AYSO Information

Soccer Skills

There are several basic skills in soccer that can be learned at any age and mastered by those players who continually practice them.

Passing is kicking, pushing or heading the ball to a teammate or to a space where a teammate can run to the ball. A player may lightly tap the ball to a teammate several feet away or kick it strongly to move it down the field. The ball may scoot along the ground or may be kicked into the air.

Most players use two types of kicks to pass to a teammate or shoot towards the goal:

	instep drive which is a powerful kick.
	push pass which is done using the inside of the foot. The push pass is more accurate than the instep drive, but is less powerful.

Dribbling is transporting the ball under control from one area to another. In soccer, you can't use your hands, so players dribble the ball with their feet, using light taps on the ball to move it along the ground.

Controlling (or tapping) is stopping the ball in flight or on the ground, then controlling it by either dribbling or passing it to teammates. There are many ways to trap a ball:

	allowing it to hit your chest at an angle that deflects it to the ground where it can be controlled.
	allowing it to hit your thigh or your knee to deflect it to the ground where it can be controlled.
	using your foot to stop it.

Heading is unique to soccer. It's used to stop or pass a ball that's too high to kick or control with your chest. It's also used effectively to score. However, don't use it until your coach shows you the proper technique!