Advice For New Players From GLG Players and Coaches

Happy National Soccer Day, GLG fam! July 28 celebrates this beloved global sport that has brought communities together and has served as a vehicle for social change.

Did you know that the first soccer (otherwise known as football in many countries) association was formed in London in 1863? Before more modern times, a version of soccer called cuju was played in China, and it was the earliest known recorded game. It later spread to Japan where it is known as kemari. This version resembles a game of hacky sack where players work together to keep a ball in the air without using their arms and hands. Soccer has undergone significant changes and adaptations over generations, evolving into the sport we know and love today. 

To honor National Soccer Day, we reached out to coaches and players to hear what they wish they knew before starting their soccer journeys. With SOL club restarting soon, we hope players new and old can use these insights as they hit the pitch this fall soccer season.

What advice do you have for new players?

“Don’t use the front of your foot,” says one player. “Use the side of your foot.” Passing using the side of your foot will help aim the ball to where you want it to go.

Familiarize yourself with the feel and motion of the ball so kicking and passing will start to feel more natural. “Get as many touches on the ball as possible,” advises one of our coaches. “Wherever you are, always try to have the ball at your feet to get comfortable with it.” 

From another of our coaches: “Keep an open mind. A lot of players, parents, and coaches are involved. Believe in yourself. Trust the process.” Playing a new sport is bound to come with nervousness and doubt, but that shouldn’t stop players from giving the game their best effort.

And the number one rule from one of our players: “Always have fun while you’re doing it.”

What do you wish you knew before you started playing soccer?

“Play with your teammates,” says one of our players. “Don't try to get the ball in by yourself.” Soccer is a team sport, and every player is important. Rely on your teammates to make the goal.

Another player states, “Something I wish I knew is that there is a lot of fitness.” Running on the field and maneuvering back and forth can be a lot, especially for new players. Ensure your player is drinking enough water, eating healthy meals, and getting enough rest in between practices and games.

And lastly, two of our coaches remind us that, above all, you have to put in the work to get better at the game. 

“It’s a self-driven sport. What you individually put in is what you will get out of it.”

“It’s a lot of hard work. You have to expect to put in the time and effort to get the results that you want. So if that means extra hours, extra videos, extra lessons, be mindful that you have to put that work in to get the results that you want.”

New players may feel frustrated if they don’t pick up the sport right away — and that’s okay! Parents and guardians can encourage their player(s) to try their best and give it time. Practice makes perfect, as the saying goes, and “Done is better than perfect,” as is the GLG mantra.