The Diamond Midfield
A Diamond Midfield in soccer is a formation that features four midfielders in a diamond shape, consisting of one defensive, two central and one attacking…
Soccer Is Running And Running Is Mental
SOCCER IS RUNNING This is quite simple. If you don’t like running, don’t play soccer. Wait. Smarter Soccer is about game intelligence, why are we talking about running? Because learning to love running is mental, not physical. In the course of years...Clearing The Ball
With a hyper-focus on “building out of the back” these days, the concept of “clearing the ball” as a defender often gets frowned upon, however, it’s often the smart play…
Always Be An Option
ALWAYS BE AN OPTION Based on the latest FIFA statistics, on average, a player possesses the ball in a 90 minute game for just under two minutes – one minute, 49 seconds to be exact. Just think about that for a moment. A professional soccer player only has the...Soccer Players: How To Handle Blowouts
You’re being blown out by another team. The score is 5-0, or worse, and your team can barely make it to midfield without losing possession. Most of your teammates have their heads down and are barely even running anymore. What do you do?
Struggling To Find Time To Practice Soccer On Your Own? Try Timeboxing!
Is school, homework, chores, guitar lessons, maybe even a part time job, challenging you to find enough time (and energy) to practice soccer on your own? We hear you! We suggest using a productivity hack called Timeboxing, and we’ve created a template for you to download to make it super easy.
Eliminate Unforced Errors
ELIMINATE UNFORCED ERRORS For soccer players who aspire to be the smartest competitors on the field, eliminating “unforced errors” is a key metric that will make a significant impact on your performance. What does Smarter Soccer mean by unforced errors?...Soccer Is A Chess Game In Motion
In many ways, soccer is like a chess game in motion. Two opponents face off, each with players in defined positions that have specific roles, and try to maneuver over the playing field to capture the king, or in the case of soccer… to put the ball into the opponents goal…
The Outside Of The Foot Is Your Secret Weapon
We don’t usually spend time on Technique here at Smarter Soccer, but since the outside of the foot is vastly underrated, we want to discuss this crucial ability intelligent players incorporate into their skill set…
The Soccer Thirds
In the course of your playing, or even watching soccer on television, you may hear your coach discuss the soccer thirds. This is used to define the three areas of the field where you’re either attacking, defending, or in the case of the middle third, transitioning…
The Foundation Of Soccer Game Intelligence Part 2 – Situational Awareness
For soccer players, gaining Situational Awareness is a crucial part of increasing your Soccer IQ and improving soccer game intelligence.
Soccer Definition: Check / Checking
A double move, going in direction and then suddenly reversing to go in the opposite direction, which is performed by a player in order to create space between the player and the defender who is marking him/her…
The Subject Of Penalty Kicks & Diving
In your soccer playing career, the subject of penalty kicks will inevitably come up. Either by your coach, your teammates or even your parents. You will then be faced with a personal dilemma: do you deliberately try to “go down in the box” to get a penalty kick decision from the referee?
A Cross Or A Centering Pass?
Soccer Definition: Cross / Centering Pass – A pass from a player located near the sideline (touchline) towards the center of the field
The Soccer Breakaway
When an attacker with the ball escapes from the opposing team’s defenders to go one-on-one with the goalie for a scoring opportunity – it’s called a breakaway…
Know Thy Field
KNOW THY FIELD Smarter soccer players know that the condition of the field has a direct impact on the game. In fact, players who take a moment to look over the field and see how its quality affects play will have an advantage over their opponents who didn’t take that...Soccer Doesn’t Stop (And Neither Should You)
Soccer never stops and neither should you. This is a crucial ingredient in becoming a smarter soccer player and the earlier you adopt this concept the better off you’ll be…
Soccer Definition: Cutting The Angle
The soccer term, Cutting the angle, usually refers to how a goalkeeper positions themselves in relation to the attacker with the ball…
Reset For Success
Soccer players who can press the reset button after bad plays, quarters, games and beyond are, by far, the most successful performers on the field, and in life…
The One Thing You Need To Do Before You Start Your Soccer Preseason
Smart Soccer Players Make Sure Of One Thing Prior To Starting Their Preseason…
Awareness
Awareness is the foundation of game intelligence. Not just in soccer, but all sports. The concept is easy to understand, but very difficult to master…
The Soccer Zones
Based on a study conducted at John Moores University in Liverpool UK, researchers explored where goals were scored during 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros tournaments…
Soccer Positions By Numbers
If your coach says: “you’ll be playing the number six position today in the 4-4-2” – do you know what they’re talking about?
Parts Of The Soccer Field
Learn all the parts of the soccer field with our free diagrams. For players of all ages! Download now!
Recent Comments