Youth Soccer

Rusty shooting sports and have never shot soccer before. I only had about 20 minutes for pics of my neighbor in this game (long story). I wished I had more opportunity to get shots of the action with the player's face toward me and I cannot crop #6 unless I lose the ball or player's legs. C&C welcomed.

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Nice, like the front on shots best

Where on the field were you shooting from? If you can get the action coming toward you, it's a little easier to get the faces; for soccer I hung out near the opposing goalie when I shot this weekend figuring that anyone handling the ball would likely be trying to move it in my general direction, so I'd get the face while they were at peak action of ball control.

Though it does take a bit of luck to get the ball coming in the right direction so they're facing you, with more than 20minutes I'd bet you'd have a lot more chances at having them face you in a shot like #1

A couple of things to watch.

1) Most of your shots are "crooked" -- watch the horizon and get it level.

2) You need to get off your feet and either or your knees or as I do, sit on a small, ltwt stool.

3) It isn't always possible but try to keep your backgrounds as clear as possible -- two best ways to do this are (a) shoot as wide-open as you can and maintain IQ, and (b) the more you fill the frame with player's, the less background is normally visible.

4) Positioning on the field --- I try and stay away from the sidelines when I can mostly because of all the parents etc on the other side of the field can really clutter up the shot,

I try to shoot anywhere from the "touch-line" to back almost behind the net. This gives me shots of the attacking team and some profile shots of the defenders. It also gives me a chance to get shots of the GK. Also gives me good angles on corner-kickes etc. I you stay at the same end for the entire game you get both offensive and defensive shots of both teams.

I also try and keep the sun at my back as much as possible however if there are any dynamite looking blonds I usually try at least a couple of back-lit shots.

The only way to get better is to keep shooting and so a self critque after each game. Good luck.

PennsyBill has great points.

I'd highlight the sit on the ground recommendation. It does wonders for the composition, unless you have a really unpleasant background (some are bad even when blurred at f/2.8), then more grass can be good. I use a fully collapsed monopod and sit on a soft stadium seat similar to this in the grass. I lean back in it a bit for thigh support, and the monopod goes right up against it between my thighs.

I'd add: shoot portrait unless your reach is too short and you are able to get the whole subject in the frame in landscape. Prefer a tight zoom in portrait for most shots of a given player. Landscape can be good for story telling with multiple players, but tight portrait crop for a single player.

#6 would have been saved with a portrait orientation, assuming what you posted is uncropped.