Volleying

Volleying is the art of striking the ball while it is still in mid-air. A professional player will be able to anticipate where and when the ball will arrive near him and quickly position himself to connect with it. It is one of the hardest skills to master.

Because everything happens much faster in the air, a player attempting to volley needs to be even more focused on timing and accuracy that in ordinary play. He can use the momentum the ball already has to create a very powerful strike, but if it’s not on target he will probably lose control and the mistake could cost him and his team dearly.

Not having time to think is one problem for the volleyist. Another is that a ball spinning through the air will behave very differently to one that has come rolling along the ground. The strike must be decisive and clean. There is no opportunity to calm the ball’s movement down, and little chance to judge the amount of strength required to put it where you want. For these reasons, volleys are notoriously difficult to aim.

Technically, the key elements of volleying are that the strike is decisive, the player is well-anchored to absorb the shock of the ball’s impact, and he follows through. Without these in place the ball will behave unpredictably.

As well as keeping up the pace of play, volleys can be used to seize control from the opposition. An intercepted pass can be turned to great advantage by a well-placed volley. Along with headers, volleys are a vital skill for players at the front of the field, being key to picking up crosses and delivering them into the goal.

A particularly spectacular volley is the the scissor kick - as shown in the video.

The Throw-In

The throw-in is a way of restarting play after a player has touched the ball immediately before it goes over one of the sidelines. The linesman will put his flag up and the throw is taken by a member of the opposite team.

The rules of the throw-in are clearly stated by FIFA.

• The ball has to be held above or behind the head of the thrower. He mustn’t cross the line, although he can be on it, and he must use both hands.

• All other players must stand at least 2 metres away from him, irrespective of which side they’re on.

• You can’t score from a throw-in!

• After the throw-in has been taken the thrower is forbidden to touch the ball until somebody else has done so.

Good throwing technique will focus on distance and accuracy. The priorities of a thrower will be different depending on whereabouts in the field he takes his throw.

• A player should start with the ball firmly grasped behind his head.

• It is permitted to take a small run-up to the line and where distance is required this is useful.

• As he prepares to let go, a player ought to arch his back so that his whole upper body can spring forward and propel the ball.

• He follows through to be as accurate as possible.

Like head, chest and foot control, thigh control is an essential element of playing football well, and often footballers have difficulty mastering it. It is important when the football arrives at a height above the knee where it is too low to use your head or chest. During these times it is often not worth the risk of trying to use your head or reaching your foot up, and so this is where thigh control comes in.

The best way you can achieve a good result is to make sure you get your thigh properly in line with the ball. The crucial element of thigh control is then withdrawing your thigh slightly upon impact to cushion the ball and allowing the ball to fall gently. With a little concentration, more ambitious players can bounce and guide the ball effectively by nudging or rotating their thigh slightly.

There are a number of ways you can practice to improve thigh control. For example, you can juggle the ball on your thigh as shown in the video.

You can also try playing a fun game of volley-football which, like volleyball, means you have to keep the ball in the air without using your hands or feet. This will mean you have to use your thigh a lot and the exercise will also make you better at other types of control as well. Another simple training exercise is to use a wall to bounce the ball against, trying to control the rebound with only minor flicks of your thigh.

The Sliding Tackle

The sliding tackle (also known as the slide tackle) is a means of dispossessing an opponent. Unlike other tackles, the sliding tackle happens at ground level, by sliding the body feet-forward to take the ball from the player in possession. The player must watch the ball carefully, approach from an angle and be decisive - timing is crucial.

The tackle is very effective and a key skill for defenders to acquire. However, a mis-timed tackle may cause a player to make contact with their opponent, conceding a free kick. Defenders have been known to cynically '"scythe" down an attacking player, using a sliding tackle to target the opponent’s legs rather the ball. Inside the penalty area, a poorly executed sliding tackle usually leads to a spot-kick.

For these reasons a sliding tackle can be risky. Another disadvantage is that the defender does not stay on his or her feet, which effectively puts them out of the game for a few seconds. An unsuccessful sliding tackle could leave the defender behind and give the attacker a clear run on goal.

The side-volley pass is a kind of volley used to direct the ball to another player when it’s received just below waist height. A player can pass the ball without needing to stop it and risk intervention from the opposition.

A good side-volley pass uses the instep of the foot to connect squarely with the ball. As with all volleys, accuracy is very important and they can be hard to control. The ball will be moving quite quickly so timing is of the essence. A mistimed shot will result in an embarrassing mis-kick, as well as loss of the ball.

Other points to consider:

• One’s weight should be firmly on the non-kicking foot, which will act as a pivot for the kicking leg.

• The hips are used to provide power in the swing.

• As contact is made, it is vital to follow through to ensure a clean finish. Keep your arms out to stabilise yourself.

• Aim to send the ball away at about the same height it came in. Misplaced kicks can leave it flying wildly through the air.

Because it is so frequently required, the side-volley pass ought to be learned and perfected by each member of a team. Well-used, it adds fluency and finesse to their whole game.

Also known as a bicycle kick or a scissors kick, this method of making contact with the ball is nothing other than spectacular...as long as the player can pull it off. Executing an overhead kick requires skill, athleticism and timing. The player must launch him or herself into the air, scissoring the legs as the body reaches a horizontal position, so that one leg reaches high into the air to make contact with the ball at head height.

The ball therefore travels in the opposite direction to the way the player is facing. Both feet must be airborne for this kicking technique. The footballer, meanwhile, generally lands on their back or bottom! A bad landing, especially a knock to the head, spine or elbows, could have serious consequences.

Overhead kicks are generally only used around the goal - either by a defender needing to clear the ball quickly, or by an attacking player with little room for manoeuvre. A forward in a good scoring position but with his or her back to the goal, might opt for an overhead kick if the ball is bouncing at head height.

Panama’s Luis Carlos Tejada Hansell scored a picture-perfect overhead kick against the Central American neighbour, Mexico, in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. It was voted goal of the year by Fox Sports. The overhead kick was also a signature move of Pelé, Brazil’s footballing maestro.

A one-two combo at work

The One-Two

The one-two is a classic manoeuvre that sees two players exchanging the ball as they advance across hostile territory. It is one the most exciting sights in football to see two masters of the art ‘one-two’ the ball between, over and among bewildered defenders before driving the ball into the back of the net.

The one-two is known less familiarly as the ‘wall pass’, and it is this name that gives the best clue to its principles. One player acts as little more than a ‘wall’ off which the ball bounces back to his teammate.

Once the ball has been sent on its way by player A, his colleague B must make ready to receive the pass at the same time as watching where A has gone. As he receives the ball he must quickly return it to the space A is going for. It is impossible to execute a one-two without good sympathy between teammates, as they must have an almost telepathic knowledge of each other’s plans.

One of the best things about the one-two is that it enables the team to move up together. Used well, it is extraordinarily effective and can propel the ball deep into the scoring half with plenty of support from friendly players. Short of a single forward taking the ball up himself, it is the most rapid and threatening way of penetrating the opposition’s defence.

The one-two can be employed on large and small scales, whether it’s used to cross half the field or just to slip around a knot of defenders.

David Beckham - Master of the Lofted Kick

In order for a player to propel the football into the air and pull off a lofted kick they must carry out a series of simple techniques that can be very useful during a game. The lofted kick simply means the ball is struck high into the air over a large area to land at a precise area. During a match the lofted kick is often used to reach players that were not active in play but are in a useful area.

The technique for lofting a ball is as follows: the body approaches the ball standing straight and then leans back as the ball is approached. The head leans back with the body and the eyes should be level with the horizon. While the body is leaning back, weight should be applied to the heel of the non-kicking foot, arms should be outstretched with the arm on the opposite side to the kicking foot in a forward position ready to pull the body through when the ball is struck.

The area of the foot used should be the ‘sweet spot’, which is where the laces are on a conventional boot, because there is more surface area here providing a better chance of the pass being accurate. The area in which the ball is hit is a vital part of this technique. The ball should be struck underneath, where the ball sits on the ground. As the foot connects with the ball it should be a slow and smooth motion, raising it off the ground and into the air.

A follow-through is not needed as much as when shooting or passing as the lofted kick is more about accuracy than power. It is closer to a ‘chip’ but it has more power.

The most common use of the lofted kick is for an attacking player to run on to. David Beckham, is one of the masters of this technique.

Without the correct kicking technique football might as well be just called ball. A player’s feet are their main weapons on the pitch and there are a number of techniques for kicking a football that give the player a different outcome each time.

For the majority of the time a football is kicked either using the inner side of the foot that runs along from toe to heel, or using the small area around the inside of the big toe (between 11 and 12 o’clock if looking down at your foot as though it were a clock face).

There is also the ‘sweet spot’ of the foot running all the way centrally down the foot where the laces are on a traditional boot. This is the part of the foot to strike the ball with when shooting (either from the ground or using the volley technique) as it has a larger surface area and generates more power and accuracy

With each technique the body will be positioned in a different way, in order to propel the ball at different speeds, strengths and heights. The body will always be balanced, with the player's head up and with the non-kicking foot and both arms providing balance and support while the kicking leg pulls back and follows through the ball as though it wasn’t even there.

To make the ball go higher and slower the body must lean back with the player's head behind the ball and their head level with the horizon. To make the ball go lower and faster the body must lean forward with the player's head over the ball and facing down.

The technique for a short-pass using the side of the foot involves a more rigid body posture, where the arms are closer to the body and the kicking foot pulled back a shorter distance and with more of a ‘jabbing’ hit.

The technique for shooting will, in the main, involve the entire body weight on the non-kicking foot as all the other muscles in the body propel the kicking foot forward to strike the ball and then follow through.

One of the masters of the kicking technique is David Beckham and here he is with rugby’s Jonny Wilkinson sharing their own techniques.

Street-Juggling

Juggling the Ball

Not unlike the juggling you see at the circus, juggling the ball is a skill that is equally dazzling and just as tricky to master. It takes practise, patience, balance and above all concentration, but when it is mastered, it can elevate your game to the higher realms.

Juggling is unlikely to feature in actual match-play all that often, but as a discipline, juggling can drastically improve your ball control skills, as well as give you more confidence in all situations on the ball.

Juggling simply involves keeping the ball off the ground using different parts of your body. This can be, both feet, both knees, both thighs, both shoulders (not arms), chest, head, or even back. The ball is gently tapped into the air and then back down again, onto either the same or another one of the listed body parts, all the time keeping it under your own control and off the ground.

The possibility to juggle can come to a player either via another player or from their own doing. ie the player could choose to control an oncoming ball by juggling with it before releasing it again, or they could have the ball on the ground and choose to bring it off the ground and start juggling as a way of beating their opponent or getting the ball into the air.

Juggling can often be used as a threat to the opposing team, to make them see how skillful you can be and also how relaxed you are with the game, but can also be used to beat a player. The South Americans are the most famous users of juggling and they use it in their game more than other nations.

The video is a street-juggling clip that shows the comparison between football juggling and circus juggling.

Indirect free-kicks

Decidedly less spectacular than their direct equivalent, the indirect free-kick is an essential part of the game, being the most common method for restarting after an infringement.

As you might imagine, a free-kick is only awarded after a foul (including offsides) is committed anywhere on the field of play. The only exception is for fouls in the penalty area, although even this can lead to a free-kick in case of an illegal pass-back.

The indirect free-kick is a more frequent sight in the game, as it is awarded for any unconscious infringement of the laws of the game (as opposed to a foul with clear intent or excessive force). Similarly, in contrast to the direct free-kick, an indirect free-kick means a direct strike on goal is prohibited. Instead, any shot must come from the second player to touch the ball after the free-kick has been taken.

The procedure for an indirect free-kick is simple to understand. Whichever team takes the kick must ensure the ball is stationary beforehand, while the defensive side must retreat at least 10 yards from that position until the kick has been taken. As a result of this, it is perfectly possible for an indirect free-kick to result in a goal.

What makes it slightly less probable is that, on top of all the obstacles for a direct free-kick, the defending team has the chance to charge the ball down in between the first touch and the subsequent shot on goal. Indeed, a common complaint by free-kick takers is that the defending side pre-empt the first touch and have already made up 5 yards on the ball before the kick has been taken!

With this in mind, the technique for shooting on goal when taking a free-kick is slightly less sophisticated. As there is less time to place the ball past the keeper, attacking players typically opt for a ‘hit and hope’ policy, even to the point of relying on deflections past the goalkeeper.

Nevertheless, this has not stopped players like Frank Lampard of England being extremely effective from such positions, so don’t always resort to the pass - try to out-think your opponent if the goal beckons!

The term 'head control' is largely self-explanatory, being a means to cushion the ball and bring it down to the ground. Experts say that the best way to control the ball with your head is by making sure the first touch is a good one. The ball should hit directly onto the centre of your forehead so that it doesn't fall down at an angle. Therefore, good concentration and accurate head-eye coordination is a must.

Also, many footballers forget that the correct movements are crucially important. By bending your knees and arching your back on impact, your head control will improve in turn through using your whole body as a shock absorber for the ball.

Another important thing to note is that, although it might be tempting to bend your head down to send the ball down faster, it is better to let gravity do the work, as this will allow you to have better control of the ball once it hits the ground. It might also be useful for you to spread your arms and legs to increase stability whilst you control the ball with your head.

Finally, though reading about these skills may make you wiser during gameplay, the best way to master anything control technique in football is to practise. As far as head control is concerned, try throwing the ball up or asking someone else to throw it towards you so that you can try and use your head skills. For safety, it is strongly urged that younger players practise with a soft ball to minimise any painful impact if unsuccessful in controlling the ball.

The Glancing Header

The glancing header is an important addition to any footballer’s arsenal of techniques, and works by slightly deflecting the ball, altering its trajectory only a little. A glancing header can be useful anywhere on the field, particularly where a player wants to disguise his or her intentions, or when they are unable to face the direction in which they want to head the ball.

If an attacking player is close to the keeper in front of the goal, a header can be used to direct the ball into the net without giving away the player’s intentions.

Glancing headers do not require a great deal of force - usually they are used when a cross already has sufficient power but requires redirection towards the target. To execute the technique effectively, the player must strike the ball with the centre of the forehead, turning the head just before contact is made.

Trying to deflect the ball off the side of the head or allowing the head to tilt to one side will usually result in a failed header! The angle of deflection is controlled by the degree to which the player turns his or her head. It can be difficult to use a glancing header effectively if the ball is curling, or in wet conditions.

Foot Control

Foot control is an aspect of the skill known as close control. Whereas close control can involve any part of the body such as the head, chest and leg (although it usually refers to the foot), foot control, as the name suggests, retains a focus solely upon the foot. During a match, there will be times when you will need to use four main areas of the foot: the top, bottom, inside and outside.

The inside of the foot

This is the safest area of the foot to use when receiving the ball from a pass. It is an important skill to perfect as it allows the ball to be received on the move, in one fluid motion, without the player needing to stop. This subsequently allows the player to move away from defenders and create space. There is one key aspect to remember when controlling the ball, with any part of the foot: always use a soft touch and withdraw or relax the foot upon impact with the football.

The bottom of the foot

Whilst the inside of the foot is the most commonly used part of the foot when receiving a pass, the sole can be used as well. To control the ball using the bottom of the foot, the ball must be stopped dead. This is a useful skill to master for several match situations. Goalkeepers may use this technique prior to taking a goal kick or making a controlled long pass to the midfield.

In an attacking situation, the ball may need to be stopped dead if it is in danger of running out of the field of play. Furthermore, trapping the ball with the sole of the foot - and indeed rolling it forward gently with the same area of the foot to tease and trick the defender - can be useful when in the attacking third of the pitch, especially on the wings.

The top of the foot

Using the top of the foot is a trickier skill than using the inside or sole. However, there may be no other alternative in certain situations. For example, if the attacking player is running forward and the ball is played over their head, they may have to stretch the foot out to retrieve the pass, using the top of their foot to bring it under control.

The outside of the foot

This part of the foot should be employed less often than other areas in a match. It can, however, be useful in certain situations, such as to divert the ball away quickly from an incoming defender.

The Flick-On

One of the most attractive and skillful areas of the passing game of football comes when a player ‘flicks’ a ball onto another player. A flick-on is simply when the ball arrives at a player and with only one touch of the ball they pass it on to another player at speed and often in motion. This can result in the opposing team being wrong-footed and a sudden need to defend.

A flick-on can be executed using any part of the body, except the arms or hands. The ball can approach a player either in the air or along the ground and that player would make the instinctive decision not to stop the ball, or control it but instead release it immediately in any direction. Often this is due to them being closely marked by another player or players and they want to avoid being tackled. Alternatively this might be because they can see the movement or positioning of another player on their team who would benefit from receiving the ball immediately.

A flick-on can often prove very beneficial to an attacking team during set-pieces such as free kicks and corners, where the ball is often in the air and there are a number of players in a small area around the goal ready to score. A flick-on is also very useful during a sudden counter-attack from the attacking team when they aim to attack suddenly and at speed.

Pele dummy in the 1970 World Cup

The dummy is one of the most impressive techniques in a player’s arsenal. It blends psychology and footwork to outwit and even humiliate other players. An attacking player can leave a defender travelling in totally the wrong direction whilst he charges on towards the goal.

A dummy consists of giving the impression of being about to do one thing whilst planning another. A forward might give false signals in order to wrong-foot a defender, or a player taking a free kick might unexpectedly backheel the ball to a teammate behind him. A good team will have rehearsed and orchestrated dummies to produce quite powerful set-pieces.

Dummies can be used offensively or defensively. Examples of classic dummies include:

• Stepping over a pass - or opening the legs - to pass the ball to a player to the rear.
• While dribbling, making as if to turn, then stepping over the ball and continuing in the same or opposite direction.
• Bringing the foot onto the ball as if to backheel, but pushing it forwards with the front of the boot.
• Passing the ball one way around a defender, before running the other way around to retrieve it. see Pele perform this dummy against Uruguay in the 1970 World Cup Semi-Final in the video opposite.

The psychological aspect of dummying, especially in a one-on-one face off, makes for very exciting football and often showcases players at their very best.

_{NB 'Dummy' is a verb and a noun. It's correct to say 'The keeper was dummied', 'He dummied the keeper', or 'He finished with a spectacular dummy'.}

Kerlon Moura Souza

Dribbling means travelling with the ball. It is the name used to refer to a whole set of ball-control skills, including using the chest, knees and head as well as the feet. Good dribbling is a fundamental discipline of football and a successful dribbler is always an asset to his team.

Dribbling is most often used in offensive situations. One player keeps control of the ball and, as long as he does so, he has control of the game. He uses his agility to set up passes and buy time for his teammates to position themselves for attack. He must fend off tackles, plan his movements, and keep an eye firmly on the rest of the field.

The basic dribble in football involves propelling the ball in front of oneself with a series of small kicks. It is best practised by starting slowly and building up speed. Because it requires the use of both feet, many beginners find themselves held back by their ‘weak’ foot. The only answer to this is practice - and it does get better.

A large part of dribbling technique comes in shielding the ball from opposition players. Beginner dribblers often find themselves kicking the ball farther when they want to speed up, exposing themselves to tackles. The key to dribbling quickly is not to use more power but to make contact more frequently by moving the feet faster.

The best dribblers have a repertoire of dummies to defeat defenders, perfect control of their own pace and the ball, and most importantly a heightened awareness of what is happening around them in the field.

Very talented players have developed brilliant and unusual dribbling skills. See the young Brazilian called Kerlon Moura Souza - he dribbles on his head!

The diving header is a technique which uses the head to direct the ball, but involves the player’s whole body. Favoured by attacking players, the diving header requires the footballer to dive towards the ball, with both feet off the ground in order to make contact with the ball. By looking in the direction in which the ball needs to go, and ensuring that their head is over the ball, the player can keep the ball’s trajectory low and accurate.

The diving header requires bravery, co-ordination and good anticipation. In fact, players famed for their diving headers, such as Alan Shearer and Fabrizio Ravanelli, display an almost suicidal fearlessness when diving in amongst flying boots to poach a goal in the six-yard box. This is perhaps the most difficult element of the technique to master!

The advantage of a diving header is that it allows a player to get to the ball first - i.e. before the defender - and to get on the end of crosses which would otherwise be unreachable. If the ball is low or dropping, but cannot be kicked, a diving header is a good option. It is a very useful technique to use at the near post, where the defender is often blocking the mouth of the goal, as it allows the attacking player to get in front of the defender.

Lovers of latino football will be interested to learn the Portuguese and Spanish words for the technique. Rather less prosaic than diving header, the terms are peixinho ("little fish") and palomita ("little dove"), respectively, a reference to the fluid movement and flight of the player as he or she executes the header.

Officially just another means for restarting play after an infringement, the direct free-kick has become one of the most potent methods for scoring in football. Facilitating the rise of the ‘free kick specialist’ in the modern game, players like David Beckham, Ronaldinho and Juninho Pernambucano are both revered by fans and feared by opposition goalkeepers for their abilities from this particular set piece.

First, a word or two on defining the term. While the ‘free-kick’ part is largely self-explanatory, the ‘direct’ part is a very important distinction. Simply put, the direct free-kick permits a direct shot on the goal. This is in contrast to an indirect free-kick, which necessitates a touch from another player before a shot can be taken.

For a team to be awarded a direct free-kick, a foul must have been committed anywhere on the field of the play except for the respective penalty areas (N.B. A free-kick may be awarded in the penalty area for a pass-back offence). However, the type of foul is important; to receive a direct free-kick, there must be evidence of excessive or reckless force and clear intent in the foul.

If you are in fairly close proximity to the opponent’s goal - typically anywhere between 20 and 35 yards away - a shot may be the best option for the attacking side. As a result, most teams today have two or three players with the ability to trouble the goalkeeper from distance.

In reply, anything from two to four players on the defensive team usually form ‘a wall’ 10 yards away from the ball to block the shot on goal. This wall can be in line with the ball, but it is generally positioned by the goalkeeper to cover one side of the goal, while the goalkeeper deals with the other side and can, more importantly, watch the taker and better predict what he is going to do with the ball.

Considering such obstacles, the free-kick taker necessarily requires a great deal of skill to be successful. When attempting to score, they must lift the ball over the wall of players, position it far enough in the corner that the goalkeeper cannot recover and with such power and spin that the ball is able to dip back under the crossbar in time.

Alternatively, they can opt to curve the ball around the wall and the goalkeeper, placing the ball in the very top or bottom corner with immense accuracy, or attempt to pummel the ball past the goalkeeper at pace (a method utilised with great effectiveness by the Brazilian "great", Roberto Carlos). Even from these descriptions alone, you can imagine the job is not an easy one. Indeed, studies by physicists showed that for David Beckham to score from 25 yards necessitates a whole series of calculations beforehand!

However, we all know that David Beckham is no great physicist, so how do professional footballers manage to pull it off? The short answer is practice. Beckham himself has said that he spends anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half after training sessions practicing taking set-pieces and the rewards are clear.

By taking multiple attempts from all distances and angles, you can better judge just how hard you need to hit the ball, the sort of elevation required, and the different types of curve you can put on the ball.

Alternatively, if you can’t manage to ‘bend it like Beckham’ as the saying goes, remember that football is a thinking man’s game. Teams over the years have used myriad methods to deceive the opposition in free-kick situations, from clustering players around the ball so as to disguise who will take the kick (an important thing to know with the different natural angle for left- and right-footed players) to France’s Thierry Henry sneakily taking the free-kick with the referee’s permission but before the wall has formed.

Just keep putting in the effort, practising and experimenting with the different parts of the free-kick like curve and lift, and keep your wits about you in a match situation and you’ll be able to give your team that extra dimension to their attack.

It’s often a defender’s luck to be faced with a high-flying ball, either from a cross or a direct attack on goal. He needs to prepare for this situation by practising his headers.

The defender’s main interest in these situations is to get the ball as far away from his goal as he possibly can. The defensive header, also known as the ‘clearance’ header, is designed do this in the quickest and most efficient way. The defender puts the strength of his whole body behind the ball and drives it up and away from the goal.

How to perform a defensive header:

1. Make sure that your eyes are below the level of the ball. This ensures you strike it with your forehead moving upwards. You should aim to strike at your hairline.
2. Use your legs to boost your momentum and increase the power of your strike.
3. Aim for the maximum strength and distance rather than accuracy.

Bear in mind that the ball may come in from any angle, but most of all the side. There will also be other players competing with you for it and it takes nerve to risk a hard knock on the head.

The defensive header can frequently be the last barrier standing between the opposition and your goalmouth; it can be of match-winning - or losing - importance.

Mastering the art of the corner is crucial to any attacking player. A corner is given for the most innocent of mistakes, but the consequences for the defending team can be disastrous.

A corner is given when a player of the defending team knocks the ball over his own back line – not inside the goal, of course! The linesman puts his flag up, and a member of the attacking team will then take a free kick from the nearest corner.

After the ball is kicked, the kicker cannot play it again until another player touches it. If he breaks this rule, the other side gets an indirect free kick.

Corners are marvellous opportunities to score crosses, as the ball can be made to pass right in front of the goal mouth. The attacking team usually forms up in front of the goal, trying to keep the defenders guessing. When the whistle goes, the pack springs up to smash the ball into the back of the net.

See Nemanja Vidic scoring off a corner for Manchester United against Portsmouth on YouTube.

A less common way of playing a corner kick is to play what’s known as a ‘short corner’. In this technique, the kicker passes the ball to a player somewhere between him and the goal. With the narrower angle, this player can make his own attempt to score.

It can be hard to defend a corner. Defenders aren’t allowed within ten yards of the ball before the kick is taken, and pressure is high.

Close control refers to the skill of keeping the ball firmly under control and close to your body - usually when running with the ball but also controlling the first touch of the ball. This is important in a match situation as it keeps possession, for example if your first touch when receiving the football is poor, the other team will be more likely to regain possession and break down any attack. It also creates space and allows you to beat defenders.

If your close control is not up to scratch, defenders will easily be able to cut across your path and win the ball back. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a midfielder play a stunning pass towards a forward in the box, creating a possible goal-scoring opportunity, only for the forward to employ a poor first touch and force the ball out for a goal kick to the opposite team.

To improve your close control, there are several techniques to help:

• 1. Create an obstacle course with obstructions at various distances and angles. Run with the ball as fast as you can, keeping the ball close to your body and coming to a complete stop at each obstruction.

• 2. Simply run in a straight line with the ball as fast as you can, ensuring that the ball does not stray more than 50cm away from your foot.

• 3. Run with the ball but move it from foot to foot using both the inside and the outside of the foot - lowering your centre of gravity for this drill will make it easier.

Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo was voted Player of the Season last year and arguably the most important part of his game is close control and his ability to beat defenders, even in tight situations

David Beckham v Wimbledon

The chip

Overview

David Beckham has reigned as king of the chipped ball for the length of his career. His gift to spot a goalkeeper positioned too far off his line and instantaneously chip to score is insuperable. The world famous halfway line goal against Wimbledon in the 1996/7 season, exhibits his genius and unbeatable technique in chipping a ball.

Technique

Before chipping the ball, slow down slightly to adjust your stride pattern accordingly. To produce the elevation and accuracy in your chip shot or pass, you will need to slow your pace so as to strike the ball with less force.

Then, take a quick look up so as to direct the ball to the desired target; be it the goal or another player. When you swing at the ball, come at it from a slight angle, this will give it a bit of back spin and elevation. Strike the ball with the inside of your foot, angling it downwards in order to catch the bottom of the ball. In the moment you strike the ball, lean back slightly; this will naturally produce the required elevation of the ball.

If executed correctly, the ball will arc beautifully and in the last moment, drop quite rapidly to its target. The chip can be a deadly weapon in a game of football, both as a means to trouble the goalkeeper and to ensure your team retains the ball.

Ronaldinho Chest Control

The Chest Control

Controlling an aerial ball with the chest is not always an easy task. Many footballers simply avoid using their chests to control the ball, in favour of the feet or knees. Chest control is, however, an extremely efficient way of bringing a ball in flight under complete control.

Ronaldinho is a true maestro of chest control.

As we see in the video image, Ronaldinho is suddenly confronted with a fast-moving, upper chest, head height ball thrown in from the touchline. He aligns himself with the incoming ball and adjusts his position slightly to receive the ball as it begins to drop.

Crucial to chest control is arching the back slightly, as Ronaldinho does, and presenting a relaxed upper chest to cushion the incoming ball. The best way to present a backward inclining chest is to lower the position of the midriff by positioning one foot forward and bending the knees, achieving a stable platform-like stance.

Ronaldinho is so efficient at controlling the ball in the video that it rests on his chest for a second or so as if it were a platform. Consequently he is able to control the ball a second time with his chest and direct it so as to execute a pass to his fellow player. Directing the ball with the chest is perhaps something that should be practised once simple chest control is mastered, but is an excellent way to integrate an extra move in your first touch and buy yourself time to make that next pass.

Occasionally, as a player, it can be necessary to control the ball as it bounces awkwardly from the ground. Chest control in this case can also be a very successful method of bringing the ball under control. In this situation one must position the chest above the bouncing point of the ball and with a downward inclination so as to deflect the ball towards the ground, to be controlled later with the feet.

Controlling the ball effectively with your chest is a very valuable skill in football and is worth spending time to perfect. It not only allows you to control the ball efficiently, but also buys you time, permits a change in direction or if you are Ronaldinho, to do something a bit like what he does in the second video...

The Body-Swerve falls into the category of ‘Close Control’ skills - skills which are used when in direct control of the ball. This particular skill ought to be absolutely basic, wherever on the field a player stands.

The Body Swerve is a skill that - as the name suggests - involves a player’s whole body. He uses his weight to give the appearance of going in one direction whilst intending to go in another. It is best thought of as an advanced kind of turn.

When a player means to turn left he will naturally put his weight on the left foot. An opposition player seeing this will assume he can predict where the player is going. However, the body swerve is designed to upset their assumption.

Leaning on the left foot, the controlling player inclines his shoulder as if to pivot on it, bringing the ball round with his right side. However, as the would-be tackler comes in, he suddenly changes direction, using the weight on his left foot to thrust off and suddenly tear away on the opposite angle.

Hopefully this leaves the opposing player flummoxed and the body swerve has claimed another victim.

The best thing about the body swerve is that it is infinitely adaptable and can be used in almost any situation, from defending the goalmouth, to shooting, to standing still for a free kick. It can even be used without the ball to try and wrong-foot a controlling opponent.

Many a goalmouth encounter between striker and defender has hinged on the success of the body swerve.

A perfectly timed crunching block tackle never fails to stir the spirits of a crowd during a football match. Players such as Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Stuart Pearce, for example, used to strike fear into the heart of opponents with their crunching tackles.

As a result, the block tackle is central to any footballer´s skill repertoire. Many players enjoy winning the ball from an opponent with a spectacular sliding tackle, but undoubtedly, the block tackle is much more effective and useful in any game of football.

Crucial to an effective block tackle is timing. The perfect moment to execute the tackle is when your opponent is slightly off balance or "shows you too much of the ball", which means not shielding the ball properly from your view. You can then exploit these moments to win the ball from the opponent.

In a block tackle, the non-tackling foot must be placed firmly forward and the knee bent slightly forward to centre all your force down on the ball. It is also necessary to incline the upper body forward with the head positioned downward towards the ball - this also concentrates your centre of gravity and hence all your force in one place.

With all your weight and inertia behind the ball, you should come out winning the ball in a block tackle. Ensure you use the inside of the foot to follow through on the ball; using the toe or upper foot reduces accuracy and risks injury.

The psychological element of block tackling is also vital. Always be committed and positive when approaching a block tackle. If you centre all your weight and force on the ball, the risk of injury is very minimal. Injuries can occur only when players shy away from the tackle. A golden tip when block tackling is to aim a short distance behind the ball, therefore inducing you to follow through on the tackle and concentrating the maximum force on the ball.

Roberto Carlos goal - 1997

Bending a Ball

Football fans the world over were stunned by Roberto Carlos in the Summer of 1997. With a wall of defenders between the goal and him, he curled the ball around them and watched it drop into the corner of the net.

The technique Carlos and players like David Beckham use is ‘bending’ the ball, which uses natural air resistance to make a shot change direction in mid-flight.

Because Carlos kicked the ball with spin on its right side, after it had lost a certain amount of speed it began to drift in the direction it was spinning. Physicists still do not completely understand how such motion works, although there are a lot of very complicated theories.

The principle remains true that to bend a ball like Roberto Carlos did, you need to strike it off-centre and give it the exact amount of power and spin required. Too much power will result in too slow a bend; too little spin and there’ll be no bend to speak of.

The direction of bend depends on the rotation of the ball. A ball spinning clockwise will bend to the right; a ball spinning anticlockwise will go left.

To spin a ball it is necessary to maintain contact with it for longer than a straight ‘punch’. Practice is needed to develop the right combination of power and friction from the boot. Remember that the follow through will point away from the target because the ball is struck at an angle.

Bending can be less useful for passing because teammates might be surprised by where the ball ends up! Although hardly a necessary skill, bending shots provide a potent finish to any offensive campaign. When they’re executed with panache, they can quite demoralise the opposition.

Attacking headers make for some of the most spectacular goals in football. Legends from George Best to Wayne Rooney have known how to take advantage of defensive weakness by redirecting a high, fast-moving shot into the bottom corner of the net. An attacking header involves getting above the ball and using power from your neck and back to change its course and stop it going over the bar.

Diego Maradona and Peter Crouch are famous for their lethal attacking headers, but it was Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom who made the headlines when he scored off an attacking header in last season’s match against his old club Derby County. You can watch the goal - along with Des Lynam’s commentary - on you tube

If you want to avoid injuring yourself, you’ll need to keep your head and body taut but not rigid, like Poom’s. It’s important to be confident: you’re much more likely to make an accurate judgement and gain control of the ball if you make a decisive move.

The most important thing of all, though, is to get above the ball. This is the only way you’ll be able to send the ball down into the net. Not only this, it also means you are less likely to injure yourself by hitting your head or nose with the ball, or against a defender who might also be making a play for a defensive header. Jump high and make a decisive move.

This move is very easy to practice on your own or with a friend. Throw the ball up into the air, or bounce it against a wall, or get a friend to throw it for you, and when you header it, try to redirect its downwards path towards a low target. And remember: as always, always keep your eye on the ball.

Improving your skills

Conventional wisdom in the old days stated that God-given talent was the be all and end all for a successful career in football. Training was only a necessary supplement to what was already imbued within a particular individual. Today, while the term ‘talent’ is still bandied about, developments in coaching have allowed youngsters to emulate the greats with increasing ease. Indeed, such is the importance of coaching at both amateur and professional level, you can even utilise hypnosis to supposedly improve your ability on the field, and the top clubs all make use of ‘sports psychologists’ to help the star players perform.

A decisive moment in coaching was the rise of the Coerver Method in the 1970s, named after Wiel Coerver, the Dutch former manager of Feyenoord. Coerver claimed that by analysing tapes of great players in action, you could break down their technique and trademark skills and use this knowledge to teach young players. The fundamentals of this method are enshrined in coaching today, and certain moves are still referred to as ‘Coerver moves’.

The depth and complexity of football coaching is such that any guide will fall short. However, here are a few notable manoeuvres to get you started, a number of which are identified with footballing greats:

The Cruyff Turn

1. Facing your opponent with the ball, position your body to feign a cross or shot.
2. Then drag the ball with your foot behind your standing leg.
3. Turn and be on your way while the opponent is left flat-footed.

The Zidane Roulette/Maradona’s 360º Spin Move

1. While dribbling with the ball close to your body, turn to shield the ball as you reach an opponent face-to-face.
2. With your back to the player, in the same movement, put your foot on the ball and delicately bring it around with you.
3. Leave the opponent trailing as you turn around his body.

The Shoulder Feint

1. Feign to go one way by dropping one shoulder as if moving in that direction.
2. Then quickly go the other way and wrong-foot your marker. This is best achieved with your back to the opponent.

Stepover

Popularised initially by Pelé, this move is extremely popular in modern football and expertly utilised by individuals like Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho:

1. Feign to move on way by flicking your foot fully over the ball in that direction, but without actually touching the ball at any point.
2. Then push the ball in the opposite direction and skip past your marker.

The Matthews Move

Named after one of the most influential wingers in football, Stanley Matthews, who was pivotal in establishing wing play as a vital part of attacking. The Matthews move is today a fundamental weapon in any winger’s arsenal:

1. When facing a defender, push the ball slightly forward to his standing foot.
2. Then instantly flick it horizontally down the wing and, as he’s wrong-footed, use your speed to waltz past him.

The Nutmeg

The nutmeg is the ultimate insult to an opponent and a great, easy trick for beginners to learn:

1. When facing your opponent, allow him to set himself to cover your attack.
2. Then take advantage of the gap between his legs, pass the ball through them and skip around his body.

The Puskás Move/The V-Move

Associated with the famous Hungarian forward Ferenc Puskás, the v-move is perfect for improving your dribbling and close control, as well as a great way for evading tackles:

1. While in possession of the ball, drag the ball back with your foot.
2. In the same movement, flick it forward at a 45º degree angle (works particularly well if your opponent dives in for a tackle).

The Elastico/Flip-Flap

Actually invented in the 1970s by the Brazilian Rivelino, the move today is popularly associated with his countryman Ronaldinho. The trick requires incredible speed and flexibility, so don’t expect to pick it up quickly!

1. Facing an opponent, flick the ball up to one side.
2. In mid-air, cushion the ball with the inside of your ball, taking it the other way past your marker.

Soccerphile - Soccerphile is the specialist site for information, accommodation, betting and tickets for Switzerland Austria Euro 2008, South Africa World Cup 2010, African Cup of Nations 2008, Asian Cup 2007, Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine & Confederations Cup.

4thegame - Official statistics for the current English football season across the leagues. Also includes statistics for the Scottish Premier League.

Football Transfers - Superb club and player database, unsurprisingly surveying their transfer history. Also contains an excellent, regularly updated service for transfer rumours (including analysis on their credibility).

Yahoo! Football - Worldwide database for clubs and players, but with an emphasis on the European leagues.

Soccer Stats - Solely concerned with the major leagues on Europe, but with an incredible number of options for advanced analysis. Also contains a good live scores section for match days.

Europa Fussball Statistik - Statistics covering a greater number of European leagues than Soccer Stats. Also provides historical week-by-week analysis and an array of other options.

English Football Post A website which allows folks to write and rate articles about the beautiful game.

Krysstal Statistics - Unofficial source specialising in English and Scottish league football, the two countries’ FA and League Cups, the European club competitions and World Cup football. Incorporates a wide-range of historical statistics, and is highly recommended for beginners to football looking to learn a little extra about their chosen club’s history in competition.

England

The Football Association runs the ‘Get Into Football’ scheme across the country. On this website, you can find local Community Clubs and pitches, volunteer or even get into refereeing.

There are also a number of Charter Standard Schools which run training programmes, open to boys and girls. Can find the complete list of schools here (MS Office required). There are even colleges and holiday courses available for youngsters.

For more information, get in contact with your County FA. You can search for them here.

Scotland

The Scottish Football Association runs the SFA Community Scheme for both boys and girls. You can find out more information by emailing coaching@scottishfa.co.uk.

Running between 2002 and 2010, the McDonald’s School Programme is another option for youngsters. In collaboration with the fast food chain, the FA provides coaches to roughly 1,600 Scottish primary schools and has created 600 new school teams and clubs.

At secondary school level, one option is the Bank of Scotland Midnight Leagues, which operates at both 5-a-side and 7-a-side level for 12-16 year olds.

For more information on girls’ football, contact swf@scottish-football.com.

Wales

Youth development at school level in Wales is covered by the FAW Trust. Check the website for more details.

Northern Ireland

The Irish FA is responsible for a plethora of grassroots schemes, check the special website here for more details. Notable in this regard is the Flybe George Best Excellence Programme. Named after the great Manchester United and Northern Ireland forward, the Programme revolves around six centres, with 25 boys admitted from under-12 level up to under-15.

The McDonald’s Community Scheme is also in operation in Northern Ireland, providing over 250 coaches across the whole of the country and organising an annual football festival. Contact terskine@irishfa.com for more details.

The Football Association

The English FA was set up in 1863 and governs the game and all its leagues in England, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. The current president is Prince William and the body itself is actually officially known as the Football Association, although it has been a member of FIFA since 1905 and a member of UEFA since 1954.

The FA is also responsible for the England national football team, and subsequently generates considerable turnover each year (£206.1 million in 2004). The key figures in the organisation are the Chief Executive and the Chairman, who liaise with and assist in appointing the England team’s manager.

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Formed at a meeting on 15th June 1954 in Basel, Switzerland, UEFA was initially composed of just 25 national associations but now has 53 members. It is one of the six FIFA continental organisations and is by far the richest due to its governance of all European-wide club and international competitions; including the Champions League, the UEFA Cup, the European Championships, the UEFA Super Cup, the European-South American Cup, the UEFA Intertoto Cup and the UEFA Women’s Cup.

The headquarters of UEFA are today located in Nyon, Switzerland. The President possesses a huge amount of influence in world football, ahd his/her election is a major event.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)

Founded in Paris on May 21st 1904, FIFA is the chief governing body in world football. Initially confined to European national associations, it quickly expanded worldwide and is now made up of 207 domestic FAs, with its headquarters located in Zurich, Switzerland.

Although FIFA members are national associations, as a way of monitoring world football affairs on a larger scale, FIFA operates through six confederations (which, in turn, operate on a continental level):

• Asian Football Confederation (AFC) (Asia)
• Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) (Africa)
• Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) (North America)
• Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL) (South America)
• Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) (Australia)
• Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) (Europe)

One of FIFA’s chief responsibilities is organising the World Cup. Its other interest in international football is the Confederations Cup, which takes place every four years between the winners of the six confederation championships, the host country and the World Cup winners. There are a number of lesser trophies organised by FIFA as well, such as the FIFA Club World Cup (the leading clubs from the six confederations play one another annually), the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and the FIFA Futsal World Championship (indoor football). FIFA is also responsible for the FIFA World Player of the Year ceremony, which unsurprisingly honours the best player in world football.

FIFA’s motto is ‘for the good of the game’, but a major debating point (as with any domestic FA and UEFA) in recent years has been FIFA’s financial interest in football. The establishment of the Club World Cup and Confederations Cup were met with some consternation due to fixture congestion for clubs and national sides, particularly with the profits predominantly going to FIFA. Indeed, between 2003 and 2006, FIFA announced $1.64 billion worth of revenue, with a $144 million profit. As a result, major FIFA directives, emanating from the President by and large, are watched with some concern by clubs and football associations alike.

Charles William Alcock’s proposal in 1871 saw the establishment of the FA Challenge Cup, the first competition in football history. Taking place in 1872, the Wanderers FC (now-deceased team, formerly of Battersea) were the first to take the trophy home, beating the Royal Engineers 1-0 in the final. Today, every domestic football association has one, or even two, cup competitions which run simultaneously with a league. To top it off, there are continental and even world tournaments in existence at both club and international level. Here are a list of the main leagues and cup competitions in British club football, along with a few international competitions to get you up to scratch:

The Premiership/The FA Premier League

The Premiership, as it is more commonly known, was formed in 1992 and composed of teams in the old Division One of the Football League. The decline in football’s popularity during the 1980s was halted with the English national side’s positive showing in the 1990 World Cup, and the Premiership sought both to capitalise on this unexpected boom and the top clubs’ threats to form a breakaway division from the Football League due to squabbling over television rights.

Originally containing 22 clubs, the number was trimmed down to 20 in 1995 in accordance with FIFA regulations. The infrastructure of the league is comparable to a corporation, with each member club having a vote on major issues and electing a Chairman, Chief Executive and Board of Directors to deal with the day-to-day affairs.

Despite the long list of clubs each year, the trophy has only been won by 4 sides; Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Manchester United. Each year, the winners and 2nd placed team immediately qualify for the group stages of the Champions League, while 3rd and 4th place means admission to the qualifying round of the Champions League. 5th place guarantees entry in the UEFA Cup and it is even possible for 6th and 7th placed sides to follow, if the finalists of both the FA and League Cups have already qualified for European competition in the league.

However, the benefits of merely being in the Premiership are palpable. The Premiership is the most popular league in the world, with an audience of over a billion each week and matches beamed to an incredible 195 countries. In China alone, as many as 360 million viewers tune in, more than any other foreign sport. Consequently, television rights bring in a hefty sum, with each club receiving £45 million per annum on the 2007-2010 deal.

The trickle-down effect has been dramatic for players and fans. Whereas the average salary of a top-flight footballer in 1992 was approximately £75,000 per annum, statistics released in 2004 showed it had ballooned to an astonishing £676,000 each year. The English transfer record has also been smashed time after time since the Premiership’s inception. The £3.75 million record signing of Roy Keane from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United in June 1993 pales in significance to the £30 million signing of Andriy Shevchenko by Chelsea from AC Milan in June 2006.

Standing alongside the Premiership is the FA Women’s Premier League National Division, a semi-professional league which currently represents the top flight of English women’s football.

The Football League

The Football League is the oldest league in world football and represented the top clubs in English football until the establishment of the Premiership. Today, the League acts as a feeder to the Premier League and encompasses three divisions (the Championship, League One and League Two) and 72 clubs. However, the Championship is still remarkably popular and, according to Deloitte auditors, is the richest non-top-flight division in world football.

The Championship

1st Place	Promoted
2nd Place	Promoted
3rd Place	Play-offs (Two Legged Semi-final versus 6th placed side + Final)
4th Place	Play-offs (Two Legged Semi-final versus 5th placed side + Final)
5th Place	Play-offs (Two Legged Semi-final versus 4th placed side + Final)
6th Place	Play-offs (Two Legged Semi-final versus 3rd placed side + Final)
Bottom Three	Relegated

The Football Conference

Represents the top-flight structure of non-league football in England and is made up of three leagues; Conference National, Conference North and Conference South. The Conference National is, in turn, the top division in the Conference, made up of 24 teams. The winners of the Conference National are promoted to the Football League, assuming the club meets the regulations on stadium facilities. Both the Conference North and Conference South feed teams to the National league each season.

Conference National

1st Place	Promoted
Four Worst Placed Teams	Relegated

Conference North

1st Place	Promoted
2nd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 5th placed side + Final)
3rd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 4th placed side + Final)
4th Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 3rd placed side + Final)
5th Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 2nd placed side + Final)
Three Worst Placed Teams	Relegated to Step leagues

Conference South

1st Place	Promoted
2nd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 5th placed side + Final)
3rd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 4th placed side + Final)
4th Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 3rd placed side + Final)
5th Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 2nd placed side + Final)
Three Worst Placed Teams	Relegated to Step leagues

Scottish Premiership & Football League

The Premier League is made up of 12 teams and was set up in 1998 from the ashes of the old Scottish Division One. It was formulated on the English model and today represents the top clubs in Scottish football. The winners and the second placed side qualify for the Champions League group stages and the qualifying rounds respectively, while the third placed team are entered into the UEFA Cup.

The Scottish Football League, in turn, encompasses three divisions and acts as a feeder for the Premier League.

Scottish Division One

1st Place	Promoted
Worst Placed Team	Relegated
2nd Worst Placed Team	Play-offs (Also includes the 2nd to 4th placed clubs in Division Two)

Scottish Division Two

1st Place	Promoted
2nd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 3rd place + Final)
3rd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 2nd place + Final)
4th Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 2nd worst placed team in Division One + Final)
Worst Placed Team	Relegated
2nd Worst Placed Team	Play-offs (Also includes the 2nd to 4th placed clubs in Division Three)

Scottish Division Three

1st Place	Promoted
2nd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 3rd place + Final)
3rd Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 2nd place + Final)
4th Place	Play-offs (Semi-final versus 2nd worst placed team in Division Two + Final)

N.B. There is no relegation in Division Three, but finishing last three times in a row means expulsion to the amateur leagues.

Irish Premier League

The Premier League is Northern Ireland’s top tier of football, incorporating 16 teams. It is not to be confused with the Football League of Ireland, which is located in the Republic of Ireland. However, the top four each year do go into the All-Ireland Setanta Sports Cup, where they meet teams from the Republic of Ireland.

League of Wales

Established in 1992 and containing 17 teams, the League winners are submitted to the qualifying stages of the Champions League, while the 2nd placed side reach the UEFA Cup. Two sides are relegated each year, replaced by one promoted side each from the Welsh Football League and Cymru Alliance.

FA Cup

The oldest competition in world football, the FA Cup is also a reflection of football’s popularity across England, with an exceptional 687 teams accepted into the 2006/2007 competition. The Cup starts in August with the Extra Preliminary Round, followed by the 2nd qualifying round when the Conference North and South are entered. The Conference National are entered in the 4th qualifying round, with League One and League Two clubs taking part from the First Round stage. However, the key moment is the Third Round proper, when the Championship and Premiership teams are involved.

The winners of the FA Cup are entered into the UEFA Cup although, if the winners have already gained qualification into a European competition in the league, the other finalist will receive that honour. This matter has always been a major issue in the competition due to the top flight’s dominance. Indeed, the last non-league side to win the FA Cup was Tottenham Hotspur (now a Premiership side) in 1901, and the last side outside the top flight to win was West Ham United in 1980. The two most successful English sides in the league, Manchester United and Arsenal, are also the most successful in the FA Cup, with 11 and 10 wins respectively.

Football League Cup

Referred to by whatever sponsor it happens to have, the League Cup is the second knock-out competition in England (unlike most European countries like Spain and Italy, who settle for one). Only 92 teams are permitted to enter, representing the entirety of the Football League and the Premiership.

It was founded in 1961 but the competition only really grew in popularity when the winners were awarded a UEFA Cup spot. Like the FA Cup, if the winners have qualified by other means, the other finalist benefits. On this matter, if both finalists have qualified, 6th place in the league qualifies for Europe (can extend to 7th place if the same situation reigns in the FA Cup).

The competition is exceptional in its format because the knockout format is briefly replaced at the semi-final stage by a two-legged affair, with away goals a factor. However, the League Cup is far less popular than the FA Cup and has increasingly been used by the top teams as a way to blood their youngsters and reserve players. Liverpool have been the most successful club in the competition, with seven victories.

UEFA Champions League/The European Cup

Could easily be considered the greatest prize in club football worldwide, the Champions League is connected to the old European Cup. Whereas the old Cup was established in 1955, the Champions League renaming took place in 1992 as a response to the total restructuring of the format.

The old knockout style solely including the winners of each domestic league was replaced by a dramatically different system involving 32 teams. This was preceded by three qualifying rounds with two-legs each. Once into the full competition, a group stage takes place (8 groups with 4 teams in each). Each team plays home and away, the top two of each qualifying for the knockout stages, which are at first drawn from two groups (representing those who finished 1st and 2nd respectively) but then done randomly for the rest of the competition. Ties at this point are two-legged, with the away goals rule applied along with extra-time and penalties if necessary. The final is naturally a single-leg affair.

The exclusivity of the old European Cup was thrown out the window for the Champions League, as now the admitted sides represent the top teams in a country. The number of teams permitted depends on the strength of the league. For example, La Liga in Spain, Serie A in Italy and the Premiership in England are all given four spots in the Champions League. Ligue 1 in France, the Bundesliga in Germany and the Portuguese Liga in Portugal each receive 3 spots. All other representatives are given two places or a single spot.

The Champions League’s popularity with clubs stems from its prestige and the monumental financial benefits. Sponsorship and television money means the rewards are phenomenal. In the 2005/2006 season, teams were given a cumulative total of 430 million Euros, the figure for each club being decided based on their performance in the competition (e.g. Liverpool FC received 30 million Euros for winning in 2004/2005).

The most successful leagues are, unsurprisingly, the strongest leagues in Europe, Spanish teams having been victorious 11 times, followed by their English and Italian counterparts with 10 trophies each. The single most dominant side is Real Madrid with 9 Cups, way ahead of AC Milan in second, who have won 6 times.

UEFA Cup

The UEFA Cup is the bridesmaid to the bride that is the Champions League in European club football. First played in 1971, the tournament has seen many changes, not least being merged with the Cup Winners Cup in 1999. It is now seen as a very lowly second to the Champions League mainly due to the growth of that tournament in numbers as well as in wealth.

Domestic Cup winners gain entry to the UEFA Cup along with the highest placed league team who failed to qualify for the Champions League. Teams enter the competition depending on the strength of their UEFA coefficients. Teams from countries ranked lower than 18th enter in the first qualifying round and teams from nations ranked between 9th and 18th enter in the second qualifying phase. There are also spots in this round for the lucky winners of the Fair Play Draw as well as entrants from the Intertoto Cup.

In the first round proper the teams that have qualified from highly ranked coefficient nations join the qualifiers meaning 80 teams will play in the first round. These games are played over two legs and the winners advance to a group phase of eight groups consisting of five teams each. The top three in each group progress after a round-robin stage where they are joined by the eight 3rd placed teams in the Champions League and a straight two-legged knock-out format ensues until the final, which is played at a neutral arena in a one-off game.

Juventus are the most successful UEFA Cup entrant having won the tournament on three occasions and have been beaten finalists the same amount of times again. Sevilla are the current holders and have won it in back-to-back years.

FIFA World Cup

If there’s one thing which brings out all the casual fans, it’s the World Cup. Whereas all the aforementioned competitions take place annually, the World Cup only happens once every four years and has done since 1930 (with a break between 1942 and 1946 due to World War II). Nevertheless, seven countries have won the trophy, Brazil being the most successful with 5 victories (England’s only victory came in 1966).

This figure of just seven victors is all the more remarkable when you consider that 198 nations tried to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. This figure is trimmed down to 32 for the Finals themselves. The qualification process is organised in the six FIFA continental zones (see below for more details). Qualification takes some two years and is achieved via a single group stage (the terms of which depend on the particular zone). The number of places for each zone is decided by FIFA, although the host nation never have to qualify.

The Finals themselves are composed of a group stage (8 groups with 4 teams in each, the top two qualifying after every team plays each other once) and a straight-up knockout stage, concluding with a final.

UEFA European Football Championship

Simply known as ‘the European Championships’, this competition is unsurprisingly solely for teams within the European FIFA continental zone. Approximately 50 nations enter the qualification stage, with just 16 sides making it to the Finals. In order to avoid clashing with the World Cup, the European Championships alternate with the World Cup (for example, the 2006 World Cup followed by the 2008 European Championships).

Qualification also takes roughly two years. 10 groups with 5 teams in each are drawn, 1st place qualifying and 10 runners-up forced to play-off with one another for 5 extra spots. The host does not have to qualify.

The first competition took place in 1958 and the most successful sides are Germany with 3 wins.

The objective of the game is to score goals, but certain variables such as the scoreline can influence a particular team’s desperation to ruffle the net. The following team styles represent some of the methods used to control the game and instigate attacks:

Possession football

For years, the golden rule for coaches everywhere was ‘pass and move’, and this tenet is still enshrined in possession football. Quite simply, teams attempt to hold onto the ball for as long as possible, at all times choosing the easiest possible pass (hence the many times you see defenders passing the ball along the defensive line).

There is logic behind this seemingly banal style though. By keeping hold of the ball, the opponent’s frustration will hopefully draw out certain players from their starting positions, making spaces for killer through-balls which would otherwise be impossible. Moreover, by keeping possession, you encourage the opponent to chase all over the pitch, impacting their stamina and further allowing you to control the pace of the match.

Counter-attacking football

With 11 players to get past, scoring a goal is a tricky task at the best of times. However, the beauty of counter-attacking football is to use the other team’s desperation to score to your own advantage.

By withdrawing into your own half, but keeping a man or two further up the pitch, the goal is to take the ball off the opponent while they have players committed to the attack and thus out of position. Once you have the ball in your own half, you have more space to deliver a through-ball for your strikers, who will be lurking around the halfway line and will have fewer players to negotiate.

This tactic, while extremely risky and reliant on solid defending, can render impressive results and is often utilised by teams who are defending a lead or field a 4-5-1 formation (meaning the lone striker can get isolated in front of 4 defenders if both sides are set up properly).

Long-ball/Direct football

Often used to deride ‘boring’ teams, the long-ball style of play is genuine route one football. Rather than spend time on the ball picking the pass, exploiting small gaps in the opposition’s defensive or utilising the flanks, the long-ball is employed as an opportunistic method of attack. By pinging the ball up the field from defense or midfield, the hope is that the strikers will either latch onto the hopeful pass or exploit any mistakes by the defenders. Because the long-ball is dealt with in the air most of the time, any team employing it needs to have a strong target man.

Wide-play and alternating wingers

Since the days of Stanley Matthews and Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone, the wings have always been a key part of attacking football. By spreading the ball wide, you allow a different angle of attack and offer a number of opportunities for the winger; take on the fullback and drag central defenders out of position, cut inside and drive forward at an angle, or whip in a cross from deep for the strikers to attack.

A further development in wing-play has been to alternate wingers on the left and right flanks. If a winger is losing the battle with his fullback, switching wings can provide a breakthrough for the team. This was effectively employed by Portugal on their way to the final of the 2004 European Championships, with Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo frequently exchanging wing positions.

Using the set-plays

A common method for technically deficient sides, using the set-plays means exploiting all types of free kicks, throw-ins and corner-kicks. In the absence of quick, skilful players, such sides will use the break in play provided by set pieces to pack the box and attack the ball when it is delivered.

Basic defensive team tactics

The chief distinction in defensive tactics is between individual and team responsibility, reflected in the rise and fluctuating popularity of zonal defense and man-to-man marking.

Zonal defence

Zonal defense is basically self-explanatory. To cover for a team’s (or player’s) lack of pace or technique, every defender and midfielder is given a particular zone on the pitch to cover when the opposition has the ball. This is particularly important during set pieces, but does rely heavily on every player fulfilling their duties and keeping their concentration.

Ideally, the opposition will be facing two lines of four players covering the entirety of one half of the pitch. The defensive line is particularly important as, with proper communication and synchronised movement, it can exploit the offside rule and prevent all long-balls and through-balls succeeding. Generally speaking, zonal defense is fundamentally simple but allows sides to deal with all types of attackers on the opponent’s team. However, it can be fraught with danger if any individual fails to cover his area of the pitch.

Man-to-Man marking

The term is often associated with continental (and particularly Italian) football and, once again, is extremely simple at its core. Whereas the defenders and midfielders are responsible for zones in zonal defense, man-to-man marking means certain individuals are responsible for guarding a particular opponent. Man-to-man marking is particularly effective alongside a sweeper who has a free role, enabling him/her to support anyone having problems with his opponent and reducing the potency of through-balls and balls played over the top of the defence for forward players to run onto.

However, man-to-man marking requires incredible discipline on the part of the marker, and good decision making on the part of the manager. If a slower defender is matched up with a pacey striker, the results could be grim to say the least!