Although people don’t always realize it, soccer is a competitive, contact sport. And while you might not use your body as much as you do in the likes of American football and hockey, it’s still an important part of the game.
So, with that in mind, we explain in detail how to use your body in soccer and introduce you to some top tips that will help you compete with your opponents.
So, how to use your body in soccer?
You can use your body in soccer to protect the ball, challenge an opponent, stand your ground, defend a set play, and contest an aerial ball. But you need to be careful not to commit a foul, as using too much force will attract the attention of the referee. In the sections that follow, we explain how to use your body the right way during a match, so you can get the upper hand over the opposition.
Using your body in soccer: Five examples
There are different times on the soccer field that you might need to use your body. After all, soccer is a contact sport, and you can use your body to your advantage when competing with the opposition. Let’s look at five examples of when it’s helpful to use your body during a soccer match.
To protect the ball
There are numerous occasions during a soccer match where you’re tasked with protecting the ball from your opponent. If you don’t use your body to shield the ball, it will be really easy for your opponent to emerge with the ball.
The key here is to get your body in between the ball and your opponent. You should always keep your front facing the ball and use your back to shield the ball from your opponent. The golden rule of soccer is never to turn your back on the ball!
You should also realize that you need to make sure you’re close to the ball if you’re using your body to protect it from the opposition.
If you just decide to stick your body in front of the ball when you’re not in possession of it, the referee will penalize you for obstruction.
You might have seen players towards the end of a soccer game take the ball towards the corner flag in order to waste time. They then turn to face the touchline and shield the ball from their opponents.
This is a great example of using your body to protect the ball and often runs down the clock when there are just a few minutes of the game remaining.
To challenge an opponent
As well as protecting the ball, you can use your body in soccer to challenge an opponent. For instance, if you’re trying to regain possession for your team, you can use your body to challenge the player who has the ball.
The best way to do this is to shoulder charge your opponent, as doing so is perfectly legal within the laws of the game.
If you use your body to shove your opponent in the front or back, you will be penalized for committing a foul. Depending on the severity of the challenge, you might also be shown a card, so make sure you get the timing right.
As anyone who has ever played soccer will attest, it’s pretty difficult to dispossess an opponent without making contact with them. So, you need to get your timing right and use your body to prise the ball away from your opponent.
To stand your ground
There are instances on the soccer field where you need to jostle for position. A great example of this is when you’re attacking a corner kick, and you’re trying to beat your opponent to the available space.
If you’re clever, you can use your body to move your opponent out of the way. However, you need to be careful. Wrestling and grappling with the other team will result in a foul, and you will give away possession far too cheaply.
The same is true if a player from the other team tries to remove you from the position you’ve taken up on the field.
You are perfectly entitled to use your body to stand your ground, and you don’t need to move out of the way for anybody. Again, standing your ground is really helpful from set plays, whether you’re defending or attacking.
To defend a set play
Defending a set play is one of the most challenging aspects of soccer. Whether you adopt zonal or player-to-player marking, you need to make sure you’re close to your opponent, so you can defend your goal.
Before the ball comes into the area, you will need to use your body to compete with your opponent for space. But as mentioned above, you need to do this without openly wrestling or grappling with your opponent, as doing so will result in a foul being awarded.
When you use your body in the penalty area, it’s often referred to as “jostling,” which is an appropriate term for how you come together with other players.
Your objective is to beat your opponent to space and ultimately the ball when it arrives in the eighteen-yard box. If you don’t use your body, you will be overpowered by your opponent, and you risk conceding a goal as a result.
To contest an aerial ball
Last but not least, you will need to use your body in soccer to contest an aerial ball. When the ball is up in the air, anyone can try and win it for their team.
As you will be aware, heading is a big part of the game of soccer, and those that can rise above others to win the ball in the air are an asset to their team.
But if you try and contest an aerial ball without using your body, you will find it extremely difficult. You will possibly lose your balance and fall over, so you need to try and get your body in between you and your opponent if possible.
You can then lean into your opponent when you jump off the ground, which gives you the leverage that you need to win the ball cleanly in the air.
But as mentioned throughout, make sure you don’t go over the top with your contact when using your body. If you’re too aggressive, the referee will penalize you and award a free kick or penalty to the opposition.
When is using your body classed as a foul?
Although using your body in soccer is part of the game, it can lead you to commit a foul if you’re not careful. Using excessive force will lead the referee to give a foul and will also result in you being sent off.
Therefore, you need to use a suitable amount of force to try and win the ball back for your teammates. Another thing to consider is how you use your body.
Generally, shoulder charges are the best way to get your body between the ball and the opponent, and they’re legal in the rules of the game.
But if you use your body to charge into the front or back of your opponent, you will almost certainly give away a free-kick.
Frankly, the more you play soccer, the more you will realize what does and does not constitute a foul, and that experience will help you as you learn how to use your body to your advantage on the field.
Can you get sent off for using your body in soccer?
Depending on the severity of the challenge that you make, you can get sent off for using your body in soccer. As mentioned, if you commit a foul with excessive force, the referee has no choice but to send you off.
Therefore, it’s helpful to read up on the differences between red and yellow cards in soccer so you know what to avoid when you take to the field.
The last thing you want is to be sent off, as your team will be reduced to ten players, and you will find it much more difficult to win the match.
Top tips: Using your body effectively
So, as we draw this article to a close, we want to leave you with some top tips for using your body effectively in soccer:
- Shoulder to shoulder contact is the best way to dispossess your opponent without committing a foul.
- Be wary of the amount of force you put into a challenge, as excessive force will lead to your sending off.
- Keep your arms down when using your body – if the referee sees you raising your arms to an opponent, you will give away a foul.
- Be extra careful when using your body in the eighteen-yard box, as you need to be careful not to give away a penalty kick.
Recap: How to use your body in soccer
As you’re now aware, there are lots of instances in which you can use your body in soccer. The key is to be smart and to think about how doing so will benefit your team.
Provided that you follow the tips articulated above, you should be able to use your body in soccer without issue and hopefully win some more challenges against your opponents.