Working on Weaknesses

For every athlete that strives to reach the next level, there will be numerous facets to their game that will need improvement. The key to finding such success and continuing to develop technically and tactically is in the understanding and mind-set that you ‘have never arrived’. That innate work ethic, drive, determination to be the best will cultivate the skill set within each individual.

The Team

As a college coach, the evaluation of weaknesses and constructively criticizing and giving direction to each individual is the one aspect of my job that I most enjoy. However, it is extremely important that the individual also has the same desire to overcome specific weaknesses. At the start of each season, preseason takes place and lasts for only two weeks. This time gives me a better chance to evaluate the incoming freshman and what technical or tactical skills they have and need to improve. Meanwhile, sophomores, juniors, and seniors have trained all summer to improve the specific areas of their game that were discussed at the end of the spring season.

Consequently, my philosophy at the University of Tennessee is all about player development. In addition to developing young women into strong, independent individuals, our hope is that each year each player will be able to “check off the list” a weakness in their game. For example, if a young lady in her first year has difficulty serving a ball with her instep, with both feet, 40 yards, then during the spring and summer seasons the individual should be able to master that skill. For this particular skill of long balls, it takes an enormous amount of time and dedication coupled with consistent repetition and technique to improve it. As a result, this skill should be “checked off the list” for the following fall season. Not only is this going to help the soccer player individually, the team will benefit greatly.

In a perfect world, each young lady will overcome obvious weaknesses each year and by her senior year, she should be an overall sound player and these weaknesses should no longer be in the player’s repertoire. Beyond the individual’s successes throughout their career, the team successes should also improve. If the talent coming in continues to challenge the upperclassmen, then the level of play will naturally increase. Also, individuals each year will have more accountability to work on their specific weaknesses so they will be able to contribute in the fall season, which ultimately should be the goal!

The Individual

Each individual has their own strengths and weaknesses. While it is important to continue to strengthen the skills that they are good at, an all around great player needs to minimize their weaknesses. Typically at the highest level, a soccer player will be good at everything and great at one skill or more. Ultimately this is what I would like my college athletes to achieve. More specifically let’s use the similar example of the young lady above who needed to improve her long balls after her freshman year. Now she is back for her sophomore fall season and she is now playing a more defensive role on the team. Within this role, she needs to improve her 1 verses 1 defending. There are many aspects of 1 v 1 defending that can help her achieve this goal. First it is important to look at her technique to see if there are any corrections that need to be made.

For example, her foot quickness may need to improve, she may be off balance due to poor weight distribution, or she may be too straight up — causing her change of direction to be slow. Once she understands these corrections and each time a drill exposes her 1 v 1, she can focus on those specific cues that will help her technique. Any small sided game — 4 v 4, 5 v 5, 6 v 6, etc. will help her 1 v 1 defending. Even more specifically, 1 v 1 or 2 v 2 defending in a small grid or to goal can obviously be effective. Beyond the technical aspect of 1 v 1 defending and correcting any major technical deficiencies, I firmly believe that defending is a mentality. There should be a sense of pride regardless of fatigue to not allow your opponent to defeat you.

Sessions that are designed to be tough can improve one’s mentality when they think they cannot go any harder or longer. If an athlete has a competitive attitude to dominate their opponent and get “stuck in” to not get beat, this attitude will naturally correlate to 1 v 1 success.

This Issue’s SKILL:

A particular skill that all young women can improve is offensive and defensive heading.

Many young kids have a fear of heading because they think that it hurts. Most of the time heading will hurt when kids head the ball incorrectly. Hopefully by the time young women get to college they no longer fear heading the ball. However, often times, this is not the case. Therefore, it is important to start very basic when approaching heading. Repetition of the correct technique and proper place to hit the ball on the head is crucial to gain confidence in this skill.

Simple Heading Progression

What you need: Two People/One Soccer Ball.

First, I take the team through a heading progression, which can be done with two people. The progression initially focuses on power coming from the neck alone.
The individual will lie on the ground on their stomach while their partner tosses the ball at head height. The one heading will snap their neck forward to put power on the ball. This motion illustrates the power generated from the neck but also focuses hitting the ball on the hard spot of the forehead.

Next, the individual in a crab position making sure a pretend string is attached to their belly button keeping their hips elevated. A partner will again toss the ball towards their head and the individual will snap their hips down and head the ball. This part of the progression displays the power of the hips, which is important in attacking and defensive heading.

The next progression is that the individual will start in a running track-like position. A partner will again toss the ball at head height and the individual will propel themselves forward using the power from their legs to attack the ball landing on their stomach. This motion illustrates the forward motion and power from their legs to attack the ball.

The progression moves to the individual combining the three previous drills and now will jump up and head the ball while their partner is holding the ball high above their head. The individual will jump up, arching their back and then propel their hips and body forward to head the ball. Many times, individuals will jump straight up into the ball, which is the wrong technique.

Finally, the partner will toss the ball to the individual who places one foot forward. Then they try it with the other foot forward, and lastly both feet side by side. This is important so the individual can site the ball with the proper technique as well as head the ball off either foot in a game.

The Difference Between Offensive and Defensive Heading:

Offensive and defensive heading differs in one aspect — heading down towards a target with power, or heading high, far and wide, respectively.
Similarly, it is important to square shoulders to the target and either keep your chin up — defensive, or down — offensive.

Remember though: We can teach the correct technique, however, if the individual does not have a mentality to attack the ball fearlessly, then the opponent has the ability to win the ball.

The Bottom Line….
In summation, there is no substitute for preparation and work ethic. If you want to get better at anything you are passionate about in this life, then, work at it and practice until you become perfect!