Tags: AYSO | playing tips | soccer skills | soccer training | youth soccer

Getting kids started in soccer can be a rewarding experience. The best time to teach them the fundamentals of competition soccer is when they are just learning about the sport.  Kids starting out with a basic knowledge of how the game works will be happier team players later on.  It is also important that young players learn to be focused and have fun at the same time. The best team players are active kids who want the soccer ball and cheer their teammates on to make things happen on the field. One happy and active player can have the effect of making a whole team smile. A happy team will have a better chance of winning their game too.

In the game of soccer, ball control is everything. If you can control the soccer ball you will control the game – and win. Good ball control does not come naturally and must be developed and constantly practiced.  Before a player starts practicing accurate kicking and shots on goal they have to master receiving and trapping the ball first. Receiving involves keeping the ball moving on your intended path and directing it to a spot ready for shooting or passing. Trapping is the act of stopping the soccer ball with your feet. Both are essential skills for all forms of soccer competition.

Tags: 17 laws of the game | FIFA | futball | soccer ball | soccer history

The history of soccer is full of exciting matches and charismatic personalities spanning nearly 150 years. All that history had to start somewhere, and the United Kingdom has played a pivotal role right from the beginning. The international Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) governs the World Cup international matches, but the rules they use today reach all the way back to 1863 when the original 17 Laws of soccer were drawn up at a meeting of the Football Association (FA) in Manchester, England.