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Hey TL football (soccer) players and fans, I need some tips and advice.
Background: Skip this part if you just wanna get to the point. TL;DR ver. below
So I joined an intramural football team at school with a few friends and many of theirs. All of them played in high school except me. I actually don't have much experience at all. I played unofficially in elementary school and played AYSO (an American youth league that anybody can join) for 1 year in middle school. That being said, there's obviously a huge gap in skill level between me and the rest of my teammates. I wanna close that distance. Most if it is intrinsic motivation and wanting to be a better footballer but another and more immediate reason is I actually feel pressure at games, just hoping that I don't mess up. Especially because my teammates are so much better than me, they expect more. Love the sport, am a huge fan, but not much of a player.
We play in the lowest division (3rd), it's 9v9, 25min halves, with as many subs as you want. A lot of our players didn't show up because it was on a holiday so we played 8v9 (they also had subs) but we still won (2-1) 
To be fair, we scored our first with one of those free kick situations when the opposing team isn't ready but the whistle isn't needed to start? Is that for indirect free kicks? Someone please enlighten me. And the second goal was a penalty kick from an opponent's handball inside the box (seemed pretty intentional). We also have two players far better than anyone else on our team and should be playing in the 2nd division but we needed more players and they were willing to help out.
I actually played intramural 2 years ago with a weaker team, close group of friends at the time, but I played like absolute crap, took too much drugs and my cardio was even worse but since we had subs, I took breaks whenever needed so stamina wasn't an issue.
This season, at least the first game, I actually played better than I expected. Didn't make as many mistakes, made a few interceptions, completed most my passes, but I didn't get the ball tooo many times. But I think my teammates trust me because they pass the ball to me hahaha
There’s some obvious things I need to improve like my cardio/endurance. I actually had decent cardio in high school up until I came to college. Since, I rarely (practically never) exercised, had a horrible diet (still do), and for those of you who read my other blogs know I did the opposite of working out: rotting my body with drugs. We ran two 25 halves, 50 minutes and I thought I was gonna die lol. During the last 10 minutes or so, I was so gassed out, hoping for the ref to blow the fucking whistle and end this shit. If I ran for 10 more minutes I might’ve thrown up. Definitely going to work on my cardio. Ok now to the point.
TLDR; need football (soccer) tips
I’m inexperienced and shitty at football ,but I started playing intramural college football and played right back for the first game, but I think I’m going to start playing left back, I’m right footed. My cardio sucks (fucking horrible) but I can sprint okay. My skills are pretty limited. Only skill that I think I’m competent in is connecting short to medium ground passes pretty accurately. I’m okay at crossing on the sides near the corners, but as a defensive player I don’t go up often.
I need some advice from you footballers out there to help me improve my game. Please be as specific as possible. Working on my cardio is a must but how do I improve my football endurance? I’m sure just running a few miles at a medium pace would help but are there more effective methods or training regimes specifically designed for football endurance?
On a technical/positional level, any advice would be useful because I’m pretty clueless. What are my specific goals throughout the game in different situations as a right footed left back or defense in general?
I get a bit worried when a long ball comes near me and there's the other team charging for that ball. I know I need to stay calm, trap the ball, and look for my options (all at once?). It's really hard for me to trap high ball to the ground fast and then control it/keep possession, especially when there's pressure from the opposing team. Just practice receiving long balls?
Are there any drills that I can do by myself to improve any aspect of my game? I’m guessing dribbling because that’s like the only thing I can do alone right? Are cones useful for dribbling drills? Or are there free alternatives?
Even tips like how to trap the ball better or clear the ball more safely. I’m eager to learn so ANY advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Swansea for the League Cup!
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Why are you playing left back as a right footie and a beginner? lol
Play in a position which you feel comfortable in. Shoulda being right back not left.
As for marking, you need to charge straight at the incoming attacker, don't let them slow down and do tricks and fakes, since you are newbie they will get past you nine out of ten times. Go kamikazi on them, with big physical play.
They will think twice of doing flimsy moves against you.
When a long ball is coming and you are not sure you can control it, do what defenders are meant to do, clear it.
Just remember to intimidate the attacker, be a bully, it's good for you. Just look at pepe. xD
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cardio:
-run with a heart pacer. just run every time around 140 or 150. what your choice is. Don't go faster, don't go slower. it will improve in time
-run interval. 100m sprint, 100m slow, 100m sprint, 100m slow. like this
-running up hills, speed doesn't matter. it gives you strength in your legs
better cardio = better play longgame. out of breath = bad passes
ingame as a defender:
-NEVER be afraid. play hard! don't give a fuck what they say. but don't be overly agressive as well, have limits
-know the game. know when you need to slow down and when to go fast
-know what you're good and not good it and use it to your advantage. for example, i'm good in sprints and tricks but i suck vs someone who can turn quickly and shoot or pass. so i stay away from him and let him come to me so he must sprint or do a trick
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On January 28 2013 02:45 Steveling wrote:
Why are you playing left back as a right footie and a beginner? lol
Play in a position which you feel comfortable in. Shoulda being right back not left.
As for marking, you need to charge straight at the incoming attacker, don't let them slow down and do tricks and fakes, since you are newbie they will get past you nine out of ten times. Go kamikazi on them, with big physical play.
They will think twice of doing flimsy moves against you.
When a long ball is coming and you are not sure you can control it, do what defenders are meant to do, clear it.
Just remember to intimidate the attacker, be a bully, it's good for you. Just look at pepe. xD
We didn't have a chance to pick positions or practice because everyone was busy so the first game is the first time a lot of us met each other. We let the two good guys go up top and everyone else just played random positions. But this is why I'm gonna be left back, even if I prefer to be right back.
We have 3 defenders. Me, X, and Y.
X used to play CB in hs but for that game he played LB
Y used to play RB but he was playing CB.
And I ended up RB.
Y said he wanted to play RB cuz that's his position so I just let him.
I think CB is too much responsibility, especially for me and X played CB in his hs so why not.
That leaves me with LB. Does being right footed playing on the left side have a disadvantage?
On January 28 2013 02:46 r1flEx wrote:
cardio:
-run with a heart pacer. just run every time around 140 or 150. what your choice is. Don't go faster, don't go slower. it will improve in time
-run interval. 100m sprint, 100m slow, 100m sprint, 100m slow. like this
-running up hills, speed doesn't matter. it gives you strength in your legs
better cardio = better play longgame. out of breath = bad passes
ingame as a defender:
-NEVER be afraid. play hard! don't give a fuck what they say. but don't be overly agressive as well, have limits
-know the game. know when you need to slow down and when to go fast
-know what you're good and not good it and use it to your advantage. for example, i'm good in sprints and tricks but i suck vs someone who can turn quickly and shoot or pass. so i stay away from him and let him come to me so he must sprint or do a trick
Thanks to both of you for sharing your football knowledge 
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Hard thing to describe.
One piece of advice I'd give you as a defender is don't over commit. If the guy getting past you means he has a clear shot at goal it's more important to delay and be patient, don't stab in and let him get around you. A teammate should be coming to help so just don't give him an opportunity to get a clear shot or get past you.
I haven't played in a while, but have my first indoor game of the season later today! Super excited.
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I play casually as the right back in my team of friends since before I was 10. I'm no expert but here's what I generally do: my general game-plan involves getting in the way between the opposing left wing (this will be the player you have to deal with most of the time) and my goal whenever he tries to come up; keep him pinned to the side as long as possible so that the rest of your defenders can organize the mid by the time he gets the chance to cross. Be persistent and don't give up a chase.
It is also very key to have communication between players, shout to them when a player is approaching behind him. Learn to coordinate with your center back for defense and right wing for offense. This is a team game, talk to each other! It's good to know if you have support to pass, or are you desperate and have to clear it quickly. With your center back buddy: never approach 1 player at the same time, have 1 approach and another to support in-case the other fails, or block another player. This is one of the most common mistakes of new players, do not swarm him; it leaves more area vulnerable.
I personally think you should try to avoid counter-attacking until you feel really comfortable with your role as the right back. Also, as amateurs, we're terrible at catching off-sides so don't ever try it at this level, always assume a no first.
Scenario 1: The left wing received a pass and brings up the ball by himself, looking to cross it into mid.
Position yourself between him and the goal, always. He'll either try to sprint away from you or cut into the middle. so you must be able to sprint and be slightly ahead of him all the time. My objective is to stall him there with me as long as possible, even if it means giving him a throw-in. Drive him into the corner. Look for opportunities to intercept the ball, but it is most of the time a bad idea to try and steal the ball from him - it opens up a path for him to swing past you instead.
If he passes into mid early, stay with him and be his shadow, then prevent him from getting the ball again.
Scenario 2: The left wing is prepared to receive a long airborne pass.
The most common mistake is to try and intercept it with your head, I highly dislike this as a right back. If you're the center back, by all means do it, but as the right back, you have more room to chase and take possession with your foot which is much safer. If you misjudge the ball, trying to head it will leave your side wide open, and you're fucked. Instead, move back and try to catch it with your feet.
If you gain possession of the ball, in general look for someone to connect your short passes immediately and don't keep it for long, it's more dangerous trying to solo as a defender.
In general, remember that you can still do things even without the ball in your zone. Be aware of the field and shadow the player that comes into your zone. By doing this, you're controlling your area and force your opponents to spend more time thinking where to attack. Know who's coming up into your zone. Stay behind that player (again, between him and the goal) and not in front of him - this is quite important, it's harder to defend if you have to worry how far behind you the player ran away. Look to intercept passes, but don't try to steal from him. If the player you're marking gets the pass anyway, chase him immediately and do whatever it takes to keep the ball to the side.
It's also beneficial who's the superstar of the other team, who's likely to get more passes so you know who to go after and who's the decoy.
I'll add some more or maybe diagrams later if I find the time. This is usually how I play at a very casual level. The best way to learn basics and techniques is to play more and more. There are exercises you can do to help you control the ball better, and be comfortable with using both feet, both inside and outside of your feet. This is quite crucial since it costs more opportunities if you can only pass with one foot.
For stamina problems, there's not much you can do but exercise more. I myself prefer to bring something sweet like a banana with me along for the halftime break. 1 is enough since more will make you throw up anyway. Bananas are great because of its high-sugar content with energy you need instantly are loaded with potassium that helps you with the lost of salt in sweat. Drink a lot before the match (and take a leak too ^^) to stay hydrated and not get muscle cramps.
Hope that was somewhat useful. Football is a wonderful game and I hope you go far with it. Remember to write blogs about your battle (match) reports too ^^.
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My personal advice: Just play as much as possible. If you are alone, get your ball and smash it against some walls, set yourself goals (like I'm going to hit exactly spot X with a cross after running 10m at speed Y, or I'll hit the wall as accurate and hard as I can and try to keep the ball in the air afterwards) or even better find 1 or 2 other people who enjoy doing just that and do some individual trainings (maybe right after your usual training?). You will get better in no time, but there is no way around it, you have to actually spend the time with a football and just do stuff with it and simulate as many game situations as possible.
I know that's probably hard to do as an adult because of schedules and other things to do, but in my opinion that's the only way to get truly better. The other (second most) important thing in football is to have the right mindset, it is a physical sport and you always have to use your whole body to try and get the ball from your opponent within the ruleset (don't use your arms too much or kick/bodycheck them). If you hesitate you already lost against good players.
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Watch the ball, not their feet.
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I used to play some football, I got punched in the face by a guy on my team, so I stopped (we were all pretty young then, like 8 y/o -ish). What I know from playing with my friends and from what I learned from the really good players at my school is A) practice makes perfect, and even more important B) play conservatively, it is better to play looking for the opponents to make a mistake than it is to play thinking you won't make a mistake.
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On January 28 2013 04:06 danmooj1 wrote:
Thank you guys. Lot of good info.
Another problem I have is I'm right footed as fuck. Not only that I only use the inside of my right foot, for passes, crosses, shots, unless it's in mid-air, then I can kick it with my "laces" but it's so hard to kick with my "laces" when the ball is on the ground. And of course my outside right is nonexistent.
For simple exercise to get comfortable with your inside-outside feet. Set up an obstacle course and guide the ball through it slowly with both feet and both inside and outside. Force yourself to do it, there's no opponent, only static obstacle. If you're practicing passes, during warm-ups pass the ball back and forth in pairs, again with both feet and both interior and exterior, with your friend. Receive and pass with all possible methods, even if you don't start to use these things in the real game, still practice it over and over. The idea is to be comfortable with it, you don't have to think about using it consciously. The ability to use will come naturally if you are comfortable using them.
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Thank you guys. Lot of good info.
Another problem I have is I'm right footed as fuck. Not only that I only use the inside of my right foot, for passes, crosses, shots, unless it's in mid-air, then I can kick it with my "laces" but it's so hard to kick with my "laces" when the ball is on the ground. And of course my outside right is nonexistent.
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- Keep the space between you and the cb tight, it's ok if they pass to the outsides because you have time to react.
- When blocking shots/crosses don't read in to their tricks too much and simply block their best foot, they're harmless with their weak one anyways.
- Play hard. If the other team senses you're struggling they will send every single pass to your side, so don't ever show them you're getting tired.
- Focus more on ground than air, as a back you can play a lot calmer than a cb, always use this to move the ball forward cleanly instead of just blasting it away.
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On January 28 2013 04:06 danmooj1 wrote:
Thank you guys. Lot of good info.
Another problem I have is I'm right footed as fuck. Not only that I only use the inside of my right foot, for passes, crosses, shots, unless it's in mid-air, then I can kick it with my "laces" but it's so hard to kick with my "laces" when the ball is on the ground. And of course my outside right is nonexistent.
Hmm, didn't realise you were bronze league. xD
Best thing you can do is to face a wall, 8-9 meters far and shoot at it with all kinds of shots until you feel comfortable.
If you want to turn up the difficulty, try to control the ball as it comes bouncing back with the other foot as well as you can(if you shot with the right, control it with the left, then reverse).
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Yea the guy above has a pretty good way to do it, just find a wall and do 1-touch shots against it, shoot, control the rebound with 1 touch and then shoot again, alternating feet/styles if you can
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gotta go find a wall to kick a ball at lol. probably somewhere at school.
I do have a grass park literally right in front of my house but all my roommates don't give a shit about soccer so I wanna find some drills that I can do alone. will definitely try the wall thing tho
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On January 28 2013 07:43 danmooj1 wrote:
gotta go find a wall to kick a ball at lol. probably somewhere at school.
I do have a grass park literally right in front of my house but all my roommates don't give a shit about soccer so I wanna find some drills that I can do alone. will definitely try the wall thing tho
Definitely a huge disadvantage starting to play at this age, when you can't just drag random people to go kick something with you so easily anymore. I know how hard it is just to call dozens of people just to arrange 1 match, what a headache. When you're young you can just easily force them to go with you with peer pressure and you couldn't really answer "I'm busy" at that age. Hell, not just football matches, just a 4-man tennis court rent is hard to setup now 
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As a defender there are two incredibly important tips that you should never forget. Always be goal side of your man (keep yourself between the goal and the ball). And keep your eyes on the ball, NOT the feet of the attacking player. And make sure the goal posts are covered during corners.
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I'm assuming the people that your playing are also somewhat inexperienced also.
The trick to defending is good communication, positioning and teamwork.
1) Know where your fellow defenders are at all times and its not just the defenders that defend but your midfield also.
2) Try and show your opponent to the outside ie towards the corner flag rather than the towards the goal, this will help you as your right footed making the ball easier to win. This usually also helps slow down the attack and helps the rest of your team to get back. If your organised and your teammates get back this will help you.
3) Always stay goal side of the attacker.
4) Follow the KISS principle. If your not sure kick the ball as far away as hard as possible, or knock it out
Best way to defend against a good player, have someone stick to him so he can't receive the ball or play in layers. When he knocks the ball past one guy the guy behind gets it. Swarm defence doesn't work unless you have them in a corner.
The best way to improve defence is practice with lots of game. Skills with timing and foot control such as keepie uppies are useful. Also drop kicking the ball up as high as you can and bringing it down with a touch on your foot is a useful skill for a defender to have.
Drills such as piggy in the middle. (need at least 3 people) defender goes in the middle. attackers run and beat defender/ pass to each other through/ around the defender. When the defender gets the ball the guy thats hit it has to go in the middle. Helps build endurance and helps you to pick what the attackers going to do and teaches positional sense. Can also just practice with 1 other person. Attacker tries to run pass defender to get to other side defender tries to stop. When defender gets the ball you switch.
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If you can't find anyone, go to a wall and start cranking shots off of it and trying to control the rebound to improve your ball control. It wouldn't seem like it, but that's a huge part of the game on defense. Sometimes your midfielders will be in trouble and will turn to you for an outlet. If you suck at control, you're gonna bobble the ball with a forward bearing down on you and it won't be pretty. Also, in this situation (and any with the ball) play with your head up and recognize that you can go backwards with it to avoid trouble. Last ditch resort is always just drill the ball upfield.
In general, play conservatively. You have less room for error than forwards or middies do. When you have the ball, go with the easy pass instead of forcing it. In your own end defensively, don't try to jump a pass unless you've got your man clearly beat to it. Shadow the ball instead of making a move and lunging for it (exception being if he cuts in from the wing for a shot since he's got the whole net open). When under duress in your own end (for example, if you steal it in traffic) just crank it out rather than making a pretty pass. Just be aware of your own skills and don't try to outplay or outthink yoursellf. I don't play nearly as much as I used to, so that means these days when I play defense, I don't try to run down people as much on loose balls.
When you do get better with the ball, you can push the field a bit more as a wing back. You really shouldn't bother with this much until you are confident in your ball control and more importantly, your long ball play.
Most important of all is communication. You and your fellow defensemen should always be yelling man on when someoen is being pursued, calling out open men, communicationg who guards who. Basically just play off of what the center back is doing. He leads the whole defense. Your Cb is almost always your best player back there. Talking is very important, esp when you get a skilled fast team who can play it out wide and carve you guys up
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EPT
