Soccer is the most popular sport in the world that can be played by anyone virtually anywhere as long as you have a soccer ball. Many people have been playing from a young age so it can be quite daunting to start playing soccer when you are a little bit older, especially if you have never played before. This guide will help you break down how to start soccer with no experience.
Even if you lack experience and athleticism, there are still ways you can get involved and start playing soccer
How to start soccer with no experience | summarized
If you are new to soccer and have no experience these 7 tips are perfecting to help you start soccer:
- Join a local recreational team
- Practice your soccer skills
- Improve you knowledge of the game
- Apply your knowledge of the game
- Ask for feedback
- Work on your fitness
- Keep putting in the effort
How to start playing soccer for Beginners
If you are a beginner to soccer then these are the best ways to start soccer with no experience, in no particular order:
Join a local recreational team
One of the best ways to start soccer with no experience is to try and find a local recreational team.
The recreational leagues are going to be full of beginner and less experienced players like yourself.
These leagues are great at creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere to help everyone feel welcome.
The games will still be competitive but there is such a greater emphasis on having fun and taking part.
Recreational leagues create a fantastic environment to learn new skills in an appropriate competitive scenario.
Some youth recreational leagues even have practices too held by volunteer coaches.
The best way to find recreational leagues and teams in your area is to Google:
‘Recreational soccer leagues and teams in *town*’
Practice your skills
If you are new to playing soccer you are going to have to practice your technical soccer skills.
This includes:
- Dribbling
This is the ability to move with the ball at your feet while keeping it under control.
When you are dribbling you’ll want to practice using both feet, using the inside and the outside of the foot.
Dribbling while weaving in and out of cones is a great introduction to building up your dribbling ability.
You can then set yourself challenges such as timing yourself, using different parts of your foot to dribble, or only using one foot.
- Passing and Receiving
This is the ability to successfully pass the ball to your teammate and successfully be able to control the ball when a teammate passes to you.
When you are passing and receiving the ball you are going to use the inside of your foot for both.
A great way to improve your passing and receiving is passing the ball against a wall and trying to control it as it comes back to you.
Make sure you practice passing and receiving with both feet!
- Shooting
This is the ability to strike the ball toward the goal with the intention of scoring.
When striking the ball you are going to either use your laces for a powerful shot or the inside of your foot for a placement shot.
You can make a goal with 2 cones or other appropriate objects.
When you are shooting make sure you are aiming for the corners!
These are some really good soccer drills you can do on your own and soccer drills for beginners to help get you started.
Improve your knowledge of the game
A really good way to start playing soccer with no experience is to learn different tactical aspects of the game.
This includes:
- Player roles and responsibilities
- Formations
- Team tactics
Youtube is a fantastic resource to learn about soccer.
Whether you want to learn specific skills, or tactics or watch highlights of professional soccer players, there is something for everyone.
Player roles and responsibilities
It is important to learn the roles and responsibilities of each position when the team is attacking and defending.
Each position in soccer has a different role and the success of the relies on each individual to know what they are doing.
Being in the right position and knowing what you are supposed to be doing is a great way to make up for a lack of soccer experience.
Here are some player guides you may find helpful:
Formations
In soccer, there are a variety of different formations teams can play and varies depending on the age group and size of the field.
Typically U13s and older will play on 11v11 side fields, U11 – U12 will play on 9v9 fields, U8 – U10 will play on 7v7 fields, and U7 and under will play on 4v4 or 5v5 fields.
Here is a post that helps explains youth soccer positions.
In 11v11 games there is a lot more flexibility with the formations the easiest to understand is the 4-4-2 soccer formation.
This formation is made up of a goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 4 midfielders, and 2 attackers.
It would also be good to study other formations, as this can help give you an edge if you are able to identify weaknesses in the opposition lineup.
Here is a post that goes over the best soccer formations and their weaknesses.
Team tactics
Team tactics are the way in which your team will attack and defend.
For example, when attacking, the team will want to get the ball out wide to the wingers who can cross the ball into the box.
On the other hand, an attacking team may want to play directly to into the striker who can bring other teammates into the attack.
When a team is defending they may want to press high or sit back in a low block.
Here is a post that goes over different types of presses in soccer.
Apply your knowledge in game
It is all well good learning about the game of soccer on paper but the only way you will get better at soccer is by practically applying that knowledge.
The more you play the better you will get!
As you play more and apply what you have learned it will be easier to make connections to player roles, formations, and tactics and see how they work in soccer games.
It is also important to remember that rarely do you get things right on the first try, keep your head up if you make mistakes and treat them as learning opportunities.
Ask for feedback
As a player with no experience, it can be hard to understand what you are doing wrong.
One of the best ways you can improve as a player is by asking teammates or coaches how you can improve.
It is also great having someone give you advice as they can see the whole picture and help give you specific feedback.
It can even be family or friends!
Asking for help can be difficult at first, but if you approach coaches and teammates for help they are nearly always going to help you.
It also demonstrates to them that you want to get better.
Work on your fitness
Soccer can be a physically demanding sport as you are constantly moving with sprints and not much down time to rest.
Whether you are a beginner or not having a good fitness levels for soccer will be a massive help.
If you are trying to get fit for soccer you need to focus on:
- Endurance
- Explosiveness
- Speed
- Agility
- Strength
These agility soccer drills and fitness and conditioning drills will help you achieve these goals as well as these 17 best workouts for soccer players.
Where it is possible you should look to incorporate a soccer ball into these drills as this will help you improve you technical soccer skills as well as your fitness levels.
Keep putting in the effort
Playing a new sport for the first time such as soccer can be quite hard to pick up and you will fail a few times before you succeed.
People are most likely to give up because they are not consistent with their practice and dedication to get better.
Make sure that you are doing everything that you can to get better on and off the pitch.
With hard work comes results!
Remember, the only person you should be comparing yourself to is yourself.
Focus on the smaller successes as opposed to the bigger picture and this will help keep your drive and motivation high.
Some of the most common mistakes new players make in soccer are not knowing how to create space and easily losing the ball.
FAQ about playing soccer with no experience
These are the most frequently asked questions I get on how to start soccer with no experience.
Can you play soccer with no experience?
Yes, you can play soccer with no experience.
The way to start playing soccer with no experience to either find local pick games for beginners or start playing with friends.
If you want something a bit more competitive then finding a recreational soccer team or league in you area might be the best option for you.
Is 14 too late to start soccer?
No, 14 is not too late to start soccer.
You can never be too late to start soccer at 14, you still have plenty or time to learn skills and get better if you want to play more competitvely.
How late can you start soccer?
You are never too late to start soccer.
Because of the popularity of soccer there are always teams, leagues and organisations that accommodate for a wide range of players in regard to their ability and age.
You’ll never know how good you can be at soccer until you try it!
Is soccer an easy game?
Compared to other sports, soccer is a relatively easy game to understand and play.
Naturally as you play against better players the game will become harder but if you are a beginner is it an easy game to pick up and play because the rules are straight forward and it is a very accessible sport.
Final Words
Beginning your soccer journey without any prior experience might feel overwhelming at first.
However, don’t let that discourage you, it’s absolutely possible and incredibly fulfilling.
Just stick to the advice shared in this guide, and you’ll establish a strong basis for your soccer skills and understanding.
When it comes to soccer, perseverance and commitment are crucial.
Like any sport, continuous effort and practice are essential for improvement. Instead of solely focusing on big achievements, appreciate the smaller victories along the way.
They all contribute to your growth as a player.
Always keep in mind that it’s never too late to dive into soccer.
Regardless of your age or skill level, there are opportunities waiting for you.
Soccer is a game that welcomes everyone, offering an accessible and enjoyable experience for those willing to give it a shot.
Thank you,
Toby
If you are not what position to play in soccer here are some good options for you to decide:
- Best soccer positions for fast players
- Best soccer positions for slow players
- Best soccer positions for tall players
- Best soccer positions for short players
The best way to take your soccer improvement seriously
To see improvement in your overall soccer game you need to constantly push your boundaries.
A player’s work ethic is a strong reflection of how serious they are to get better, however, working hard in the wrong areas can be an individual’s biggest downfall.
Training harder and smarter to optimize your potential has never been easier with the latest advancements in technology.
SoccerBee GPS Wearable Tracker and Vest
The SoccerBee GPS Wearable Tracker and Vest brings cutting-edge technology used by the pros, to the fingertips of aspiring soccer players.
Features include:
- Distance ran
- Top Speed
- Average speed
- Number of sprints
- Heat map
The Fifa-approved technology will pinpoint areas of improvement for your game in competitive and casual matches.
As well as tracking your own stats, you can also compete with your teammates to push each other to be the best they can be
The SoccerBee Lite GPS Wearable Tracker is a cheaper option, however, this will only run the essential metrics.
