Basic soccer skills that require constant repetition entail receiving, passing, and shooting. Only constant practicing of all three will allow a player to master the soccer technique. While life-long or career-long practice technique is essential, the best results are achieved in players of 6-12 years old.
Receiving in soccer is quite different from basketball, football, or volleyball because the player typically receives the ball on the ground. In soccer, the critical set of components entails the ability to keep one’s eye on the ball; read the speed and direction; decide on the body part that will receive the ball (foot, head, or chest); prepare the body to receive the ball correctly; and finally to slow down the ball and position it for further passing or shooting.

Passing is the second essential technique for a soccer player. Passes are categorized into short and long depending on the distance to the receiving teammate. In contrast to receiving, the player needs to identify the target correctly and be aware of the positioning of his or her teammates. Passing is typically done by contacting the correct area of the ball with the ankle.

Finally, shooting is similar to passing in many ways but instead of looking for teammates the player must identify the position of the goalkeeper. Speed is essential in this context, as the player has to choose a side to shoot the ball and be aware of the trajectory and possible obstacles. Powerful shooting requires the proper knowledge of the mechanics of how to score a goal. The ankle of kicking foot must be locked while the toe must remain pointed down in the case of instep shooting. Simultaneously, hips and knee of the same kicking leg must be firmly pointed in the direction of the shot.

To summarize, a soccer player must learn proper mechanics of three major techniques: receiving, passing, and shooting.