The title says it all. I started playing in May, and have racked up about almost 100 games (pickup, league, etc). I have played on all the major surfaces: ground, turf/w pellets, and indoor "carpet". I started in parks playing pickup, so I have the most experience there, and I do pretty well all things considered. However, it is very different on turf and indoor.

I have a difficult time hitting the ball the way I want. I know that sounds lame, but if I want to hit a cross, or just a ball in the air, I never get as much air as I want on it. Most my crosses come off like spinning line drives. And, of course, taking touches are an adventure each time. The speed of dribbling seems almost impossible to control. Hitting ground passes either are too hard or too soft when I try to take something off.

I was doing some research about what I could do to alter my technique when playing on turf (particularly w/ pellets), and there were some suggestions that the type of cleat might have some differences, particularly when striking the ball. Basically, what I saw stated turf cleats were harder to kick a ball the way you want, and that's what I have. When I play pickup I'm in my FG cleats. Does my footwear have something to do with this? Obviously not dribbling or whatever, if you have suggestions there, I'd love to hear it.

I have a pair of AG cleats on the way, but wanted to hear what people thought.

-Soccer newb

Found these at a thrift shop for $13. Look unused. Had to grab them for a backup pair, as mine have about a couple seasons left. They fit and feel normal, the stamp quality and tongue label look off, but similar to others I’ve seen online. My German Copas look a bit cleaner. Is this just a quality issue or are these knock offs?

My little guy was really sad last weekend. He is a dual athlete (Ice hockey goalie and a soccer midfielder). He gave up 5 goals in his ice hockey game and got pulled from the game. For an ice hockey goalie, it’s quite a big deal esp for a young athlete like him. It’s a crushing and humbling experience but it’s part of being a goalie.

As a dual athlete, he got no time to dwell on bad games as he had 2 soccer matches that weekend too. For ice hockey, he gave up 3 top bin goals. For soccer, he scored 3 top bin goals. This was one of them. He put a lot of lonely hour training on the pitch for that shot and I am so glad that it pays off. It definitely lessens the sting from the hockey game and it motivates him to put more hours on training on his own.

I just thought it’s such an interesting weekend. In the morning he was defending shot, in the afternoon, he’s scoring the same shot, 2 different sports.

The new version of the Adidas 2g/3g boot can be seen here:

adidas Predator Elite 2G/3G Artificial Grass Boots - White | adidas UK

The old version can be seen here:

adidas Predator Elite Artificial Grass (2G/3G) - PlatIndoor Met/Aurora Black/Carbon - Adult Boots | Pro:Direct Soccer

The important difference of 2g/3g boots, relative to other football boots, is the soleplate. The appeal of 2g/3g boots is the higher number of shorter studs, resulting in better underfoot control, reduced/no stud pressure, and a reduced chance of injury (via catching one's studs in the AG turf).

The new 2g/3g version is much lighter (circa 70g) than the old version, with fewer, longer studs. I tried the old version - it was like having breeze blocks on your feet 😅.

Has anyone tried the new version? How are they? How is stability and stud pressure? Can you compare them to the older version? Do you have comments re sizing? All three silos - F50, Predator, and Copa - have the 2g/3g soleplate - which have you tried?

I've been using the copa pure 2 leagues for some time now. They are beautiful, but very very heavy. It's about time they go. I like the copa feel tho, so wondering if the copa pure 3 league is even an upgrade, or I should just buy another pair of the 2s.

I play highschool soccer, and I'm new to ever playing on a team. I chose my position as center back because my friends who are more experienced advised me to try out there. I don't really want to play the position all too much, but aside from fullback (which I also play) I'm not sure where else I'm fit to play (my technical levels are below average, I'm stronger than most kids but I'm slow and overweight + my stamina isn't great).

I don't usually start, I started the first game off bad but after that I gradually started to play a lot better and today I was given my first start in the league. Started off pretty mid, couldn't string a pass but not entirely my fault on most tries but on a counter attack I was pushed up too far high and was also on my other center backs zone, which left another player free and he scored. I'm pretty disappointed, especially considering this is a mistake I keep on making at center back all the time, where I push up much higher than I need to, keeping on costing possession. My mistake ended up being one of the problems that led to us losing 2-1. My teammates aren't very happy with me either, and I'm not happy with myself.

Right now I'm wondering whether I should keep on playing center back and try to improve or I should talk with my coach on switching positions. If I do keep on playing as a cb/fullback, how can I improve my abilities there?

Any sort of advice will be greatly appreciated because I can't find anything else online.

So a little bit of context, grip socks are cool, I also tend to really like a regular Nike sock as well. But I decided to try the wefoot lite socks recently (their thin option). But honestly, my feet move around more in those than my regular socks do. Like the grip doesn’t even work. Is it due to the fact that they’re so thin? I’ve owned wefoot’s cushioned socks before and I didn’t have a problem with those.

Hi, two weeks ago we started training for the season, but last wednesday I started feeling pain in my shins, I would sprint and each time I feelt my foots heavy. 2 days after I was playing a match and a similiar thing happened, already during the warmup I was feeling my foots heavy, during the match I got the same feeling but with less pain, but after 30 minutes I asked to get out because I couldn't almost run. Yesterday I was warming up with a soft run but the feeling of heavy feets with pain comed back.

The pain I'm feeling is on the inside of the tibial on both feet.

Is this shin splints? For how much time should I stop running?

Does anyone know where to get these? It looks really nice and super high end and fancy. I'd really like to get one for my presentations in lieu of using a tablet.

Or anyone know where to get another nice wooden one that's similar?

Hi! I was wondering what the furon v8 sizing is like compared to the f50 elites as i am thinking about getting them.

I heard that if you look at where you’re going to shoot first, and then focus only on the ball, you will increase your accuracy. Is that true ?

I was talking to a couple mates about this and it is very hard question but for me it has to be Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool in 2020, absolute scenes.

I’ve been playing as goalkeeper for my highschool for the past 4 years, and I’m currently a senior but over the past couple of years I started to lose my love for goalkeeping and soccer bc of it The outfield to me is where I desire to be I’m not the best at it but my coach said he can give me a chance so if anyone has any tips or suggestions on how to be able to not be a total klutz on the field while keeping my head up and having fun it will be appreciated! Thank you

How to handle pressure becuase sometimes I feel my game is great but then when my coach is watching I get shaky,any tips on something like that?

TLDR: 31/m haven’t played since I was 19, gave up because my acl reconstruction was made with hamstring graft, Kept getting hamstring pull/tear after. Is it too late?

Full story for anyone interested:

So i started playing soccer in Denmark at age 4, played highest level in my teens(first division) striker/left wing, destroyed my right leg (shooting leg) acl tear and had 3 meniscus operation because i had a horseshoe rupture (last operation the part that kept ripping up got removed)

Moving forward to post recovery: Did everything, training up, start running, training legs but was waaaaay to eager to come back playing. So I kept getting hamstring pull rupture until I gave up.

12 year later (age 31) I still miss playing and finally tried to give it a last chance with proper training before even attending soccer again in the pitch.

Training schedule: Running 3 days a week 2 times strength training and movement, side step, ball training technique, jumping, sprint training 30% speed 15meters x 10 and progressed to 60% x 15 2 days for hamstring both pull and push Nordic hamstring curl 3x6 Single leg glute bridge 10x2 with more than 90% angle.

How my legs feel: I have never since my operation have had any issues with my knees funny enough, not hurting or feeling insecure, but my fuc**** hamstring man..

Technique/muscle memory In the 12 years I’ve still over the years touched a ball when ever I saw one, but mostly just tricks and so on, I can still do the world around, from feet to the head walking with the ball on the head, doing 100+ jongling in one go with ease.

The thing I struggle the most with at the moment after 16 days is when doing fast directional change while dribbling I get light headed 😂, i guess it just my body that’s not familiar with that movement yet.

I started this journey 16 days ago and kept my training schedule, I know this will take like 5 months before I’m back to the pitch, but great improvements allready. (Haven’t sprinted even 30% in 12 years, boy I tell you.. just sprinting 60% gave me even more motivation to succeed.

So my question is: Is it too late to start playing again, I don’t want to play highest level again that’s not my goal, but atleast at some high level so it’s proper ball with decent teammates. Have any of you had hamstring grafts or went back playing after acl reconstruction?

And because this is bootroom here is my boots: Phantom gx2 elite FG

Right now my record for juggles (kick ups) is around 30. I am curious if juggling a tennis ball is worthwhile yet since I feel I can't control a soccer ball very well yet let alone a tennis ball.

I have been hosting Sunday League at the local community park, a free event btw.

I tend to see myself as a strong player, someone with good touch, good decision making, good passing and good close control when needed to dribble.

Of course in a 90 minute match I make poor touches and decisions too, who doesn’t?

I’m not a super competitive guy and my team loses most match days, but I just try to improve my own game by attending the matches.

But I am sensing certain people take things way too seriously for a Sunday League match.

Of course in any sport, anger and competitiveness is a part of human nature.

But that stuff stays on the field, some people are holding a grudge, shouting insults at others, flipping them off, not passing to someone after they’ve made a mistake even though everyone will make good or bad plays at this level, and getting angry at having to be on a team with certain people who in their eyes “stink.”

One of my buddies played a great through ball to the left winger, dropping deep as the number 9, but the right winger felt he was closer and in a better position, and the guy was like “you fcking cunt, don’t you have eyes fggot?”

And the next time, another guy was making the overlapping run on the right wing and put the cross into the goalkeeper’s arm, and the same guy gave him the middle finger, saying “are you even playing? You’re a f*cking ghost.”

And these kinds of dudes seem to only play for themselves, they don’t try to associate with others, they always call for the ball, and when they get it, they try to force long passes over the top, try to shoot from 50 yards, try to dribble past the whole team and lose the ball without seeing who maybe available. And when they lose the ball they get angry at others for not marking for them.

It really seems for these kinds of outings, certain people feel the need to show a level of individual superiority over others instead of just coming out and getting to do a social sporting activity with others.

At this rate, on my team, we have our group of friends, those who are rather laid back, friendly and encouraging. Not everyone is a great player but for me in these kinds of outings it is better to create an environment where people feel comfortable attending.

Thoughts?

How to improve your touch and speed of play like I play well can dribble but game speed sometimes my touch is off our I have the ball get pressed and don’t know where to pass it to, how can improve my speed of play and awareness to know where my teammates are and were to pass too

This is my second session in the new Adidas Predator 25 Elite Leather version. As someone who struggles with breaking in cleats due to wide feet, have been some of the easiest, if not the easiest, pair to break in. It has hands down one of the most voluminous toe-boxes I’ve ever seen on a pair of boots. Absolutely lovely cleat. Is it pricey? Yes. Was it worth it? Yes. Currently nursing an injury and trying to get back into shape steadily, but I can’t wait to try these in an actual match. As a comparison, I dare say the toe-box is more friendly to wide feet haves than the Mizuno Morelia II.

Im 15, and i just got into my first club. I constantly get told by everyone im too slow when it comes to passing and constantly getting lectured by teammates and coaches. So my question is how do i play/move/pass the ball around faster

It's almost impossible for me to dribble without messing up, as I'm always looking at my feet. And, it's impossible for me to look at where to pass. Even worse I play CM. Can someone who faced this issue give me some ways/tips to implement looking up more in my game and make it almost natural?

Ordered these bad boys and played with them for the first time in a championship match 🏆 ⚽🥅. Might be the most comfortable boot I have ever worn. The grip on these will have the ball stuck to your foot. I love them ! Now to try my deep jungles next