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Below is a list of some questions we have been asked by our students and the answers that have been given to them. More are yet to come, so stay tuned.
:: Dribbling Techniques ::
 What is the key to dribbling?
I want to be a faster forward, how do I do this?
:: Shooting Accuracy ::
What is the secret behind a good penalty kick?
I want the ball to curl when I kick it, how do I do this?
:: Ball Control ::
How can I learn to juggle?
How can I work on controlling the ball better?
:: Defensive/Attacking Tactics ::
How do I take on defenders?
What is the secret to being a good defender?
What is the key to dribbling?
Dribbling is nothing more than moving with the ball across the field. What transforms dribbling into an art are the defenders whose purpose is to try and tackle the player that has the ball.
Dribbling can be done with the inside, outside, instep, and sole of the foot. You should also be able to run with the ball or change direction, while keeping it under your control. When dribbling into space, don't just fix your eyes on the ball. Learn to keep the ball near you, while being able to simultaneously scan the field for any openings.
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How do I take on defenders?
You should always be the person with most immediate access to the ball. If you don't keep it close to your body, you will lose it. Be patient when confronted by a defender. Look at his footing and try to exploit his support foot.
If you do think you are about to lose the ball, then pass to one of your team mates to assist in getting passed your opponent. At the end of the day, you must remember you are playing a team sport.
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I want to be a faster forward, how do I do this?
To become a faster player, you must implement speed exercises within your training. Working on sprints alone is not very productive for a soccer player.
Make sure you use a ball and work on dribbling with it at various speeds while maintaining total control. Also, when the ball is rolling towards you, do not wait for it to reach you. You must go to the ball and settle it.
In addition, forwards who are considered to be "fast" can move quickly on the field whether they have the ball or not. Finally, remember to be sensible in your training routine. Soccer players rarely sprint for over 15-20 meters.
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How can I learn to juggle?
Juggling, though not used primarily on the field, is a good skill to know if you want to impress your friends or just show-off. What you can do, is experiment with flicking the ball over your head and collecting it. Apply as many different body surfaces as possible.
Your main focus when juggling should be balance, co-ordination and control. Once you have mastered these three, the ability to juggle will come freely to you.
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What is the secret behind a good penalty kick?
When shooting a penalty kick, the best thing to do is to pre-select the spot you will be shooting towards. One of the hardest places for a keeper to get to is on either of the upper corners. Also, once you are in the process of taking your shot, keep your eyes on the ball for better accuracy.
Another entertaining method that is only used by the most courageous of penalty kickers, is to fake the keeper in believing you are about to have a powerful shot, when in fact, all you will be doing is chipping the ball in the centre of the goals. If the keeper "bites the bait", then your penalty shot will be something to talk about for the upcoming weeks. If not, well...at least you tried.
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I want the ball to curl when I kick it, how do I do this?
As you plant your supporting foot, retrieve your kicking leg as far back as possible. From this point on, drive your kicking foot through the ball at the highest possible speed. Swing your foot quickly, not hard. The trick here is striking the appropriate part of the ball so that it curves properly. It becomes increasingly difficult to control an inside curve as you add more power to it.
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What is the secret to being a good defender?
Even though there is no real secret to being a good defender, there is a way you can improve the level of success in protecting your team from conceding goals.
An essential aspect of any defender is "Tactical Anticipation and Apprehension". This refers to being able to read the game, and trying to stay ahead of the opposition. Even if the forward is much faster, you can usually beat them in a tackle if you close them down as quickly as possible.
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How can I work on controlling the ball better?
You should try working on your ball control in isolation. Just go out and work on moving around while keeping the ball under control. Making sure to keep the ball as close to you as possible.
Try randomly changing direction and executing different moves all the while concentrating on your balance and coordination over the ball. Work on your moves repeatedly to learn the mechanics, and eventually you will start building up your speed in your routines.
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