Improving at soccer comes down to touches on the ball, decision-making under pressure and the fitness to keep doing both for 90 minutes. Here is how to work on each. First touch A good first touch buys time. Practice receiving the ball with different surfaces (inside, outside, sole, thigh, chest) and directing it away from … Read more
For most of its history, soccer changed slowly. In the last 15 years, technology has transformed officiating, training and analysis, from the professional game down to amateur clubs with tracking apps. Officiating Connected balls Match balls with internal sensors, first used at a men’s World Cup in 2022, record the exact moment the ball is … Read more
A soccer coach (or manager) shapes how a team plays, who plays, how it trains and how it feels. Talented squads underperform with the wrong coach, and modest squads often overachieve with the right one. A clear tactical identity The coach defines how the team plays with and without the ball: pressing high or defending … Read more
The offside rule is the law that newcomers find most confusing and the one most often debated by fans. It exists to prevent attackers from simply waiting next to the opponent’s goal, and it shapes the whole tactical structure of the game. What the rule says A player is in an offside position if any … Read more
The greatest-of-all-time debate never ends because there is no single measure of greatness. Comparing players across eras means weighing trophies, statistics, influence and style. Here are the criteria people use and the facts behind the main candidates. How to compare The main candidates Pelé (Brazil): won three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970), the only player … Read more
Every opponent asks a different question. A plan that works perfectly against one player can fall apart against the next. Recognizing a few common styles, and having an answer ready for each, makes you a much more complete player. The pusher (or counterpuncher) They get everything back, often high and slow, and wait for your … Read more
Tennis is a relatively safe sport, but its repetitive movements and sudden sprints put specific stresses on the body. Most tennis injuries are overuse problems that build up gradually, which also means they can often be prevented. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) Pain on the outside of the elbow, made worse by gripping or backhands. It … Read more
Football is commercially stronger than ever, yet it faces serious questions about player health and about who will play the game in the future. How the sport handles them will shape the next decades. Head injuries and long-term health Research on concussions and on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease found in many … Read more
Not every football game is played on the same surface or in the same conditions. Grass or turf, open sky or a roof, sea level or altitude: these differences affect speed, footing, injuries and strategy. Natural grass Grass is the traditional surface and remains common in college and professional football. A well-maintained grass field is … Read more
For decades, football decisions relied mainly on experience and instinct. Today, every NFL team employs analytics staff, and data influences play-calling, roster building, training and officiating. Fourth downs The most visible change is on fourth down. Models based on expected points and win probability showed that teams were punting far too often, especially near midfield … Read more
