Soccer Skills

Summary: Specific soccer skills are needed for every playing position. Read below as I highlight the skills for each position

Ball handling, off the ball positioning, set pieces, marking, acceleration, passing and shooting, these are the essential soccer skills that define a soccer player. Specific sets of soccer skills are needed for every playing position. Read on as I highlight those skills needed for each position

Defender
Defenders need to be tough. They need to be more sure footed and physically strong than the opponent strikers. Because they play defense which is at heart prying away the ball from attackers, they must be proficient in prying. The primary weapon of defenders is the Tackle. Skilled tacklers can regain the ball from opposition without fouling. Like this clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNZHIwvT8tM&search=soccer%20tackle

Defenders are the batters of the game. They are the ones given charge of battering, kneading and chewing enemy scorers. Look at how these Iranian defenders play their defense:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB5G52M9Los&search=soccer%20defender

Franz Beckenbauer is regarded to be the best defender in history. He’s also the 4th spot for the best footballer in history. A tough fest, considering the game in choked with awesome strikers who can manage to pile goal after goal. His elegant style, his tremendous leadership qualities and overall charisma and his domination on the football pitch allowed him the 4th spot among the best of 125. Just for reference, Ronaldo holds the 11th spot. He is responsible for the invention of the sweeper role, which he usually play as a squad captain. Franz Beckenbauer is the only player who won the World Cup and the European Championships as a captain and a coach.

Here’s a video about Franz Beckenbauer known as the “Kaiser”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCBd6cYoOf8&search=Franz%20Beckenbauer%20

Midfielder
The midfielder is the team’s playmaker. He is needed to survey the field for opportunities and create goals if necessary. Midfielders play defense when needed and plays support offense when an opportunity arises. Since forwards and strikers depend on the midfielder’s feed for scoring opportunities, accurate passing is the midfielder’s most important soccer skill. Also, another important soccer skill is the playmaking ability. Playmaking is a compilation of soccer skills, which are vision, anticipation, and flair.

Xabi Alonso plays as midfielder in Liverpool F.C. in England. Alonso is considered by many to be one of the best midfielders in European football for his exceptional passing ability, game vision, and technique. Watch how Xabi displays his playmaking ability:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXmA9Smmg4w&search=midfielder%20passing

Forward
Essential qualities of Attackers are pace and acceleration, shooting, heading and off the ball positioning. So many great and famous players are from this position. Why? Because most spectators count on the goals in a soccer game, never mind defense and midfield play.

Some have the innate soccer skills that are crucial in soccer and some had the physical characteristic for the game. But most winners have none of these but they acquired their own brand of soccer skills through practice.