Some estimates say that professional soccer players run 6 to 8 miles (9.7 to 12.9 km) during a 90-minute game. That's a lot of running, and you’ll do most of it when you don't have the ball. Learn how to get into open space, how to run to where to your teammate expects or wants you to be, and how to run past a defender who's guarding you. Try hitting the ball with your head right where your hair meets your forehead. Do not use the top of your head! When getting ready to head the ball, don't lift your head back; move your upper torso back instead. This will give you more power and won't strain your neck as much. You have to hit the ball, not let the ball hit you. Many youth leagues ban heading the ball due to concerns over concussions and other head or neck injuries. If you’re just playing for fun, consider whether heading the ball is a necessary component of your game. Juggling involves receiving and controlling a ball from the air with some combination of your head, shoulders, chest, legs, and feet. You probably won't need to juggle frequently in a game, but it’s a very important skill to develop as it helps you develop your touch and control. If you know how to juggle your touch on the ball becomes a lot more delicate. Your first touch on the ball is extremely important in soccer. It's really important to be able to dribble, pass, and shoot the ball with your non-dominant foot. Good defenders will take away your dominant foot and force you to play with your non-dominant foot. If you can't use your non-dominant foot, you'll be playing at a clear disadvantage. Practice only using your non-dominant foot during practice or when you shoot or juggle by yourself. Acclimating your body to this muscle memory is an important part of being skilled with your non-dominant foot. You want to be able to send corner kicks right to the middle of the penalty area, usually up in the air so that a teammate can head or kick the ball in. Free kicks can either be taken quickly and simply passed to a nearby teammate, or you can organize a "set play" in which you kick the ball in a certain area while your teammates execute a play.  Corner kicks are taken from one of the 4 corners of the field, depending on where the ball went out of bounds. Free kicks can occur anywhere within the field of play. Corner kicks are often struck with either a hook (from the inside of your foot) or a slice (from the outside of your foot) depending on which foot you’re using and which side of the field you’re on. A free kick can be hooked, sliced, or driven straight ahead, or simply tapped to a teammate, based on how you choose to play it. Try to develop your own playing style, one that suits you. Are you a tricky player who relies on juking out other players? Are you fast enough to beat everyone with sheer speed? Are you great at using your body and power to blast goals? Are you an expert at keeping opponents from getting off shots? Find out what kind of player you are, set goals for yourself on how you can become a more rounded player, and remember to have fun!

Summary:
Think about moving off the ball. Get comfortable heading the ball, if permitted or desired. Practice juggling the ball with your feet and body. Work on using your non-dominant foot well. Practice taking corner kicks and free kicks. Be original and spontaneous with your playing style.