Friday, March 29, 2024
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Great visual perception is one of the hallmarks of a successful playmaker.  Knowing what to do with the ball before it arrives is a critical skill that must be developed by young players.  Because soccer is a continuous, flowing sport, the conditions around a player are always changing.  Having your "head on a swivel" is essential to assessing the changing landscape of pressure and open space.  Check out this video of one of the greats as he is constantly assessing his environment.  For a more in-depth understanding, read this article on the secret to vision.

Off-the-ball movement is one of the more difficult concepts to coach young players, but it is a critical component to becoming a technically knowledgeable player.  Check out this video of Romelu Lukaku and how Belgium came back from a 2-0 deficit to beat Japan 3-2 during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. In particular, watch the beginning of the counter attack at minute 1:25.

Who said you need lots of space to train?  Check out this video: Full Soccer Training in a Tiny Box. You don't even need a soccer ball, any ball will do!