# data[].attributes.body
A good coach is positive, enthusiastic, supportive, trusting, focused, goal-oriented, knowledgeable, observant, respectful, patient and a clear communicator.

# data[].attributes.body
The forces is using Friction is in soccer, the three forces that act on a soccer ball in flight. The forces are shown in blue and include the weight, drag, and lift or side force. Lift and drag are actually two components of a single aerodynamic force acting on the ball.

# data[].attributes.body
Passing

Passing is one of the most fundamental skills in soccer, as it is how you move the ball from yourself to another teammate.

Receiving a Pass

Whether you are receiving a pass that is on the ground or traveling through the air, you will want to square your shoulders to the direction the ball is coming from.

Shooting

There are a number of unconventional ways to score a goal, but the fundamental way to try to score is by taking a shot.

Dribbling

Outside of passing, dribbling is the primary method of moving the ball up the field. This works best when you have open field in front of you without pressing defenders.

Goalkeeping

The goalkeeper is the last line of defense, in charge of doing whatever possible to keep the ball out of the net.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Soccer summer camps and academies all over the world

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Would you like to reach your full potential as a soccer player? You'll need more than great technique and ambition. To become a great soccer player, you'll also need game intelligence, physical fitness, and the proper mindset. But what exactly constitutes technique, game intelligence, physical fitness, and the proper mindset? What soccer skills are taught in elite soccer programs that can help you reach your full potential and achieve success in football?

In this article, we break down the most important soccer skills that can help you reach your full potential and achieve success in soccer.

1. Technique - Ball control, Dribbling skills, Passing accuracy, Body control

2. Game intelligence - Spatial awareness, Tactical knowledge, Risk assessment

3. Physical fitness - Endurance, Balance and coordination, Speed, Strength and power

4. Proper mindset - Compassion, Composure and mental strength, Coachability, Self-motivation

IMPROVE YOUR SOCCER SKILLS

Summer soccer camps, high-performance programs, soccer academies, and more.
Explore programs

TIP #1

High-performance soccer academies are boarding schools for elite, young soccer players designed to develop their skills and prepare them to compete at a collegiate, semi-professional, or professional level. The best academies not only have the connections and the know-how to help their students make it to the big leagues, but they also take education seriously and prepare their students for success in all areas of life.

Technique

Technique is perhaps the most visibly obvious element to success in football. Even an amateur can recognize good technique. Do they have good ball control? Are they fast with the ball at their feet? Can they dribble through their opponents? Do they pass to feet? Join a summer soccer camp to practice good technique.

Good technique has 4 key elements:

1. Ball control

Ball control refers to a player's ability to collect the ball and gain control of it using all parts of the body including feet, legs, chest, and head. A player with good ball control is able to receive passes both on the ground and out of the air with clean first touches keeping the ball close to their body. Ball control also refers to a player's ability to maintain possession of the ball, successfully protecting it from opponents. The ability to turn quickly and sharply with the ball is also of upmost important to achieving success in football and falls under the ball control element.

2. Dribbling skills

Dribbling skills refers to a player's ability move up and down the pitch with full control of the ball. A player with good dribbling skills can move the ball in different directions at different speeds with both feet. They can successfully maneuver through opponents without losing possession of the ball. Superb drilling skills are essential to achieving success in football for players of all positions.

3. Passing accuracy

Passing accuracy refers to a player's ability to use both feet to send the ball to the player's desired destination. That could mean sending the ball straight to a teammate's feet with power and precision, sending a through pass into space with proper weight, crossing the ball accurately in front of the net, or, for strikers shooting the ball accurately and powerful into the back of the net. Players cannot achieve success in football without being able to pass accurately with both feet.

4. Body control

Body control refers to a player's ability to move their body fluidly to optimize balance and coordination. Since body control falls under the category of technique rather than physical fitness, body control refers mostly to correctness of form. Long strides, correct running form, and a low center of gravity are good indications of good body control.

TIP #2

Improving technique is a question of hours of practice and specifically repetitive drills. Playing in friendly scrimmages isn't the best way to improve any one of these essential skills. Instead, players should practice drills which target each specific skill until they perfect each skill. Then, they should take those skills to the pitch and practice them critical during match play. Check out these soccer drills you can practice with a friend.

Game intelligence

Game intelligence is measured by a player's ability to make smart decisions on the pitch and make them quickly. A smart footballer aims to keep the game as clean as possible, minimizing energy expenditure while maximizing results. Essentially, game intelligence implies playing smarter, not harder. Sign up for a soccer program to learn how to be an intelligent player.

Game intelligence comprises 3 skills:

5. Spatial awareness

Spatial awareness refers to a player's ability to see space clearly across the entire pitch and utilize it to their advantage. What does it mean to see space clearly?

First of all, players need to be aware of the immediate space around them. According to the position of the ball, their own teammates, and their opponents, where should they be? Should they be moving into a space to receive a pass? Should they be drawing defenders away from their teammate who has the ball to create open space for them?

Secondly, intelligent players are always aware of where their teammates are and where they should be according to the positioning of the other team. There are two reasons they need to know where their teammates are and should be: (1) to tell them where they should be if they're not there, and (2) to anticipate their teammate's position and make a quick, instinctive pass almost without looking. In fact, scouts often look for this sixth sense of a footballer.

Finally, intelligent players are extremely aware of the geometry of the game. They know how to position themselves and others to make wide angles and easy passing opportunities for themselves while on offense and narrow angles and difficult passing opportunities for their opponents while on defense.

Spatial awareness is a complicated skill which encompasses many other skills absolutely essential to achieving success in football. In fact, spatial awareness is also closely related to the next game intelligence skill, tactical knowledge.

TIP #3

One way to improve spatial awareness is to watch a lot of beautiful football and watch it actively. That means paying attention to more than just the ball. Watch the position of all the players on the field (on both teams) and try to anticipate their passes and positioning. Tip: Watch older recorded games. Pause the game often and really concentrate on players' positioning. Save the current matches for enjoying with friends.

6. Tactical knowledge

Tactical knowledge refers to a player's knowledge of the nature and structure of the game. The formation of a team highly influences the tactics they will use to win. Soccer formations have changed drastically throughout the years. If you want to be an intelligent soccer player, it's a good idea to get to know the various kinds of formations ( http://www.soccer-training-guide.com/soccer-formations.html ) used today and the tactics and strategies that go along with each one.

While spatial awareness helps intelligent players see their immediate opportunities, tactical knowledge contributes to a player's ability to anticipate the future opportunities that will arise from each move. For this reason, tactically intelligent players are great at maintaining possession and not only waiting for the right moment to attack, but also creating the right moment to attack. By anticipating the moves of their own players and their opponents, intelligent players can move the ball across the field, creating gaps in the opposing team's defense until they have just enough space to attack.

Tactical intelligence is also critical to performing well on defense and perhaps even more important. On defense, players should constantly be assessing the field to accurately anticipate their opponents' next moves. If they anticipate correctly, they can close down their opponents' angles, prevent easy passes between them, and force them to make a mistake.

Tactical intelligence is especially important for center backs and central midfielders because these players are in the best position not only to see the entire pitch but also to communicate with and command their teammates. Nevertheless, extraordinary tactical knowledge is vital for anyone who really wants to achieve great success in football.

TIP #4

One of the best ways to acquire game intelligence is to train with different coaches and players at various times throughout the year. By doing so, players learn different perspectives and expand their strategic repertoire.

Many well-known club teams like Real Madrid and Manchester City offer summer camps and year-round camps where players get to learn to play according to their philosophies and methodologies. Some programs even offer theoretical workshops and video analysis where they discuss the decision making skills of each player on the pitch. Check out a complete list of elite soccer programs.

7. Risk assessment

Risk refers to the fact that certain aggressive decisions could lead to loss of possession (or failure to regain possession in the case of diving or tackling on defense). When a team loses possession, each and every team member must expend extra energy until they regain control. Such aggressive decisions could lead to over expenditure of energy and inability to perform well for the full 90 minutes of the match. On the other hand, a complete lack of aggressive decisions in an effort to conserve energy and maintain possession could prevent the team from scoring goals and ultimately lead to a loss.

EXPLORE SOCCER PROGRAMS

Summer soccer camps, high-performance programs, soccer academies, and more.
Explore programs

"If you're attacking, you don't get as tired as when you're chasing."
Kyle Rote, Jr.

Intelligent players, therefore, are constantly assessing the risk and reward of their decisions on the pitch. Should we make the long cross into the box and hope that someone touches it into the net but risk losing possession? Or should we maintain possession and pass around the top of the box until one of our players has an open shot on goal?

Risk assessment, tactical knowledge, and spatial awareness are all complex skills that lead to smart, fast decisions, and, ultimately, game intelligence.

"I am not a perfectionist, but I like to feel that things are done well. More important than that, I feel an endless need to learn, to improve, to evolve, not only to please the coach and the fans but also to feel satisfied with myself. It is my conviction that here are no limits to learning, and that it can never stop, no matter what our age."
Cristiano Ronaldo

TIP #5

Developing game intelligence requires an excessive amount of match play and an even greater amount of reflection. The most intelligent players always reflect on their mistakes and determine what they would do differently to improve their performance.

Physical fitness

Physical fitness is another essential element to achieving success in football; a football match lasts for 90 - 95 minutes with very few subs. According to Livestrong, midfielders run an average of over 11 kilometers per match. Wingers perform the most "high-intensity" runs averaging nearly 150 sprints of at least 75% of their full speed per match. Apart from goalkeepers, center-backs run the least but still average 9.5 kilometers per match.

In addition to endurance and speed, footballers need balance and physical strength to defend the ball at their feet, to shoot, to pass the ball long distances, to win balls out of the air, etc.

In conclusion, physical fitness in football comprises 4 essential elements:

8. Endurance

According to dictionary.com, endurance is the ability or strength to continue to last especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions. That is, endurance not only refers to a player's physical fitness and ability to make it through the entire 90 minutes. It also refers to a player's mental strength and ability to continue despite the overwhelming fatigue he or she might feel.

Elite footballers must not just endure physically but also mentally. As the body fatigues, control, focus, and decision making becomes more and more difficult. The ability to perform both physically and mentally for more than 90 minutes is crucial to achieving success in football.

"The vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion, when nobody else is looking."
Mia Hamm

9. Balance and coordination

Great balance and coordination are necessary skills for footballers. Footballers are often moving fast in small spaces either weaving through defenders or, on defense, keeping up with the moves of offenders. Moving quickly in small spaces with one foot on the ball requires a superb amount of balance and coordination. Balance and coordination (mixed with speed) is what makes a player agile and agility is a necessary skill for the best footballers.

TIP #6

Make sure you work on both feet. It's difficult to be balanced and coordinated if you can only work comfortably with half of your body.

10. Speed

Speed is necessary for footballers in terms of both quickness and quick feet and speed across greater distances. Speed in terms of quickness and quick feet goes hand in hand with balance and coordination. This type of quick speed in small spaces contributes to a player's agility and ability to weave through defenders. The quickness is also essential for defensive players to keep up with their mark and to keep offensive players from dodging them or sprinting passed them with the ball.

The second kind of speed is speed across greater distances. Such speed assists footballers in beating their opponents to the ball and also beating them in long runs down the sidelines both on offense and defense. Speed is a baseline skill for footballers and is of upmost importance. A player might be super agile with the ball at their feet, but if they're slow and can't beat their opponents to the ball, they'll never get the opportunity to show off their agility.

TIP #7

Running form is extremely important for speed. There are some general rules of running form that equate to running efficiently and increasing speed. For example:

1. The runner should run with their body slightly leaning forward. This allows the runner to keep the core contracted to lift the knees and drive forward.

2. Additionally, such form makes it easier to land with the knee just over the toe. A runner should never strike the ground in front of their center of gravity as they not only run the risk of injury but also lose power.

3. The runner should run with short quick strides. Stretching and over-striding makes it difficult to strike the ground in line with the knee and results in risk of injury and loss of power.

Proper running form is a semi-controversial topic. Some say that the runner should land on the forefoot rather than the heel of the foot. Others say that the runner should always strike the ground from heel to toe. Seeking professional advice or attending a camp designed to improve running form would be a great investment for a football player who's interested in increase their speed.

Additionally, functional strength training could greatly increase running speed. Functional strength training in terms of running includes running with parachutes or weight sleds, or running in partners with bungee cords (over-speed training).

Read this article about improving sprint speed.

Check out the video below explaining how to use bungee cords to run faster.

Related article: Your BEST CHANCE at becoming a PRO SOCCER PLAYER - Joining a high performance soccer academy
11. Strength and power

Strength and power contribute to a player's speed and agility as well as their ability to shoot, make long passes, defend and shield the ball, steal the ball from their opponents, and win balls out of the air.

Leg strength is undoubtedly important for passing the ball long distances and shooting and is undeniably advantageous in almost all aspects of the game. That being said, upper body strength and particularly core strength is also favorable while defending and shielding the ball and stealing the ball from opponents. In football, arm strength is often used to create space between the attacking player and their opponents while leg strength is used to maintain a low center of gravity. Therefore, while leg workouts are essential and should be prioritized, upper body workouts should not be overlooked.

Speed and agility are the physical attributes that are typically assigned to a so-called skilled player, but even an agile player can be easily pushed off the ball and lose possession without strength and power in both the upper and lower body.

Technique and game intelligence are vital to achieving success in football. However, without the strength and power to win the ball, protect the ball, send long and powerful passes, and sprint past opponents, even the most intelligent players are quite useless on the pitch.

Proper mindset

Proper mindset is the final key to achieving success in football. To really achieve success, footballers have to put all their heart and soul into their sport. That being said, such passion can result in devastation after defeat or burnout. To achieve success in football, football players need to find a balance and learn to be passionate, while maintaining composure, and demonstrating resilience.

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
Pele

Proper mindset comprises 4 core traits:

12. Passion and love for the sport

The most important trait that a footballer must have to achieve success in football is a burning passion and love for the sport. In order to achieve success, footballers put in incomprehensible hours of practice, and once they achieve success, they continue to do so. These hours not only include time on the pitch but also time spent watching football matches, analyzing them, reflecting upon a player's own performance on the pitch, etc. To achieve success in football, one must eat, sleep, and breathe football.

INTERNATIONAL SOCCER PROGRAMS

Summer soccer camps, high-performance programs, soccer academies, and more.
Explore programs

DID YOU KNOW...

Have you heard of the 10,000 hour rule? The 10,000 hour rule states that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert in something. The rule was based on a study by K. Anders Ericsson and made famous by Malcolm Gladwell's bestselling book Outliers. Although the rule has officially been disproven, the point remains - it takes a lot of practice to become an expert and even more practice to become one of the best in the world.

13. Composure and mental strength

Passion and love for the sport is often accompanied by extreme competitiveness. Those who LOVE their sport LOVE to win. This competitiveness is certainly crucial to achieving success in football, but it should also be accompanied by composure and mental strength.

Composure and mental strength ( http://www.thecoachdiary.com/mental-toughness ) can help a player to:

1. Perform well under pressure - When time is running out, players often begin to play frantically. Composure helps a player to make rational decisions even in the last minutes of the match. Composure is also important in crucial game situations such as penalty kicks or even breakaways.

2. Accept defeat - Mental strength is important for a player to be able to accept defeat and continue to train and play with a clear mind, empty of regret.

3. Deal with unnecessary aggression from the other team - During matches, players can certainly get unnecessarily aggressive with players from the other team, pushing, elbowing, and stepping on feet when the referee isn't looking. It's easy to retaliate in rage. However, rage invokes a physical state which leads to poor decision making on the pitch and, ultimately, losses.

4. Accept rejection and persevere - Footballers on the path to becoming professional football players will certainly have to deal with rejection along the way. The path for most is long and arduous. Many players get rejected from teams that they think will be their road to success. It's important to accept this rejection and keep moving forward.

"The secret is to believe in your dreams; in your potential that you can be like your star, keep searching, keep believing and don't lose faith in yourself."
Neymar

14. Coachability

Another important trait of a football player with the proper mindset is their coachability. Dr. Goldberg, Sports Performance Consultant and internationally-known expert in peak sports performance, describes the un-coachable athlete as "that individual who feels that he/she is never wrong, that the coach is unfairly picking on them whenever any kind of critical or even constructive feedback is given and the player who simply refuses to take any responsibility for his/her mistakes or failure."

No matter how talented a player might be, they have to be willing to learn from their coaches. This means not only listening to his or her instructions, but also s eeking out, accepting, and integrating feedback without defensive backlash. Players should also demonstrate an ability to self-correct and try new actions to get improved results.

15. Self-motivation

The final trait a football player must possess to truly achieve success in football is self-motivation. As mentioned early, becoming one of the best in the world requires an incredible amount of practice. To practice for the necessary amount of hours at the necessary intensity, serious footballers must put in extra hours and make all kinds of sacrifices including waking up early to train, adhering to a strict diet and exercise routine, and missing out on all kinds of experiences with their peers.

Final thoughts

Becoming a successful soccer player is a challenge for even the most talented players. These 15 skills are essential to your development as a soccer player, but you'll need more than skill to go pro. Specifically, you need knowledge about exactly how you can become a professional player. The absolute best way to achieve success in soccer and even become a professional soccer player is to attend a high-performance soccer academy as a high school student. At high-performance academies, students explore their options to play professionally without neglecting their education.

It's a lot of work, but check out how much successful soccer players make! Click the picture below to find out.

If you decide you want to succeed more than you want anything else in the world, then success is possible. Good luck on your mission.

About Ertheo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Key Soccer Skills - How to Achieve Success in Football | Ertheo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Would you like to reach your full potential as a soccer player? You'll need more than great technique and ambition. To become a great soccer player, you'll also need game intelligence, physical fitness, and the proper mindset. But what exactly constitutes technique, game intelligence, physical fitness, and the proper mindset?

# data[].attributes.headline
Identify the different parts of the sport

# data[].attributes.subject
Identify the different parts of the sport

# data[].attributes.body
The different parts of the game is A number is assigned to each position. When you apply numbers to specific formations, you can better identify where players line up on the field. How the positions are typically numbered

1– Goalkeeper
2– Right Fullback
3– Left Fullback
4– Center Back
5– Center Back (or Sweeper, if used)
6– Defending/Holding Midfielder
7– Right Midfielder/Winger
8– Central/Box-to-Box Midfielder
9– Striker
10– Attacking Midfielder/Playmaker
11– Left Midfielder/Wingers