how can i improve my sports shots?

how do you shoot your sports (soccer for example) do you try to focus on the players face? would you use partial metering? what would be your settings besides the shutter, aparture and iso. as in what focus point? i dont know the name but on my xti you have that feature of spot focusing (one dot) or group having all of them light up. what kind of af focus? one shot? servo? im trying to improve my shots, also will be getting a better lens but wanted to practice more and get some opinions.

Currently (I'm trying to get into using Manual modes more) I use Av mode, centre focus point at the widest aperture I can get. I usually focus on the head or body of the sportsman. I use the lowest ISO I can get away with but aim for a shutter speed of at least 1/400s at 300mm although I have gone down lower. I shoot Jpegs (as most sport 'togs do) and use single shot auto focus (most sports 'togs don't I think!) which I find hits focus quicker than AI Servo (with my lens at least!).

All field sports are going to be better shot in AI Servo mode, as the players will be running. One shot mode is going to give OOF images.

I almost always use single focus point (manually selected), and I'll pick one above the center line of the frame in good light to get it on a face if possible. Most field sports are shot at a distance and DOF is not generally so thin that focus on the face is as critical. It's nice to have, but otherwise a solid on-body focus is often good enough.

I tend to use M mode for sports. I get my exposure set for the atheletes and then I don't have to worry that differing backgrounds will fool the meter and ruin the exposure. Av or Tv modes can certainly work though.....since you know you will always have the subject centered in sports shooting I do suggest center weighted average metering when you use these modes.

Finally, unless your camera goes to 8+ fps do not expect a fast frame rate to catch peak action in a play. Learn to anticipate and you will get that one perfect shot more often. 3 to 6 fps can often simply deliver a handful of shots that each have missed the best moment.

• AI Servo + high frame rate (5fps+)
  
• Shutter speed 1/400+ - shoot M or Tv
  
• Focus on the face - sports is about emotion (winning, losing, determination, aggression, pain)
  
• Single AF point - centre point if I'm shooting landscape orientation; if I'm shooting vertical to isolate a player, I'll use a point above centre to focus on the face
  
• Know the game and anticipate the action - that way you will get yourself into a better position and be ready to take the shot
  

Sports Shooting Tutorials and Advice

Q&A Session with Gmen: Sports Photography

Motor drive for sports? Lazy??

Post # 16: AF Point selection for sports