3 simple tips on how to drastically improve as a football player

The summer holidays have begun for some and for others it’s around the corner. It’s easy to forget about improving your skills when all you want to do is rest and have fun. In this blog I’ll share 3 simple tips on how to drastically improve as a football player.

There exists a beautiful balance between time spent doing what you want when you want, and time spent improving your game. People tend to think about New Years as a time to make goals after kicking off your boots over the Christmas Holidays and that’s great, but there’s power in getting a head-start.

3 Simple Tips you can use to improve as a football player over the summer holidays:

1 | Practise, Practise, Practise

Your first touch is crucial in becoming a great player. Only through hours of practise can you truly improve your first touch. There are many ways to get this technique down pat. A great little drill is for you or someone else to throw the ball as high as you can and to bring it down and stop it with your right foot and then your left foot. It’s simple but potent!

If you have an IQ Ball, use it daily. Walk around the house kicking it – you won’t be breaking anything because it’s attached to a string. Kick it when you’re watching TV. Kick it in the garden. Kick it when you wake up or before going to bed. Your touch will improve, and so will your weak foot!

2| Join a Soccer Holiday Clinic

Soccer clinics are brilliant for improving your skills, playing matches and having fun. You’ll meet new people, especially those who love football and you’ll be able to be challenged by other players. We host holiday clinics over four weeks – two in December and two in January. Book your space now to avoid disappointment.

3 | Control the ball in tight spaces

Another simple but powerful drill that you can include every day of the holidays is a ten minute kick up challenge. Stand in a tight space and make sure there isn’t anything around you that a ball could break – maybe it’s your corridor, or between your wall and your bed, and then do as many alternating kick-ups in a row as you can. If you want to make the challenge harder, use a smaller ball, like a tennis ball. Record the amount each day and watch the numbers steadily improve. Get a friend to join in the challenge and compete with them.

It’s never easy being the disciplined one. Hard work and perseverance will get you far. While you watch your favourite team, remember that they are the ones that chose to use their holidays well. Professional football players love football that much that you couldn’t get the ball off them if you tried.

Encourage yourself to stay focussed with these quotes:

“I always try to do a bit more than I am asked.” Roberto Firmino

Keep working even when no one is watching.” -Alex Morgan

“I’m someone who likes to listen, who likes to watch and who likes to learn.” Sadio Mané 

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” -Pele

Remember these holidays as the ones that took you to the next level . You won’t regret the effort.