The intensity. The speed. The physicality. These are just three reasons why 5 a side football continues to grow in popularity. With goals galore and a chance for everyone to get plenty of touches on the ball, it’s no wonder it is such a hit with football fans up and down the country.
Here are a few things you can do to improve your skills and conquer the beautiful game!
Up Your Fitness Levels
Even a single player who doesn’t do enough running in a 5 a side game can take down the entire team. It means the opposition will always have an extra man against you and can easily pass the ball around the rest of your players. Improve your stamina by running and other cardiovascular exercise in your spare time and you will notice big results. If you have the lungs that others do not by the end of the game, you will find yourself with a lot more space and chances to score while most other players are beginning to tire.
Don’t Dive In For Tackles Too Early
As soon as you have dived in for a tackle and missed, you have immediately opened your team up to an attack. Try to focus on blocking off your opponent’s runs and moving them out to an angle that makes it more difficult to score. If you sense the opportunity to tackle, make the most of this as you can set your team off on a quick counter attack.
Work On Your Long Range Shooting
As 5 a side pitches are relatively small, you can find goals being scored from all over the place. If you have a strong long range shot, you can catch the opposition keeper off guard. This is a useful skill to have in your locker if other options are not clearly available, though it is also something that you should not overuse. I’m sure your teammates will let you know if you are!
Learn To Be More Vocal
Talking is absolutely essential in every football team, and this is even more the case when you are playing 5 a side. If you are a naturally defensive player, you have the advantage of being able to see the whole pitch so you can organise the rest of your team. Constant communication makes sure that every member of the team knows their role and what they should be doing at all times.
Make Time For A Post Match Analysis
After the game, find somewhere you can go to relax – maybe over a couple of pints, the Premier League and some fun on Unibet?
Here you can go over how the match went and ways in which your team can improve. Remember, a team that gets on well off the pitch will always play a lot better on the pitch. Ultimately, 5 a side is about having fun and adding in a post match bonding session can’t do any harm, can it?!