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Things Players Do To Help Their Opponents Win

There are many things players do in games which can help their opponent win. How many can you and your teammates think of?

If you think of any that are not included below please take a minute and complete the Feedback box at the bottom of this page and let us know what they are.

1. Falling Down
A player on your team falls down and is slow to get back up. How could this help your opponent win?

• While your teammate is on the ground your team is playing with one less player. This means everyone on your team must work harder until your teammate who has fallen down gets back up and is playing again.
• Hint - Unless your hurt get back up as fast as you can. because your teammates are working hard to cover for you when you are not playing.

2. Walking to Get Out of Bounds Ball
The ball goes out of bounds off an opponent. Your teammate slowly walks to get the ball to restart the game. Does walking slow help your opponents?

• When a teammates is slow to get the ball it gives your opponents a lot of time to move to defend against all of your teammates when the game is restarted. 
• Hint - Instantly get the ball and run to restart the game. If your team is ready and your opponents are not quickly instantly restart the game. Often your team will win the restart and have a better chance to score.

3. Stopping to Tie a Shoe
A player on your team stops playing to tie a shoe which has come untied. How could this help your opponent win?

• When your teammate is leaning over to tie their shoe your team is playing with one less player. This means everyone on your team must work harder until your teammate has tied their shoe and is playing again.
• Hint - Tie your shoes in a double knot before going into the game. Also if you shoe laces come untied all the time ask your parents to buy you a new pair of shoe laces. Shoes are made in many nations around the world and some, even expensive name brand soccer shoes, are made with cheap laces that will not stay tied.

4. Not Moving to Be In Best Position
When players do not move to get into the "Best Position" to receive a pass from their teammate with the ball, that teammate must keep and protect the ball while they look for their teammate in the "Best Position" to work with.

• When a teammate doesn't move to be in the "Best Position" to help their team, no teammate should ever pass to them, no matter how much they yell for a pass and that they are open. If you pass to a teammate who is not in the "Best Position" to help the team you are teaching them to play the way they want to play and not to do what helps their team the most.
• Hint - When a teammate has the ball instantly move to be in the "Best Position" to work with your teammate with the ball. This means your teammate doesn't have to touch the ball a lot of times waiting for you and your teammates to move to be in the "Best Position". When your teammate with the ball must wait for your teammates to support them all of your opponents will have the time to recover, defend and win the ball back.

5. Pouring Water in Shoes to Cool Feet
It's a very hot day, hotter when playing on an artificial turf field, and your teammate pours water in their shoes to cool their feet off.

• OUCH!
• When a teammate pours water in their shoes to cool their feet off , the moisture between their socks and shoes causes rubbing which causes very painful blisters and they can't run fast or play well.
• Hint 1 - To prevent painful blisters always wear socks that wick moisture away from your skin. If you can's find soccer socks that wick moisture away wear thin hiking socks which wick the moisture away from your skin.
• Hint 2 - Bring extra soccer socks to your games and practices so you can change to dry socks at half time.
• Hint 3 - No matter how hot your feet are never pour cool water into your shoes. Water causes blisters and over time can cause your soccer shoes to lose shape, weaken and rot over time. If your shoes do get wet stuff them with newspaper (of anything that can wick moisture away) and let them dry naturally over night). Using a heater or dryer to dry shoes faster will weaken them just like washing them in hot water does. 

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