Wanted Soccer Tips

[MonkeyWrench]

I will be taking pictures of my granddaughters Soccer Tournament this weekend. I will just be focusing on her this is not a team shoot. She is very active and scores two or more goals a game. I was just getting the hang of Track when it ended. Now I have to learn soccer. This is the biggest local tournament we have. Sooooo it would be nice if I could walk away with some nice pics. I plan if time allows this week to catch some teams practicing and practice as well. I will be using the Canon 75-300mm 4-5.6 lens. Not the best but it's what I have. Thanks in advance for any and all advice.

[jorgemonkey]

Sounds like your granddaughter is a forward since she seems to score lots during the game.

One place you could be is on the end line near the corner. You'd be able to get some great shots of her as she came down the field with the ball, and also as she is in front of the goal.

You could also stand near midfield and get her if she plays midfield as her team transitions.

Try to shoot with the sun to your back. You might have to be on the side the players are (if players & parents are on opposite sides). If so, you might want to check with the ref to make sure it is ok for you to be there. Some tournaments (at least out here in CA) restrict non players/coaches/officials to the opposite side of the field as the players.

[JSPhoto]

Do a search of the sports forum for soccer, we have lots of soccer threads and some tips are in those threads. I'm too tired to think how I shoot soccer.....and it's the wron time of year for me )

JS

[RobMac]

Since it sounds like she's up front, I'd also recommend getting to the offensive corners or better still, behind the goal line. This can be a problem since some leagues won't allow folks behind the goal lines. Quite ofter though, this has worked for me. Get all your camera gear set up and approach the refs for permission to shoot from the goal line. I always promise to stay back a bit from the line, not to interfere, and to be completely quite. I won't even say a word to my daughter. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't but if I had to guess, I'd say it works more than it doesn't. Plus, once you get the reputation of being 'professional' in your behavior, you seem to have more and more opportunities. At least that the way it's gone for me. I've been doing club and high school girls soccer for a couple years now.

Good Luck!!

[Lava Lamp]

I have one more game left in this season. Here's a quick example...

Wide open aperture works best for isolation and for getting your shutter speed up to freeze the action. I prefer to use a 300mm f/2.8 and 70-210mm f/2.8 set at f/2.8. I usually take a second body with a wide-angle or medium zoom for when the action happens right in front of me. I sit at the midline and get all the shots I need. (My daughter plays forward and mid.)

I like to use the top focusing point and focus on the faces, taking the shot when the ball is in the frame. Some of your best opportunities come on long goalie kicks and throw-ins from the sidelines. The ball is in the air for a while and you can see where it is going. The best shots have the ball off the ground.

[MonkeyWrench]

Sounds like your granddaughter is a forward since she seems to score lots during the game.

One place you could be is on the end line near the corner. You'd be able to get some great shots of her as she came down the field with the ball, and also as she is in front of the goal.

You could also stand near midfield and get her if she plays midfield as her team transitions.

Try to shoot with the sun to your back. You might have to be on the side the players are (if players & parents are on opposite sides). If so, you might want to check with the ref to make sure it is ok for you to be there. Some tournaments (at least out here in CA) restrict non players/coaches/officials to the opposite side of the field as the players.

Thanks for all your tips. I tried them all. On shooting from behind the goal line I had to be a good distance back. They didn't mind if you shot from the corner though. My best shots were with the sun behind me or behind clouds. I tried to cheat with the sun coming from the side and paid for it with unwanted shadows. I did not shoot anything from the same side of the players. I might have been able to and at times it would of been nice but I was shooting my granddaughters and didn't want to risk getting in trouble with sideline chatter.

[MonkeyWrench]

Do a search of the sports forum for soccer, we have lots of soccer threads and some tips are in those threads. I'm too tired to think how I shoot soccer.....and it's the wron time of year for me )

JS

Thanks John, I just now found out that I was able to change the number of threads that displayed, but I have not figured out how do a search. When I use the search window at the top it comes up with no matches no matter what I type in.

[MonkeyWrench]

Since it sounds like she's up front, I'd also recommend getting to the offensive corners or better still, behind the goal line. This can be a problem since some leagues won't allow folks behind the goal lines. Quite ofter though, this has worked for me. Get all your camera gear set up and approach the refs for permission to shoot from the goal line. I always promise to stay back a bit from the line, not to interfere, and to be completely quite. I won't even say a word to my daughter. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn't but if I had to guess, I'd say it works more than it doesn't. Plus, once you get the reputation of being 'professional' in your behavior, you seem to have more and more opportunities. At least that the way it's gone for me. I've been doing club and high school girls soccer for a couple years now.

Good Luck!!

Thanks Rob, I did stay a respectful distance from the line. My biggest issue was when shooting from the sideline the sideline ref seemed to allways be in the way no matter where I was standing. Thanks for the tips

[MonkeyWrench]

I have one more game left in this season. Here's a quick example...

Wide open aperture works best for isolation and for getting your shutter speed up to freeze the action. I prefer to use a 300mm f/2.8 and 70-210mm f/2.8 set at f/2.8. I usually take a second body with a wide-angle or medium zoom for when the action happens right in front of me. I sit at the midline and get all the shots I need. (My daughter plays forward and mid.)

I like to use the top focusing point and focus on the faces, taking the shot when the ball is in the frame. Some of your best opportunities come on long goalie kicks and throw-ins from the sidelines. The ball is in the air for a while and you can see where it is going. The best shots have the ball off the ground.

With my lens f/5.6 is the lowest I can go with my lens fully extended. You were right about having a second camera with a wide angle lens. I missed quite a few shots because the action was too close to me. I used your tips on following the ball on throw-ins and goalie kicks. Worked Great. Now focusing is another issue. I am still working on mastering my focusing points in my Canon. A lot of my shots came out softer then I would have liked but still decent for a 4x6 print. Thanks for the tips.

[JSPhoto]

Thanks John, I just now found out that I was able to change the number of threads that displayed, but I have not figured out how do a search. When I use the search window at the top it comes up with no matches no matter what I type in.

Use the search on the line where it says MY ACCOUNT, then you'll get results It's a bit decieving with the other search there.

JS

[MonkeyWrench]

Use the search on the line where it says MY ACCOUNT, then you'll get results It's a bit decieving with the other search there.

JS

DUH.......Thanks....if it was a snake it would of bit me.....