplay.

Watch and learn: 10 top Soccer drills to practice.

YouTube player

Practice, practice, practice: Key takeaways

  • Dedicate some time each week to practicing drills and familiarizing yourself with different game scenarios.
  • The more you practice, the better your soccer skills will become.

You now have three tips on how to get better at soccer: get in shape, study the game, and practice.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to see an improvement in your soccer skills in no time.

How to get better at dribbling in soccer.

A great drill for getting better at dribbling is running with the ball through cones.

Place four to eight cones in an area and practice weaving in and out of them while keeping the ball close to you. This will help you build up your speed, agility and ball control so that you can become a faster, more confident dribbler.

You can also practice quick feet drills where you bounce the soccer ball between both feet at a fast pace without losing control of it.

This will help build up your coordination and improve your touch on the ball.

Finally, practice your 1v1 dribbling skills by going up against a friend or teammate.

This will help you become more confident and comfortable when it comes to getting past opponents one-on-one.

How to get better at shooting in soccer.

The key to becoming a better shooter in soccer is practice.

Try shooting at a target or goal from various angles and distances, working on both your power shots and finesse shots. This will help you hone your technique so that you can become more accurate with your shots.

When practicing, pay attention to the way you are striking the ball – make sure you’re making solid contact with the top half of the ball for maximum accuracy.

Also focus on following through properly – don’t let your kicking leg drop too quickly after impact as this can lead to inaccurate strikes.

Finally, practice different kinds of free kicks – direct and indirect – so that when presented with an opportunity during a game, you can take full advantage of it.

By consistently practicing your shooting skills, you’ll be sure to improve your accuracy and become a more successful shooter in no time.

With some dedication and hard work, you’ll soon notice an improvement in both your ball control and shooting skills. So don’t get discouraged if progress is slow at first – the more you practice, the better the results will be!

How to get better at defending in soccer.

To become a better defender in soccer, you need to master the art of positioning and anticipation.

Start by learning how to stay between your opponent and the goal at all times, making it difficult for them to get past you. Also focus on learning when to challenge for the ball and when to back off – timing is key!

Work on improving your communication skills as well, so that you can give clear instructions to your teammates when defending together.

Along with positioning and communication, practice different defensive drills such as tackling, interception, clearing away balls from danger and recovering loose balls as quickly as possible.

This will help build up your confidence and reaction speed so that you can react faster in game situations.

Finally, practice defending against different opponents with different levels of skill – this will help you become more adaptable and comfortable in any given situation.

By following these tips and dedicating some time to practicing your defensive skills, you’ll be sure to improve your ability to defend and become a better overall player.

What can I do everyday to get better at soccer?

Focus, stay positive and have fun!

The final score.

Improving your soccer skills takes time and effort, but it is definitely possible with some dedication and practice.

Start by getting in shape so that you have the stamina to last an entire game. Then learn all of the rules so that you can avoid penalties and make smarter decisions on the field.

Finally, practice your skills regularly so that they become second nature when you are playing in a game situation.

With enough hard work and determination, anyone can improve their soccer skills and become a better player!

This article was written & reviewed by

  • Anna Adams, Creative Director & Content Lead

    Hi there! I'm Anna Adams, your go-to source for all things women's soccer. I've been crazy about soccer for over 20 years, ever since I was kicking a ball around with my brothers as a kid. I've turned my passion into a career where I get to share all the cool stuff about soccer with you. As a content lead, I've had the awesome opportunity to work with various sports brands and publications. Whether it's the latest gear, pro tips, or just some cool soccer trivia, I'm all about making soccer ac...

  • Mia Johnson, Fitness & Soccer Expert

    Hello! I'm Mia, a high school Physical Education teacher in Orlando, Florida by day and a soccer blog contributor by night. My journey with soccer began just like any other enthusiastic player - on a local field, chasing after a ball and dreaming big. Soccer became my way to teach, inspire, and connect with others. In the classroom (and on the field), I'm all about promoting fitness, teamwork, and the pure joy of sports. Writing for the blog lets me extend this passion to a wider audience....