Soccer is not difficult to learn. In truth, soccer’s success stems from its convenience and speed of play for practically everyone. 

To play soccer, you must first understand the rules and the structure of the game. You must also acquire the necessary competence and player placements on the field. When learning how to play soccer, it’s also necessary to spend time on the pitch playing soccer. 

This guide was created to provide you with a full summary of all the essential information you’ll need to play the game.

If you’re a coach or a parent searching for a tool to teach others how to play soccer, this guide can help.

So, in this post, we’ve prepared eight simple step-by-step instructions to help you play soccer like a pro while also having fun.

1. Understand the Rules Of Soccer

Knowing how to play soccer requires a basic understanding of the rules. It might be perplexing if you aren’t knowledgeable as to what is and isn’t allowed. 

The basic rules of soccer are summarized below. 

Soccer rules:

• The team that scores or wins against the other with the most goals is the winner. 
• The ball must pass the goal line for a goal to be scored. 
• With no issue, the period of a soccer game is 90 minutes. 
• Each 45-minute half of a game is played. 
• Each squad can only have 11 players. 
• In the game of soccer, each team must have a minimum of 7 players. 
• Just the goalkeeper is entitled to touch the ball with his hands if any other team player does, it would be blown as a foul.
• If the ball is taken out of play, the opposing side will reintroduce it. 
• Any play that is deemed irresponsible, reckless, or excessively violent is considered a violation. 
• A penalty kick will be given to the opposing team if an offense is committed.

These are the most fundamental soccer rules. I recommend that you study the rules in greater detail if you truly want to learn how to play soccer. However, this basic overview should be sufficient to get you started.

2. Learn the Positions

Perhaps you’re concerned about which positions are the most important in soccer. You’re about to learn. 

The players’ places on the pitch are the second item you should be aware of when playing soccer. The maximum number of players a team could have on the pitch at any given time is 11, as stated in the rules.

A team will almost always begin a game with 11 players on the field. The only time this does not apply is during a young soccer game. 

Youth soccer games are frequently played on fields that are smaller than a full-size pitch. Because of the limited space, there are fewer players on the pitch at any given moment. 

There are four main positions in soccer:

• Goalkeeper
• Defense
• Midfield
• and Forwards

Each of these domains can be further divided into sub-categories. Let’s take a look at the above-mentioned primary soccer positions.

• The goalkeeper: The goalie is the player who is ultimately in charge of stopping the opposition side from scoring a goal. They usually stay inside the penalty area and therefore are situated in front of their team’s goal. To play goalie, a person must be prepared to put himself between both the ball as well as the goal he or she is defending in any circumstance. A goalie must also have quick reflexes as well as the ability to efficiently transmit the ball to the rest of his squad.

• The defense: A defense player’s job is to keep the ball and the opposing team’s players from gaining access to their team’s goal. Attempting a tackle on defense requires a defender to be powerful and confident. They must be constantly aware of the positions of all other players on the pitch. They should also be willing to cover for another member of their squad if necessary.

• The midfield: A midfielder is a player that serves as a link between the defense as well as the attacking players. On its way from the back towards the front of the soccer pitch, the ball frequently passes via the midfield players. Midfielders are frequently in charge of launching an attack. A player must be physically fit to play in the middle. They frequently survive longer on the squad than just about any other player. A midfielder’s passing ability is also important because they are responsible for moving the ball around the field.

• The forward: A soccer team’s forward is highly committed to scoring and creating goals. They are close to the opponent’s goal and try to score whenever possible. To play forward in soccer, a player must aim to create chances to shoot at a goal. To increase their chances of getting the ball and getting a shot, they must continually be seeking for and advancing into open space. They must be mindful of where the other players, particularly the goalkeeper, are on the pitch.

3. Discern the Structure of a Game

Understanding the organization of a soccer game, as well as the formation of a team, is another important factor to consider if you want to play soccer efficiently. Let’s take a short look at how a soccer game is structured. 

To begin, a soccer match lasts 90 minutes. There are two 45-minute halves to this. Quarters are used in some sports, while halves are used in soccer.

During a soccer match, there are no timeouts; simply the occasional refreshments interval if the referee deems it necessary.

Soccer, unlike some other team sports, does not have a stopwatch. The referee will keep note of how long the game has been stopped due to an injury or some other reason. This time will be added to the conclusion of the half by the referee. 

This is why some game finishes after 92, 93, or 94 minutes instead of at 90 minutes. 

If a game ends in a draw during a competition, extra time may be added at the end of the match. This is because a final competition requires a winner to be determined.

If this occurs, the game will be extended by 30 minutes. If the scores are still equal afterward, a penalty-kick competition, often known as penalities, will be held until a winner is determined.

4. Possess the Right Equipment

The next point we’ll cover in this tutorial is why it’s important to play soccer with the proper gear. Without the proper equipment, it is impossible to play soccer. 

The soccer ball is the most significant piece of equipment. You’d have a bunch of people racing around a field if you didn’t have a soccer ball! 

Let us start with the football gear. You don’t need to buy a design ball if you’re just getting started with soccer. After you’ve had a ball, you should consider what you’ll wear.

Pick something that you are comfy with while you are just practicing or kicking a ball around with teammates. Clothes that just don’t hinder your mobility and allow you to move freely are ideal. 

When you engage in a structured game, though, you will likely be required to dress in a specified manner. 

In most soccer games, a player must wear the following items:

• The team’s jersey
• Shorts
• Long socks
• Shin guards
• Appropriate soccer boots or footwear

When you join a soccer team, you will almost always be given a jersey, shorts, and socks. This is because each player on a team must wear uniforms that match so that players, supporters, as well as the referee, can easily recognize each team’s members. 

It’s worth possessing these items of clothes even if you’re not playing an official game. This provides you the freedom to play soccer whenever you want.

As a player, though, you must furnish your shin guards and boots. 

Cleats are worn by the majority of soccer players. Soccer cleats provide your feet with stability and support. They also give the player’s foot and the surface more traction as they travel about the field. 

Even though there are hundreds of various soccer cleats to pick from while shopping for them.

You’ll feel indecisive because you’ll be choosing from a variety of options, yet you’ll still need to acquire something. You’ll also need a pair of shin protectors if you want to play soccer.

While playing the game, players wear shin guards to protect their shins against harm. There are several cases of experience that being struck full force by another person’s foot or shin while not having shin guards may be excruciatingly painful! 

If you want shin guards that cover your entire shin, we suggest these from Amazon. As you can see, they have a lot of positive feedback.

These are also an excellent option if you’re looking for anything smaller and lighter.

5. Learn the Basic Skills

You’re quite well on your way to learning how to play soccer at this juncture. It’s time to acquire the basic abilities required to be efficient on the field now that you know the soccer positions, structure, and the proper equipment. 

While there are many diverse soccer skills to learn, we’ve divided them into three categories to help you get started.

a) Passing the ball

One of the most fundamental abilities in soccer is passing the ball effectively. 

If you can accomplish this well, you might be one of the team’s most prominent players. The inside of your foot should be used to pass the ball accurately.

Perhaps you’re wondering how to pass a ball. 

To pass the ball properly, your foot must create a somewhat flat surface on which you may push the ball towards the next player without it moving in the wrong direction. 

Finding a second player and passing the ball back and forth between the two of you is the most effective approach to practice this. If you can’t locate somebody to practice with, rebounding the ball against a wall would suffice.

The more you practice this, the more at ease you’ll be with the ball. You’ll have a better sense of how the ball goes, how much effort is required to kick it, and how it feels to catch it.

b) Scoring a goal

The next skill to master is goal-scoring. This is another crucial skill, but many individuals assume they don’t need to learn how to score a goal, which is why they often miss out on a one-on-one goal opportunity against a goalkeeper.

Goals are the most important aspect of soccer. The game is won by the squad that scores the most goals! 

You must master this skill since you do not want to miss out on any opportunities to help your squad. 

Getting in front of a goal and practicing is the greatest method to do this. If you’re looking for a simple goal to set up in your backyard, this Amazon goal is a great choice.

However, here’s a quick rundown of the most important things to keep in mind when taking a shot: 

• Before shooting, decide what you want to achieve. 
• Toss the ball in the location you want it to go with the toes of your standing foot. 
• For maximum force, strike the ball with your top foot. 
• For maximum accuracy, hit the ball with your inner foot. 
• For stability, keep your arms high.

c) Looking for space

Unfortunately, many novice players overlook this skill and its importance. When mastered, though, it can make a significant difference in a player’s performance and effectiveness. 

This ability entails simply being aware of your surroundings and dominating that area. This is true both with and without the ball.

Once you have the ball in your hands, you could either run with it into open space or pass it to a teammate. 

Too several players are so concentrated on themselves or the ball that they lose track of their surroundings and wind up colliding with opposing players.

Before they get the ball, a good player would already be aware of their surroundings. They’ll rush into that spot before an opponent. 

When another member of your team gets the ball, try to maneuver into open space. This gives that player a passing option that they wouldn’t have if opponents were around them.

6. Constantly Improve Your Fitness

You must maintain a consistent exercise regimen to enjoy and play soccer efficiently. You don’t want to run out of energy on the field or become a liability to your squad. There’s always space for improvement, no matter how fit you are. 

There are a variety of strategies to stay healthy or increase your fitness for soccer. However, we’ve discovered that following what professionals do is the best way to go about it.

Professional athletes and their coaches employ a variety of strategies to increase their fitness levels, which have been developed over extensive experience and research.

It will benefit to adopt their guidance because they know how it works best. You might enroll in an online fitness school or organize a series of specialized workouts that will prepare you to play soccer effectively.

7. Join a Competitive Team

While you’re learning how to play soccer and doing so well, you’ll probably conclude that it’s time to join a team. 

This step, however, may not apply to everyone. All you want to do maybe figure out how to play the game and have fun with your friends. And that’s fantastic! 

If you want to improve your soccer game and take it to the next level, joining a team is a good option. It has the potential to be extremely satisfying and rewarding.

Joining a team entails first determining whether teams are holding auditions in your region— a quick Google search should reveal this information—and then signing up. 

This does need some dedication. You will be needed to attend at minimum one training session during the week and be available to play in the game most weeks. However, the advantages should outweigh the disadvantages!

8. Reflect and Improve

Taking a moment and evaluating how you’re doing is the final step in playing soccer well. If you’re serious about improving your soccer skills, you’ll put in the effort. One of the most effective methods to do so is to evaluate your performance honestly.

This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Observing better players than yourself, as we have indicated in the previous stage, is a terrific method to improve your abilities.

Take note of what There are a variety of strategies to stay healthy or increase your fitness for soccer. However, we’ve discovered that following what professionals do is the best way to go about it.

Professional athletes and their coaches employ a variety of strategies to increase their fitness levels, which have been developed over extensive experience and research.

It will benefit to adopt their guidance because they know how it works best. You might enroll in an online fitness school or organize a series of specialized workouts that will prepare you to play soccer effectively.

7. Join a Competitive Team

While you’re learning how to play soccer and doing so well, you’ll probably conclude that it’s time to join a team. 

This step, however, may not be applicable to everyone. It’s possible that all you want to do is figure out how to play the game and have fun with your friends. And that’s fantastic! 

If you really want to improve your soccer game and take it to the next level, joining a team is a good option. It has the potential to be extremely satisfying and rewarding.

Joining a team entails first determining whether teams are holding auditions in your region— a quick Google search should reveal this information—and then signing up. 

This does need some dedication. You will be needed to attend at minimum one training session during the week and be available to play in the game most weeks. However, the advantages should outweigh the disadvantages!

8. Reflect and Improve

Taking a moment and evaluating how you’re doing is the final step in playing soccer well. If you’re serious about improving your soccer skills, you’ll put in the effort.

One of the most effective methods to do so is to evaluate your performance honestly.

Fortunately, this can be fulfilled in a plethora of ways. Observing better players than yourself, as we have indicated in the previous stage, is a terrific method to improve your own abilities.

Take note of what they’re doing and imitate it. Alternatively, you may ask them to show you how to do what they’re doing.

It would be beneficial to ask anyone you trust to give me their view on where you need to improve and expand yourself in that area while reflecting on and evaluating your own performance.

To summarize, learning how to play soccer is the first step in becoming a great player. You will find yourself playing soccer like a pro and loving the game at all times if the knowledge presented above is critically studied and practiced on the soccer field.

How long should I practice soccer a day?

While spending hours on the field kicking the ball aimlessly might seem like a fun way of spending your afternoon, in most cases it is counter-productive.

Even an hour of planned and organized training is better than an entire afternoon of mindless running after the ball.

In case you can’t prepare your own effective practices, you can take a quick look at the list above and follow the basics before moving on to the more advanced practice routines.

Being involved in soccer on a daily basis is a great recipe for success, just like with any other sport.

Whether it’s learning something new about the rules behind the game, watching games on TV to gain some insight into how the stars do things, or actually practicing and honing a new skill, daily work is one of the best investments for your future.

Invest an hour of your time every day into a planned soccer routine, and you’ll start noticing improvements in no time.

Is soccer easy to learn?

Just like any other sport, picking up soccer is not a hard thing to do. It can be done much easier than following the guide above: Get a ball, take it to a field, and have fun.

However, some things are more rewarding when done the right way. After investing a little time and effort, soccer can become a source of an insane amount of fun, spread throughout the player’s life. 

Soccer can be an excellent energy outlet that connects the players with their peers. The rules aren’t too complex, while the mechanics of the game can be learned by anyone in a matter of weeks.

This is what makes it an excellent sport for children, as well as for adults who are looking to blow some steam.

With a few hours of training every week, anyone can understand the game enough to have fun, while a more serious commitment to the sport is necessary for those who have higher ambitions.

How long does it take to get good at soccer?

Getting the grasp on the basics of soccer is something that occurs fairly quickly, and can be achieved in a matter of weeks. However, getting good at soccer is a long-term task that can take years to achieve.

Typically, soccer beginners take at least a year or two to become good at the game. It should be kept in mind that soccer skill development, just like with any other sport, is a highly individual thing; some might take months to learn what others only need hours for.

For those who wish to make a career in soccer, learning the game is not enough; they need to master it.

Experts suggest that three hours of daily practice is necessary to achieve this, over the course of a few years, depending on the player’s abilities.

The best way to become good at soccer is to fall in love with the sport. When there’s passion, there will also be the willingness to progress and master the game, and there’s no better motivation than that.