Basic improvement drills

[special_k]

ive never played soccer befor in my life and im 19 now, but my college has a soccer team that ill prolly try out for in the fall. i was wondering if anyone could give me any drills to help me dribble better, shoot better, and handle the ball better, just the basics i guess. I was 5th in the state in track *puffs out chest* so im already pretty fast. i just want to know some basic drills i can do to help me out.

thanks in advance

[soccerkid89]

I would have to say the best and easiest way to improve your touch on the ball is juggling. Since your a beginnner start out with just the right foot and do as many as u can, then as u get better with the right try using your left. Alternate feet as u juggle. Set a goal of what u want to reach.

As far as shooting goes , repetition is the best way to improve your shot.
Just go out to a field somewhere and take hundreds of shots, try to get a keeper if u can for a challenge.

Your kind of speed is a hard thing to get , touch is fairly easy compared to that.

[nvan_football]

If you are worried about your touch, reaction, recieving, shooting, ball control etc. the best advice I can suggest you is to find a field with a rebound wall (they are usually made the same width and height as an ordinary goal post) Chasing the ball after a shot is very useful for small kids who just improve their stamina and running but as you're a track athlete I don't think you need this now so just use the wall. It's better because you need more time to concentrate on shooting and soccer specific drills, not running. Good luck :) .

[special_k]

ok cool, thanks alot guys

[jammybastard]

Have you ever played a positional team sport before like hockey?

If so what you learned there will work for soccer.

Soccer is a game of anticipation. The best players can anticipate and execute faster than the rest.
Keep your feet moving, and your head on a swivel.
Know where you are going with or without the ball.
Don't get caught standing or you will get stripped.

Learn to juggle. Work on your touches. Learn the basic ball handling skills.
Buy or rent an instructional DVD to supplement and focus your training.
Spend way more time than you should working on you skills.

[DrMom9900]

I havent ever played soccer since college either, im 18 and im not good at all right now, but i wanna join intermurals next year. What i do is i get a friend and we just kick it back n forth, that way i can practice my long balls and crosses. We also juggle a lot in the dorm. As for shooting,im hoping over the summer i can practice that on an actual net, wtih a friend as goalie.

[eldiablito]

If you are worried about your touch, reaction, recieving, shooting, ball control etc. the best advice I can suggest you is to find a field with a rebound wall (they are usually made the same width and height as an ordinary goal post) Chasing the ball after a shot is very useful for small kids who just improve their stamina and running but as you're a track athlete I don't think you need this now so just use the wall. It's better because you need more time to concentrate on shooting and soccer specific drills, not running. Good luck :) .

This is good advice.

Also, to take it further...you can actually do this in a racquetball/squash court. I know it sounds insane, but there are hundreds of possibilities in a racquetball court (ie. simulating repitition for shots or passing; turning and shooting; trapping the ball off hard, errant passes; first touch; passing the ball to a side wall and then shooting the back wall; keep doing that while rotating and switch directions; switch walls; etc.)

The only drawback sometimes is you might get chased off the court.