A few tips to play better soccer

I WENT to the PRL last Wednesday to watch the soccer match between the PNG women’s team and Football Ferns and ended up calling out from the side to tell our girls how to play.
In case they, or any other junior football team, needs some tips to perform better in a representative meet, here are some:
l    The fullback and midfielder must never play the ball back but always  up or sideways, to take away pressure from the goalmouth;
l    All balls passed must be played to a teammate and a pass made to nobody is as good as passing to your opponent;
l    When in possession of the ball and advancing upfield,  open up and play out wide, which opens up the opponent’s defence so you can work out the best attacking moves;
l    Keep your head up and see where your teammates are before the ball gets to you so you can plan ahead where it goes next;
l    In an attack, move the pressure into the opponent’s half by getting the last man (sweeper) standing on the half-way mark and keeping the ball in their half as much as possible and no teammate should be in your half;
l    Keeping the ball in their  half will also enable you to play an attacking game with more scoring opportunities instead of a defensive game in your own half that may tire your midfielders;
l    Learn to run with your hands above your waist to keep your weight off the ground, enabling you to react fast; and,
l    Do not be intimidated by the size or experience of your opponents.

Pom School Boys Soccer
Port Moresby