How to Play Soccer: A Beginner's Guide to Football
Posted by SUMMIT TEAM
As soccer legend Pelé once said, "Success is no accident. It’s hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, a love of what you are doing." If you’re just starting out on your soccer journey, make this beginner’s guide your kick off. We explain all the rules, skills, and equipment you need, plus, how to build a real love for the game as you study and practice!
Key Takeaways
- Soccer Essentials: The game is simple: get the ball into your opponent's net! Just remember to use your feet, avoid fouls, and focus on passing and teamwork. Don't worry about the offside rule in most junior games.
- Top Beginner Skills: Practice controlled passes with different parts of the foot, effective and encouraging communication with teammates, and learn your position and how to help your team move the ball effectively.
- Sourcing Quality Kit: You'll need a soccer ball, proper boots, and shin guards. Check out Summit Sport for all the beginner soccer equipment you need.
The Basic Rules of Soccer
Ready to dive in? While soccer has a lot of rules, the game itself is pretty simple once you know the basics. Here are the soccer rules for beginners you'll need to know right away.
- No Hands: The most important rule to remember is that you can't use your hands or arms to touch the ball! The goalkeeper is the only player who can, but only inside their own penalty box. The only other exception is for a throw-in from the sideline.
- Bad Conduct: If you trip, push, or hold another player, that’s a foul. These are often at the referee's discretion. Other fouls can include dangerous play or touching the ball with your hand, arm, or shoulder. When a foul happens inside the penalty box, it’s a penalty kick for the other team.
- Out of Bounds: If the ball goes over the sideline, the other team gets a throw-in. If it goes over the end line, it's a goal kick or a corner kick. If the ball goes out over the goal line off an attacking player, the other team gets a goal kick. If it goes out off a defender, the attacking team gets a corner kick.
- Offside: This rule can be a bit tricky, but the basic idea is that you can't be standing in an offside position when a teammate passes the ball to you. This happens when you have fewer than two defenders between you and the opposing goal when the ball is played. The goalkeeper counts as one defender, so you must be behind at least one other player.
Essential Skills Every Beginner Needs to Learn
Now that you know the rules, it’s time to get comfortable with the ball at your feet. Use these soccer skills for beginners to speed run your training.
Dribbling
Dribbling is how you move the ball while staying in control. The key is to keep the ball close to your feet with small, soft touches. To master this skill, start with these simple steps:
- Keep it Close: As you walk, practice keeping the ball within about one meter of your feet. Use both the inside and outside of your feet to get a feel for the ball.
- Get Faster: Once you're comfortable, work on reducing that space to 30-50 cm. As you get better, you'll be able to dribble while running and still keep the ball right where you want it.
- Look Up: The most important thing is to avoid staring at the ball. The best players can read the game and see where defenders are without looking down. This takes lots of practice, but it's essential for knowing where to go next.
Passing
For accurate short passes, use the inside of your foot to guide the ball. For more power, use your instep (laces) for longer passes, but remember to focus on accuracy over power. A more advanced skill is using the outside of your foot. While it's more difficult and takes a lot of practice, it can be used for quick, controlled movements or to make curving passes and short flicks to a teammate.
Shooting
Place your non-kicking foot firmly beside the ball. Then, strike it with your instep for maximum power. Instead of just blasting it, aim for the corners of the goal to get past the goalkeeper, keeping your body over the ball to keep the shot low.
Defending
Focus on staying between the attacker and the goal, using a low, balanced stance with bent knees to react quickly. Your main job is to block shots and intercept passes by positioning your body in front of the ball, forcing the opponent to make a mistake.
Practise on keeping the ball close to your feet. Image by Central Coast Football.
How to Play Soccer in a Team Setting
Soccer is a team sport, and even the best players know they can't do it alone. It's about moving and working together as a single unit. Every player, from defenders to midfielders and strikers, has a specific job, but the key is to stay connected. This is where communication comes in. Simple calls like "pass" or "man on" can make a real difference, helping your teammates find space and keep the ball moving. Remember, it’s all about trusting each other to make the whole team better.
Soccer Equipment for Beginners
Having the right kit is your next step. At Summit Sport, we’ve got all the beginner soccer equipment you need to perform at your best.
- Soccer Balls: Choosing the right size is key to control. We also carry size 3 for the youngest players. For more detailed information on what size is right for you, check out this handy chart or our full guide to soccer ball sizes for age groups.
- Protective Gear: Always wear shin guards for protection. You'll also need long soccer socks to hold your shin guards in place.
- Soccer Apparel: Your club will usually provide your soccer jersey, which is made of a synthetic sports material. For training, any sports top will work. Also, note that soccer shorts won't have pockets, as they can catch fingers during play.
- Soccer Boots: Proper soccer boots are essential for the grip you need to stay agile on the field and avoid slipping. Choosing the right boot depends on the ground you're playing on.
Hard Ground: Go for boots with shorter, moulded plastic or rubber studs. These are the most common in Australia.
Soft Ground: For wet or muddy fields, you'll need boots with longer, cone-shaped studs.
Synthetic & Indoor Courts: For artificial turf or hard indoor courts, look for boots with a rubber sole or specific indoor court shoes.
Explore our full collection of soccer equipment, training guides to fast-track your skills, and even soccer goals for home practice!
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