Individual skills[edit]

Example of individual skill: Brazilian striker Pele moving at speed under pressure, lets a pass run past
his opponent, circling around to shoot first time on the other side for a near miss. Official FIFA Technical
Reports called the move"audaciously executed, and called for immense skill, timing, judgment and
speed."[3]

The importance of a skill depends to an extent on the player's position on the field.
Overall, football skills can be divided into four main areas, namely outfield technical,
physical, mental and goalkeeping technical abilities.

Techniques and skills[edit]

Handling

Sprinting

Throw-ins

Shooting

Headers

One on ones

Passing

Crossing

First Touch

Physical skills[edit]

Pace

Agility

Sprinting

Stamina

Power

Endurance

Jumping

Balance

Mental skills[edit]

As the last line of defence, goalkeepers must be able to make quick, athletic saves. Here, the skill of
England's Gordon Banks robs Brazil's Pele of a good scoring opportunity in their legendary confrontation.
Mexico, 1970

Intelligence (game understanding)

Vision (ability to see build-up play ahead to others or ability to see a pass or
awareness of players around you)

Composure (ability to control the game at any critical situation in the match)

Leadership (able to guide the youngsters in the field and be able to motivate and
inspire others)

Communication (can be considered a mental ability)

Decision-making (determine in advance what to do)

Goalkeeping skills[edit]

Jumping (can be considered a physical ability)

Agility (can be considered a physical ability)

Balance (can be considered a physical ability)

Communication (can be considered a mental ability)

Goal kicker (can be considered a physical ability)

Handling (can be considered a technical ability)

Positioning

Reflexes (can be considered a mental ability)

Distribution (ex.Throwing, punting) (can be considered a physical ability)

One on ones

Individual
technique
Passing

with the
with the
with the
crossing

inside of the foot

outside of the foot
instep
the ball

Shooting

with the instep

with the inside of the foot
with the outside of the foot
on the half-volley
on the volley - from the front

Heading

at goal from high crosses

Trapping the ball

with the foot

Feint and dribble

the
the
the
the
the

Ball control

looking up before you receive the ball

close control

Running with the ball

close control

Turning
Attacking
play

with the body move

passing move
shooting move
body move
back-foot move
scissors move

Principles of attack

give support
passing - distance

Passing play

looking up

2-1 situations

wall pass

Runs

deep runs
diagonal runs
v-runs
create your own space
create space for others

Crosses

late crosses

Finishing

runs for crosses

clear - unpressured

Defending
Principles of defence

goal-side
marking
covering
pressing
danger areas

1-1 situations

challenged - intercept

Defending around the box

central attacks
attacks on the flanks

Goalkeeping
technique
Movement techniques

starting position

Catching the ball

cupping
gripping - low balls
gripping - high balls

Diving techniques

low balls
high balls

Goalkeeping
play
Positioning

narrowing the angle

Shot stopping

basic moves

Contending one on ones

basics

Dealing with crosses

unchallenged

Section 4: Basic Skills Receiving, Passing and Shooting

This series, Coaching Fundamentals, is designed to introduce volunteer and youth coaches to
the basics of coaching soccer. You can find a small number of soccer exercises that may be
used to train players in both techniques and tactics on our Soccer Drills page.

Introduction
The next session is an examination of other basic soccer skills. If players can't pass and catch
the ball in basketball, they can't play the game. If they can't pass and receive the ball in soccer,
they will not be successful. These two important skills, combined with shooting at goal, are
featured in this section. It should be emphasized that these skills are critical to be successful.
Repetition of these skills is the key to learning and mastering them.

Technique
In the basic skills of soccer, an important term is technique, which is the physical movement
involved in those skills. Practicing the skills is called technical training." Players practice
technique throughout their lives, but correct technique practice is essential for players age 6-12
while they are in developmental stages.
The coach of developing players should heavily emphasize technical training while also having
a basic understanding of correct technical execution. This can be accomplished using a
repertoire of conditioned games to teach techniques in a manner that provides plenty of
repetition.

Receiving
Receiving a ball on the ground is different than receiving a ball in the air. When receiving a ball
on the ground, the following points should be considered:
Keep your eye on the ball.
Choose which foot to receive the ball with (this may depend on the location of the

defender).
Receive the ball with one foot with the toe pointed up (ankle locked).
Dont stop the ball. Instead, prepare it for the next action: shot, dribble, pass or to play

away from pressure.

Receiving the ball in the air is a skill that involves six major phases:
Keeping your eye on the ball.
Reading the flight, speed and direction of the ball.
Deciding which body part will control the ball (foot, thigh, chest or head).
Getting the body in line with the direction of the ball.
Preparing to receive the ball by presenting the body part to the ball.
Cushioning the ball with the body part to slow it down and preparing for the next touch.

The following are drills that can be used to help players develop better receving skills:
Technical Session on Passing and Receiving
Coach Gina O'Neil gives a session plan that is full of passing combinations encouraging you to
trap the ball with the inside of your foot and passing with both inside and outside on the foot.
Receiving, Control, Receiving Exercises
Full Session to help players develop first touch and quality passing
Receiving and Passing for U10-U14 (Resource Library)
A technical session emphasizing receiving and passing designed for players in the U10 to U14
age groups.
Give and Go (Resource Library)
NSCAA Director of Coaching Education, Ian Barker, uses a give and go drill to practice passing
and receiving technique using both long and short passes.

Passing
Because passing involves giving the ball to a teammate, it is important that players are taught to
know where their teammates are by constantly looking. A second important ingredient is verbal
communication, or talking. Coaches should teach players to provide intelligent verbal cues to
help with decision-making in passing.
The technical elements of passing vary based on the kind of pass being made. The key
elements of any pass (both short and long) include:
See the target.
Approach the ball.
Plant and position of support, or non-kicking foot (the toe of the non-kicking foot should

be pointed in the direction the player wants the ball to go).

Look at the ball, holding the head steady.
Contact the correct area of the ball with locked ankle.
For instep and outside of foot pass, the toes are pointed down and contact is on the top

of the foot.
For inside of the foot pass, toes are pointed up.
Follow-through: kick through the ball," following through toward the target.
Transfer the weight forward.

The following are drills that can be used to help players develop better passing skills:
A, B, C, D Passing
A passes to B, moves to center. B passes to center, moves diagonally to other cone (A). A
passes o C, moves to outside cone (B). Sequence begins again between C and D (*3 passes *3
movements per)
U-10 Passing
A lesson plan to help develop u-10 passing skills.
Technical Passing Session (Resource Library)
Session plan on using your right and left foot to control and pass. Samantha also provides
passing drills the encourage you to check and open your body up to the field and find the best
pass.

Combining Technique Passing, Receiving, Moving (Resource Library)

NSCAA Director of Coaching Education, Ian Barker, does a drill in which players pass the ball
through a gate and then look for another ball to combine the elements of passing, dribbling,
receiving and moving.

Shooting
Shooting uses the same technical elements as passing, with the important difference being that
the goal is to pass the ball beyond the goalkeeper.
If possible, the player should look up to see the position of the goalkeeper, choosing a

side to shoot the ball.

Approach the ball.
Plant the support foot beside or slightly ahead of the ball, which helps to keep the shot

low.
Keep the head steady and eyes on the ball.
Make proper contact with the ball.
Ankle of kicking foot is locked and the toe is pointed down if shooting with instep.
Hips and knee of kicking foot are pointed in the direction of the shot.
Follow through to keep the ball low (weight going forward, landing on the kicking foot).

The skill of shooting sometimes is called an art because the scoring of goals is such a prized
commodity. The mechanics of how to shoot are important, but perhaps more important is
knowing when to shoot, especially because so many players prefer to pass the ball rather than
take on the responsibility of shooting. Since scoring more goals than the opposition is the object
of the game, players who are goal scorers are highly valued. Shooting frequently is done under
pressure from opponents, sometimes facing the wrong way and at awkward angles. Shooting
should be practiced against a live goalkeeper.
The following are drills that can be used to help players develop better shooting skills:
Striking the Ball
Great session for U6 from Warm up to Game
Coconuts Young Player Game
U6-U8 striking a ball activity

Shooting Activities (Resource Library)

Activities Include: 1) Unopposed Shooting 2) Opposed Shooting 3) Shooting Game: Improve
shooting under pressure and in game situations 4) Small Side Scrimmage
Shooting Practice Plan (Resource Library)
Activities Include: 1) Shooting 1: Improve shooting technique 2) Shooting 2: Improve shooting
technique 3) Shooting 3: Improve shooting technique 4) Shooting 4: Improve shooting
techniques in game situations 5) Small Sided Scrimmages

Conclusion
The skills of soccer are difficult because humans are hand-eye dominated. The skills discussed
here, however, are eye-foot and must be developed at a fairly young age. The difficulty for
coaches of young players is to conduct training sessions that involve repetition but are not
boring or tedious. Therefore, coaches of young players are in many ways very important as they
develop tomorrows players today.
The basic techniques
Introduction
Ball control is the foundation for all aspects of the game and a source of motivation for
young players because it feels good to be at ease with the ball.
The ability to control the ball is the key to many other skills, and juggling is also a very
good way to practise ball control, getting familiar with the ball and gaining confi dence.
Generally speaking, it is not difficult to master a technical skill, but it does become harder
as the game conditions change.
Therefore, a player can only master the technique of controlling the ball if he coordinates
the various parts of his/ her body. Furthermore, the learning aspect depends on the number
of repetitions, whereas there are various combinations available in terms of the method to
be used.
As a young player develops, his/her technical skills will set the foundations for good
development and enable him/her to experience all of the joy that football can bring.
In grassroots football, the basic techniques can be divided into four categories:

Controlling the ball

Running with the ball
Passing the ball
Shooting

1. Controlling the ball

a. Control / b. Juggling
Controlling
To control the ball is to master it. Properly controlling the ball means that a move will be
successful. The control movements to focus on are: directed control and gathering the ball
while moving these introduce speed into the play.
Juggling
If repeated regularly, juggling develops the skills of dexterity, coordination and balance in
young footballers. These skills favour the more rapid acquisition of other techniques.

2. Running with the ball

a. Without obstacles / b. With obstacles = dribbling

Running with the ball
This is how an individual moves in free space with the ball. When a player is running well
with the ball, he/she is in control of it at all times: this requires good balance and excellent
stability. Running with the ball while keeping the head up allows a continuous flow of
information to be received and allows movement to be adapted to play.
Dribbling
This is how an individual moves with the ball when faced by opponents/obstacles. Dribbling
allows the player in possession of the ball to eliminate one or more opponents by:

making a manoeuvre and taking individual risks;

setting up a team move;
gaining time to allow support from team-mates;
deceiving an opponent (the concept of the feint).

3. Passing the ball

This is the action of giving the ball to a team-mate. It is an essential part of team play. As
the core of the game, passing allows a team to:

keep possession of the ball;

set up attacks;
change the direction of play;
counter-attack;
provide a decisive or final pass.
Crosses are a type of short or long pass, usually leading to a shot. They serve as the last
pass.

4. Shooting

4. Shooting
This is an action with the objective of dispatching the ball into the opponents goal. It is the
logical conclusion, the culmination of an attack. It is what football is all about. Shooting
requires technical qualities (striking the ball well, accuracy), physical qualities (power,
coordination, balance) and mental qualities (determination, audacity, self-confidence).

http://grassroots.fifa.com/en/for-coach-educators/technical-elements-for-grassrootseducation/the-basic-techniques/special-techniques.html

Football Basic Skills and Techniques

Last Updated: Nov 12, 2013 | By Steve Silverman

Football Basic Skills and Techniques Photo Credit Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media

Football often comes down to the strategy that a team employs at the end of close games. Outthink and out-execute your opponent at crucial moments, and your team often will find a way to
win. However, competing hard on a consistent basis requires focusing on the fundamentals of
the game. A team must correctly execute blocking, tackling, passing accurately, catching and
running with the ball.

Blocking

Photo Credit Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media

Offensive football is predicated on strong blocking. The offensive line must open holes for the running
backs and prevent pass rushers from getting to the passer. Other offensive players must block, as well.
Offensive linemen must drive their shoulders into the midsection of their opponents and move them
downfield to effect successful blocks, and they must hold their position and form a pocket around the
quarterback to protect him when he plans to pass.

Tackling

Photo Credit Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media

You must show toughness, strength and determination when tackling, but it also takes excellent technique
to tackle consistently. It's not enough to run hard at the ball carrier and apply your shoulder to his chest
when you make the hit. That play might result in a knockout shot that gets the entire stadium rocking, but
it also might result in a missed tackle. Drive your shoulder into your opponent's hip and wrap your arms
around his midsection before powering him to the ground. Never let go once you wrap up an opponent.

You Might Also Like

Types of Kicking in

Basic Football Rules For

American Football

American Football Skills

What Are the Fundamental

Fun Practice Games for

How to Be a Good

How to Manage Football

Touch Football Defensive

What Exercises Get You

Football Teams for Teens

What Are Some Things a

Tips on Man-to-Man

Youth Football Defensive

Fielding Fundamentals

All Types of Football

Passing

Photo Credit Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media

A quarterback needs arm strength, accuracy, a quick release and the ability to take a hit and still make the
play. Quarterbacks have to work on their passing form and accuracy in practice so they can be dependable
in game situations. Bring the ball back to ear level, step toward your target and throw the ball by
extending your arm. Look at several spots on the field before you throw the ball. You can't just look
toward the intended receive or the defense will have a strong chance of making an interception.

Sponsored Links

Diet Tips To Lose Weight

Melt The Pounds Off With A Diet Given By VLCC Experts. Join Now!
vlccwellness.com/Easy_Weight_Loss

Receiving

Photo Credit Gabriel Garcia/Demand Media

Pass receivers have to avoid the jam at the line of scrimmage, run crisp pass patterns and learn to catch
the ball in their hands. Receivers need to extend their hands in front of their bodies and form a target with
for the quarterback with their thumbs and forefingers. Receivers can't let the ball rebound off their chest
or shoulder pads and then try to catch it because the rebound may be difficult to control.