In our last few newsletters, we have been talking about things that make the sport of soccer “the beautiful game.” For this issue, we’ve decided to shift gears and address the nuts-and-bolts aspect of hard work. Yes that’s right! Hard Work! Not everybody can be a Romario and saunter around the field applying only one touch to the game, if necessary, to score a goal.
This article is for the little Makeleles, Gattusos and Armases out there, that put in all the heart and hard running for your teams. Without them there would be no Zidanes, Totties and Donavans to adorn the fields with their immaculate skills.
Sometimes we forget that without work rate, skills are often hidden. The skills are hidden beneath one hundred balls that were never received, because the player was too lazy or inexperienced to go get it. How can you show your skills if you never have the ball? Would you choose an excellent player who is lazy, with no work rate?
Most coaches would settle for a less technical player if they have the fitness base and work ethic to make up for their less-refined touch.
Do get us wrong! We’re not saying that work rate and work ethic is superior to being technically superb. We’re just reminding you that you can have all the skill in the world, but if you don’t work and hustle for your team, the only games you’ll be playing in are the pickup games on the weekends.
Obviously, the positions that most come under fire, when it comes to Soccer Industry, are the forward and attacking midfield roles. Be sure to remind and stress to your young players that defensive effort and focused running is essential to every position on the field. Without it we are only a fraction of the complete, total player. Even if you have incredible skill, fighting for the ball in your position whenever it comes close will give you more chances to display what you already have.
We recommend that every player develop an understanding of every positional role in the game. Don’t let your players specialize in only one aspect of the game, especially in training where no harm can be done when exposing players to other positions.
During this time of positional experimentation make sure that the players are working and making decisions as fast as they possibly can. At first it is enough to just get them to move constantly, but after that the real reward comes when they can make decisions while moving at that pace.
A final tip: when your players are good enough, possession games for 5 to 7 minute intervals will keep their work rate up. The reason is because there are no goals, except to keep possession for 7 to 10 passes. This will have your team playing more fluid and specific players will not be able to make any positional excuses up.
The industrious players will rise out of possession games, and the lazy will kick the ground.
Created by: Rick Wall, Editor
Kamal de Gregory, Soccer Luminary |
