Soccer is the most popular sport in the world by a large margin, beating out football, baseball, and basketball due to its massive overseas players and audience. Soccer, or football as it’s known in much of the world, is played by tens of millions of people and the games are watched by literally billions. This is a massive athletic opportunity for those entranced by this fast-paced game of skill, but before you can excell at the top of your game, you’ll have to practice, practice, practice.
There isn’t a skill in this world that you can pick up without practice. Muscle memory is an essential part of sports, leading to skill sets like dribbling, passing, and shooting in soccer. Determining the most effective and efficient form of soccer training is the first step for anyone who wants to get into the game, leading to a healthier, more active life and potentially major lucrative success in worldwide soccer leagues.
Exercise Comes First
When it comes to things like soccer, it’s similar to many other difficult but exciting hobbies, like playing music, programming, or other sports like basketball. Those who have a genuine passion and love for the game will find a way to practice, whether it’s kicking around a milk carton or buying a cheap ball and just learning how to bounce it off the wall over and over until your skills are honed.
Some of these basic exercises that anyone can do at home are:
Cardiovascular training
Soccer players are among some of the most fit people in the world. They are required to run for long periods of time, and perform athletic feats that would be impossible for most people. One of the first steps you can take in your soccer training is simply to begin by running, and try to extend the time and distance that you can go.
Lower body training
Because soccer relies so strongly on the legs, it’s critical to exercise this part of your body. Besides running, you can do squats, lunges, or the leg lift “captain’s chair” to work on the muscles in your thighs and legs. This will allow you to run faster, stay in the game longer, and kick the ball harder.
Core training
Don’t neglect your core, muscles like the abs, glutes, and back muscles that strengthen and bolster the middle part of your body. These muscles help keep you stable and moving on the field, and are an essential part of soccer training. To work these muscles out, do crunches or sit-ups, planks, or leg raises.
Practice to Perfection
Of course, when it comes to sports, there’s more to focus on than just bodily training and exercise. For most people who want to be fit, this would be enough, but for those looking to get into soccer, there’s also a specific skill set you will have to build. Try to focus on getting moving and keeping the ball balanced to feel as natural as possible, where the ball feels like an extension of yourself that you can control and move at-will.
The best way to do this is simply to always keep the ball on you. When Jimi Hendrix finally got his first guitar, it never left his side. He never had formal music training, but the pure amount of time he spent with his instrument turned him into one of the greatest musicians that ever lived.
In the same way, you can enhance your skills by simply playing soccer all the time. Try and practice some of the basic soccer skills like dribbling, shooting the ball accurately, passing to those far away from you, or “juggling” and “stalling” the ball on your foot, where you bounce it like a hacky-sack and then catch it.
The Best Way?
However, you may be wondering: wasn’t this article supposed to be about the best way to learn soccer? You’re absolutely right, and there’s one one truly superior method to learn how to do any skill. It’s all about immersion, and immersing yourself fully in the world of soccer.
For those with the means, ability, and drive to do it, a live-in soccer academy in a country like Spain where they are crazy about soccer is clearly the superior method to learn the skills and lifestyle necessary. You’ll be surrounded 24/7 by those who are as passionate as you, and have access to recruitment sessions and networking abilities that those who don’t attend these camps could only dream of.
Although it’ll cost money and require you to make major changes in your life, including even moving temporarily, this method provides numerous significant benefits that no other training method can equal. You’ll be able to talk to and learn from professionals, who have information that you won’t be able to access otherwise .
This method is guaranteed to change your life and improve your soccer skills. Take the next step today and find the right soccer training academy for you.