For the Older Players that are beginners...

[theonekaos]

I guess this would be a question for anyone that is a novice or a beginner. I am 37 years old and it has been well over 20 years since I've touched the soccer ball. Back then, I never saw the "fast footwork" moves that we see today.

I have seen a couple of videos at the local library about fast footwork with the ball. All about drills, dribbling, passing, kicking, .......and faking out your opponent, .....all kinds of stuff. And it's mostly very young players in these videos, about 12years old.

My question is this. Should I use these and any videos to help me get back into cardio shape, and have somewhat of a feel for the ball again?

Or should I just jump in cold feet when the season starts up again? I'll be playing on an Open Co-ed team, or a Men's Division III team. I toy and kick the ball around my backyard, and against the wall. But I have not been doing anything I see on the vids.

Thx for any advice for this ole'man that wants to enjoy the game again.
Mike

[Kevin8833]

I guess this would be a question for anyone that is a novice or a beginner. I am 37 years old and it has been well over 20 years since I've touched the soccer ball. Back then, I never saw the "fast footwork" moves that we see today.

I have seen a couple of videos at the local library about fast footwork with the ball. All about drills, dribbling, passing, kicking, .......and faking out your opponent, .....all kinds of stuff. And it's mostly very young players in these videos, about 12years old.

My question is this. Should I use these and any videos to help me get back into cardio shape, and have somewhat of a feel for the ball again?

Or should I just jump in cold feet when the season starts up again? I'll be playing on an Open Co-ed team, or a Men's Division III team. I toy and kick the ball around my backyard, and against the wall. But I have not been doing anything I see on the vids.

Thx for any advice for this ole'man that wants to enjoy the game again.
Mike
It'll be hard to get your feel for the ball back again but it sure won't hurt, just enjoy yourself and it is great your getting back into the game!

[yaron]

play as a central defender, not much talent needed there :)

[usasoccerhooligan]

play as a central defender, not much talent needed there :)

as a former center back, i take offense to this...

i'll go back to blasting the ball up to midfield now...:D

[arsenalfc08]

I wouldn't wait until the season starts. I'm sort of in the same position, i'm 19 and haven't played since the 4th grade but recently signed up for an adult rec league.

I've been practicing on my own in the backyard for a while (season starts in august) to get ready. Mostly just doing dribbling, shooting (getting a technique down and working on power and accuracy), and 1v1. I'm also doing some juggling to get some ball control and touch developed.

[theonekaos]

Thanks! It does fell good to be back into it. But I haven't found a team yet. I won't give up, I promise. I do what I can by myself. Sucks getting old. LOL.

......argh!....now where did I put that bottle of "Advil" ?

[theonekaos]

I wouldn't wait until the season starts. I'm sort of in the same position, i'm 19 and haven't played since the 4th grade but recently signed up for an adult rec league.

I've been practicing on my own in the backyard for a while (season starts in august) to get ready. Mostly just doing dribbling, shooting (getting a technique down and working on power and accuracy), and 1v1. I'm also doing some juggling to get some ball control and touch developed.

WOW, fourth grade huh? Same boat as me. I haven't played since 8th grade. I got stupid and wanted to play american football. I should've listen to my father and stuck with soccer.

When I was 22 or 24, somewhere around there, I got on a men's division III team. I loved it. I played midfield for two seasons. And for the life of me, I can't remember why I stopped. Now I'm 37 going for it again.

Good luck with your journey as well.

[Kot Matroskin]

I wouldn't worry about being able to do fancy moves -- on any full-squad rec team, you really won't get much chance to use them anyway. Even at the highest level, soccer is 99% about the basics: receiving, passing, dribbling, moving without the ball, shooting and fitness (if you can't run, you can't play).

I picked the game up (from scratch) about the same age you are.

[rustynation]

I'm just looking through the threads (and changing TV channels with my thigh) and I came across this one. I'm planning to pick up the game again this fall after about 25 years. I'm currently out of shape due to winter depression and six-month-ingrown toenails. I'm pretty sure I'm going to play right back, just because I think it'll be the easiest. I don't remember what position I played when I was younger; I think it was dandelion-picker. I have no idea how to tackle, I have no aim, no left foot, and too much of a chest. I'll be playing in a coed rec league, and I'm a girl. Well, a bit older than that, but you know what I mean.

Pretty soon, I've got to get back into shape due to a vacation I'm taking soon, and I've got to find some good right backs to watch. (I've been watching some craptacular RBs.)

[snolly g]

I guess this would be a question for anyone that is a novice or a beginner. I am 37 years old and it has been well over 20 years since I've touched the soccer ball. Back then, I never saw the "fast footwork" moves that we see today.

I have seen a couple of videos at the local library about fast footwork with the ball. All about drills, dribbling, passing, kicking, .......and faking out your opponent, .....all kinds of stuff. And it's mostly very young players in these videos, about 12years old.

My question is this. Should I use these and any videos to help me get back into cardio shape, and have somewhat of a feel for the ball again?

Or should I just jump in cold feet when the season starts up again? I'll be playing on an Open Co-ed team, or a Men's Division III team. I toy and kick the ball around my backyard, and against the wall. But I have not been doing anything I see on the vids.

Thx for any advice for this ole'man that wants to enjoy the game again.
Mike

i was sorta in the same position a few years ago.

top priorities:
be safe/ careful and have fun.

definitely get in some sort of shape, otherwise you'll get hurt. (one of the things i recently figured out is that, especially at our age, we can't play to get fit. we have to get fit to play. this is probably true for all ages, but it's especially true for us.)

learn a few dynamic stretches. it's a good way to increase range of motion, flexibility. it's also a good way to begin your warm up. don't do static stretches before workouts.

that said, even rec games can get competitive, so...

stamina:
start with some distance running. (don't have to do a lot, just a couple miles a day. if you're already fit, good on you.)

then, after your cardio has gotten used to the punishment, do some sprint work. 3-4 25 yard sprints at 100% speed. 2-3 40 yard sprints at 75% speed. end of workout for that day.

other days, work in some interval training. (basically, mix sprints into your longer runs. start with a light jog, then break into a sprint, then drop back into a light jog, mix it up.)

mix up your movements from time to time. during games, you'll need to be able to go foward, backwards, sideways, etc. it's all stuff you can work into your jogs.

skill:
of course it's important to get a feel for the ball again. so, basic stuff like, stand over the ball, pass from one foot to the other. stand just behind the ball, tap the top the ball with the sole of one foot, then the other. and so on.

juggle.

pass to yourself off of a wall. (firm, crisp, accurate passes are easier on your teammates than slow, gentle, lazy passes.)

dribble. it's worth picking up a few moves--stepover, lunge, cruyff turn are easy, useful moves.

in-game brain/mental:
the biggest things i see in beginners are 1. panic (lack of confidence) and 2. as a consequence, lack of awareness.

there are no shortcuts to overcoming these. it's a simple matter of experience. the only way to gain experience is to play. so sign up and start playing. in addition, try to get into as many pick-up games as you can find.

first, relax.

a lot of beginners try to do too much with the ball when it comes to them. you're not ronaldo. you're not messi. you're not henry. you don't need to be volleying shots. you don't need to one-touch your passes. all you need to do is bring the ball down and then...

second, be decisive.

you won't have all day, but you will have at least 1-2 seconds. when the ball comes to you, bring it down, under control, then dribble, pass, shoot or clear the ball away--depending on what position you're playing/ where you are on the field. it almost doesn't matter what you do with the ball. (why? because as a beginner, you're just learning--all of that other stuff will come to you in time. top "educational" priority is working on your confidence--knowing that when the ball comes to you, you have the ability to control it--and make no mistake about this, you do have the ability--it's just a matter of practice.)

finally, in-game, keep moving. it's ok if you get dispossessed. it's ok if your pass misses your target. it's ok if your shot goes wide. just keep moving--no matter what--whether you're running to get back on defense or making a run on the attack--keep moving.

awareness (of where your opponents are, where your teammates are, where the threat is, etc.) will all come to you in time.


* resources that i have found to be really helpful:
1. youtube: search for the skill factor series featuring alan shearer. it's great for defensive tactics.
2. http://www.nscaa.com/quiz.php
3. bigsoccer.com forums.

[HouseHead78]

i was sorta in the same position a few years ago.

top priorities:
be safe/ careful and have fun.

definitely get in some sort of shape, otherwise you'll get hurt. (one of the things i recently figured out is that, especially at our age, we can't play to get fit. we have to get fit to play. this is probably true for all ages, but it's especially true for us.)

learn a few dynamic stretches. it's a good way to increase range of motion, flexibility. it's also a good way to begin your warm up. don't do static stretches before workouts.

that said, even rec games can get competitive, so...

stamina:
start with some distance running. (don't have to do a lot, just a couple miles a day. if you're already fit, good on you.)

then, after your cardio has gotten used to the punishment, do some sprint work. 3-4 25 yard sprints at 100% speed. 2-3 40 yard sprints at 75% speed. end of workout for that day.

other days, work in some interval training. (basically, mix sprints into your longer runs. start with a light jog, then break into a sprint, then drop back into a light jog, mix it up.)

mix up your movements from time to time. during games, you'll need to be able to go foward, backwards, sideways, etc. it's all stuff you can work into your jogs.

skill:
of course it's important to get a feel for the ball again. so, basic stuff like, stand over the ball, pass from one foot to the other. stand just behind the ball, tap the top the ball with the sole of one foot, then the other. and so on.

juggle.

pass to yourself off of a wall. (firm, crisp, accurate passes are easier on your teammates than slow, gentle, lazy passes.)

dribble. it's worth picking up a few moves--stepover, lunge, cruyff turn are easy, useful moves.

in-game brain/mental:
the biggest things i see in beginners are 1. panic (lack of confidence) and 2. as a consequence, lack of awareness.

there are no shortcuts to overcoming these. it's a simple matter of experience. the only way to gain experience is to play. so sign up and start playing. in addition, try to get into as many pick-up games as you can find.

first, relax.

a lot of beginners try to do too much with the ball when it comes to them. you're not ronaldo. you're not messi. you're not henry. you don't need to be volleying shots. you don't need to one-touch your passes. all you need to do is bring the ball down and then...

second, be decisive.

you won't have all day, but you will have at least 1-2 seconds. when the ball comes to you, bring it down, under control, then dribble, pass, shoot or clear the ball away--depending on what position you're playing/ where you are on the field. it almost doesn't matter what you do with the ball. (why? because as a beginner, you're just learning--all of that other stuff will come to you in time. top "educational" priority is working on your confidence--knowing that when the ball comes to you, you have the ability to control it--and make no mistake about this, you do have the ability--it's just a matter of practice.)

finally, in-game, keep moving. it's ok if you get dispossessed. it's ok if your pass misses your target. it's ok if your shot goes wide. just keep moving--no matter what--whether you're running to get back on defense or making a run on the attack--keep moving.

awareness (of where your opponents are, where your teammates are, where the threat is, etc.) will all come to you in time.


* resources that i have found to be really helpful:
1. youtube: search for the skill factor series featuring alan shearer. it's great for defensive tactics.
2. http://www.nscaa.com/quiz.php
3. bigsoccer.com forums.


This is a fantastic post. As an adult beginner, this hit the mark in terms of how I learned to play.

[snolly g]

I'm just looking through the threads (and changing TV channels with my thigh) and I came across this one. I'm planning to pick up the game again this fall after about 25 years. I'm currently out of shape due to winter depression and six-month-ingrown toenails. I'm pretty sure I'm going to play right back, just because I think it'll be the easiest. I don't remember what position I played when I was younger; I think it was dandelion-picker. I have no idea how to tackle, I have no aim, no left foot, and too much of a chest. I'll be playing in a coed rec league, and I'm a girl. Well, a bit older than that, but you know what I mean.

Pretty soon, I've got to get back into shape due to a vacation I'm taking soon, and I've got to find some good right backs to watch. (I've been watching some craptacular RBs.)

just realized i responded to an old post. well, i think my suggestions still apply.

right back is the easiest? (this must be why so many women volunteer to play defense.)

why ever would you think that?! it may not be demanding from a skill/technical standpoint, but it is physically challenging.

more often than not, you're either going to have to chase down some freakish speed-demon or muscle-up against a big jerk who thinks he's the world's greatest unpaid striker... especially in bssc.

if you have your heart set on playing defense, i still recommend the "skill factor" series with alan shearer. the tips on defense are in parts 1 and 2 (of 8).

truth is, you don't actually have to tackle anyone. just maintain "good distance". this means: not so far away that your opponent isn't bothered by you, but not so close that he or she can just turn and be off to the races. watch the youtube clips for a better idea of how close to be.

apart from that, i recommend getting in shape. jog and sprint.

i recommend pick-up games. if you're really not fit or have no skills, you're not going to find every place welcoming (e.g., mit fields). but i know there's a group that kicks around casually near the esplanade and another one in jp. best thing may be to check craig's list.

if all else fails, grab your ball and head for any patch of green.

[illdthedj]

hi!

im in a somewhat of a similar situation....

i am 27 now, played soccer from 5 to 17, so it had been 10 years since i got back into it.

let me just say, putting on moves and fancy footwork should be the LEAST of your concerns right now!!!

the MOST important things i would suggest focusing on, some of which have been mentioned by others, are these:

FITNESS. fancy footwork dosnt mean ANYTHING if you cant run around a whole lot! Soccer is TONS of running. and all kinds of running....jogging, sustained medium speed running, TONS of SPRINTING, lots of quick direction changing, etc. i would say someone who can run for days and is fast yet basic at footwork is far more useful on the pitch than an out of shape fancy footwork showoff (lol not insinuating you are obviously)

i would suggest going out and jogging for a few miles as much as you can. Also, if you can, do some SPRINTING....ie, find a field, and do sets of running as fast as you possibly can without hurting yourself!

WARMUP, STRETCHING. you MUST do this ALL the time, before you do ANYTHING physical, OR YOU WILL HURT YOURSELF. trust me, i know! lol...im 10 years younger, but im out with a sprained knee from not warming up enough!

that leads me to another point.
STRENGTHENING. im not sure if you have a history of knee and/or ankle injuries (i have a bad left knee personally) but YOU NEED to strengthen those legs!! ESPECIALLY the ankles, the knees, and the shins! else, you might hurt yourself and not be able to play (again, like me lol). i would google specific exercises to do for each of these body parts.

and i would not just jump into playing cold without preparing for it physically (ie running, warmups/stretching/strengthening) or else injuries could occur.

i WAS in a co-ed league myself, no slide tackling, i thought it would be relatively stress free and low-key, but i ended up hurting my knee TWICE in the span of 3 months because, first, i hurt my knee from going too hard without warming up or conditioning my body by jumping into playing cold, AND THEN i hurt my knee again because i didnt give my knee enough time to heal.

soccer is tons of fun!!! but unfortunately, for older guys such as ourselves, we dont have those elastic rubbery bodies of younger guys that can take punishment and heal up super quick. so you have to prepare.

i hope this helps!

oh yah, to develop better touch, when you go out running (which you really should do) do some laps around a field with a ball at your feet. try not to kick it too far out, try to run with it close to the feet. After a while, try doing those sprints with the ball.

you can also buy a little pop-up goal (i think the brand name is PUG) place it in front of a wall, and use that to develop your kicking accuracy. i would say kicking accuracy is far more useful than the fancy footwork.


another thing about the fancy footwork....it looks really cool, but i noticed in a ton of games i played with these brazilian kids during pick up games....its easy to look stupid lol, especially if you try to do some crazy looking move and then the defender pokes the ball out from your feet. i always felt a sense of satisfaction doing that to them lol....just hold back and wait for the right time to stab the ball.

anywho, hope this helps, good luck, and have fun!!

[CanadianBlue]

I have to say as someone who picked up the game at 16, that the basics are most important. I don't have many moves, but based on the fact that I have great endurance (but hey, you can train to have it) and my shooting, crossing and passing is accurate I was just fine. I went from nothing to being a starter in midfield. You don't need many fancy moves to outwit a defender. Based upon the Cruyff turn, the Zizou spin, single/double scissors and a pull back I could beat defenders at least 7 times out of 10.

Most of those moves are easy enough to learn if you practice them. I'd say the Zizou is the hardest but after practicing it for a week I had it down. Doing practicing these moves will also help you build up your endurance.

[agray7]

hey def don't go out there with cold feet, the more touches you get the better. if you go on youtube there are many helpful vids to look at... what is your position? if defense, work on clearing the ball, kickin the ball longs distances and up to the offense. also get some long passes off of the wall in your back yard. if offense, it would help if maybe you dribbled around some cones or such. if you have any friends to play with, play shortside adn play maybe 3v3... n e thing of what listed above will help.. who knows? maybe youll end up reliving those glory days lol ;-)

[CanadianBlue]

Best way to get back into match shape I'd say is small sided games. The intensity is still high and you'll get lots of touches.

[rustynation]

I'm planning to get into shape by spending loads of time at the gym...

[hula]

Hey all-
this is a great thread, I am so glad I found it. I played when I was a kid, had a brief spell a few yrs ago of playing and LOVED IT. loved being back on the pitch. However, I'm a goalie, and since I make my living as an artist, I decided at that time that the risk was too great to my fingers, hands, and career, so, sadly gave it up. Since then I have gained about 30 lbs and just turned 40--ack.
Watching the LA Sol (specifically Karina LeBlanc) has inspired me to get back into shape and start playing again. I have been walking/biking for an hour or two every day, slowly starting to do squats etc. Found specific goalie-core excercises on youtube. I know it will be a way to go, but I'm really really excited to start playing again and am shooting for a fall "debut'!! I've decided that I have enough paintings in my inventory to withstand a 5-6 month hand injury. Gotta get those priorities straight you know!!:D

[Jacques Strappe]

This is a great thread. There is some great advice on here as well. I started playing at the age of 29 (3 years ago) after playing baseball in high school and college. A shoulder injury (and the fact that I find softball really boring) led me to soccer. I have used many of the methods listed previously to become a serviceable striker in a Div II O30 mens league. I score about 5 or 6 goals in every 9 game season and our team has been promoted from Div V.

One website I found that has really helped me is www.coreperformance.com. I am not affiliated with them in any way, but they have a comprehensive soccer specific training program that covers everything from a fitness and nutrition perspective. It's not free, but is really pretty cheap in my opinion.

I travel every week for work throughout the Southeast and I take my boots and ball with me everywhere I go. I can almost always find pickup games by using a few different websites that list local pick up games, and if that doesn't work I use google earth to look at a map of the area near my hotel for fields. I have never been to a pickup game yet where I wasn't allowed to play because of skill. If you make he effort, soccer can be very rewarding and a great way to stay fit for folks beginning as adults!

[rustynation]

I've been sick for the past five weeks, and am just now getting over it, so I haven't been working out as much as I should.