Player Development: Self-Training Videos

Their are many qualities that separate the best soccer players from the rest.  One universal quality is the individual player's commitment to playing and improving on a regular basis over time.  Another is the player's willingness to work on all key aspects of player performance, including individual weaknesses and skills that may not be the most fun to practice.  It's been said many times that "Practice makes perfect."  But it is more accurate to say that "Practice makes permanent."  If a player goes out and spends hours practicing only with his or her dominant foot, or shooting only with the toe, the end result will be a very "one-dimensional" player or a player who has mastered poor technique.  Integration of proper technique and movement patterns are essential to long-term success in the sport.  And such integration can only be achieved by consistent repetition over a long period of time.

On the left side of this page we've listed website links to videos with exercises players can do on their own to help build a strong technical foundation.  Don't wait for your coach, your team, or your environment to make you better!  Go out and spend time with the ball on your own.  Work on strengths as well as weaknesses.  The best players are those who have a broad and diverse set of skills that enable them to apply technique and game awareness, while playing with confidence under pressure.   The more you improve, the more you'll enjoy playing the beautiful game.  And enjoying the game is what it's all about.

"I don't believe skill was, or ever will be, the result of coaches.  It is a result of a love affair between the child and the ball." --- Roy Keane

 

Know of any links to good self-training videos?  Please e-mail Rick Fullerton, MVSC's Director of Coaching and Player Development:   fullertonsoccer@yahoo.com