Hi there! I'm Sarah Woldmoe, a former professional player in the NWSL, and today I want to share some tips and insights on playing smarter, not harder, in soccer. This article is designed for any player looking to improve or for parents seeking ways to help their child excel on the soccer field. In this article, I'll cover key strategies for conserving energy on the field, making intelligent decisions, and outwitting your opponents.
Throughout my career, I was never the fastest or quickest player on the field, but I compensated for it with my ability to work smarter. Adversity can push players to think differently and find ways to outmaneuver their opponents. Soccer fundamentals and understanding the intricacies of the game are crucial to overcoming athletic limitations.
To help overcome my limitations and thrive on the field, I've developed 7 essential factors for conserving energy and using it when it matters most!
Strategy 1: Read the Defense
On the field, I constantly analyze the opposing team's defensive shape, formation, and pressure. I identify gaps and spaces to exploit, creating opportunities for my team. Recognizing these patterns will help you make better decisions and ultimately conserve energy.
Want to learn more about how to study game film? Check out this great article!
Strategy 2: Check Your Shoulder
One of the most vital habits I've developed is checking my shoulder before receiving the ball. This awareness helps me make better decisions, such as when to turn or navigate tight spaces. It also enables me to anticipate my opponents' movements, ensuring I'm always one step ahead.
Strategy 3: Make Smart Passes
I always search for diagonal balls that pass through multiple lines of defence. These passes can catch opponents off guard and create scoring opportunities. The key here is to be patient and wait for the right moment to execute the pass, maximizing its effectiveness.
Strategy 4: Maintain Proper Positioning
Being in the right spot defensively helps me conserve energy and ensures I'm ready to react to the game's flow. I focus on maintaining my defensive shape throughout the match, which also minimizes the need for unnecessary sprints and movements.
Strategy 5: Teammate Awareness
Understanding my teammates' movements and anticipating their actions is essential for making better decisions and conserving energy. This comprehension allows me to support their play effectively, ensuring our team operates cohesively on the field.
Strategy 6: Take Calculated Risks
I always weigh the potential outcomes of my actions on the field. Taking calculated risks can lead to better overall performance and energy conservation. For example, deciding when to join an attack or when to stay back and conserve energy is crucial in managing my stamina throughout the game.
Strategy 7: Manage Your Stamina and Endurance
I've learned when to push myself and when to conserve energy. Proper game management helps me maintain my performance for the full 90+ minutes. A few ways I manage my stamina include pacing myself during sprints, staying hydrated, and maintaining a strong mental focus.
By applying these strategies, players can outsmart their opponents and help their teams achieve success. Parents can use these tips to guide their kids in improving their skills and understanding the nuances of the game. With time, effort, and attention to detail, young soccer players can develop into intelligent, efficient, and effective athletes on the field.
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Q&A
Q: How can I practice and develop the skill of quickly analyzing the opposing team's defensive shape and finding gaps to exploit during a match?
Answer: One of the best ways to practice analying an opposing team’s shape is the watch soccer games on live TV. Pick a team and try to call out their formation and defensive shape / pressure in the first 3 minutes of the game or less. Once you have established what a team’s shape and defensive lines are like, then you can easily pinpoint where the gaps to exploit will be. If you get really good at doing this, then during the first three minutes of your matches, you will make it a habit to do just that - look around, notice their shape, notice their pressure, and find the gaps!
Q: What specific drills or exercises do you recommend for improving teammate awareness and communication on the field?
Answer: Practice, practice, practice. And when I say practice - I mean together! Having team trainings and constantly playing soccer with one another will only help you continue to become more aware of each other’s habits and playing tendencies which will help you start to predict each other’s next moves on the field during a game. Making your team a well oiled machine!
Q: As a parent, how can I best support my child in implementing these strategies and staying focused on continuous improvement in their soccer performance?
Answer: Give them opportunities to study and watch the game as this will be very helpful to their soccer ‘IQ’ while they are on the field. Creating an environment that sees mistakes on the field as simply opportunities to learn and grow and not failures is important for their continued love of the game and overall development.
