So we know that deliberate training is a HUGE advantage to boost your results and separate you from those who only focus on training what they’re already good at, or repeating the same old stuff. Rock out your training sessions with active engagement, full of intention and in a goal-oriented manner. 

Focus on getting 1% better each day. That is how your game will reach the next level. That's the "Compound Effect," and as Darren Hardy puts it in his great book with that exact title:

“The Compound Effect is the principle of reaping huge rewards from a series of small, smart choices. What’s most interesting about this process to me is that, even though the results are massive, the steps, in the moment, don’t feel significant. Whether you’re using this strategy for improving your health, relationships, finances, [SOCCER TRAINING!] or anything else for that matter, the changes are so subtle, they’re almost imperceptible. These small changes offer little or no immediate result, no big win, no obvious I-told-you-so payoff. So why bother?

Most people get tripped up by the simplicity of the Compound Effect. ... What they don’t realize is that these small, seemingly insignificant steps completed consistently over time will create a  radical difference.” 

3700% improvement in 365 days? Sign me up!! So what micro improvements do you want to focus on and improve each day? Which areas will bring you the best results the quickest? 
 
In the next few posts, I'll dive in to my top 4 factors of Achieving your Goals: Individual Player Development. Working on these areas will prepare you for optimal performance.

Technical Ability

Tactical Intelligence 

Football Fitness

Mental Toughness

*Bonus* Communication (since it’s so damn important)

Until then, just get out there and train! get your 1% in each day. Cool? K cool.

I'm excited to chat with you + help you compound that effort in the days>weeks>months>years to come!!!

-z

So it’s time to take off the kid gloves, remove any soother out of your mouth, and it’s a good idea to sit up straight because I’m not going to baby you. I’m going to tell you the truth. Here it goes.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY is in charge of how good of a player you become, besides you. You are the be all end all of your improvement. You determine your future. You’re the one who chooses each and every decision that you make. Not your parents, not your friends, teammates, or coaches.* You do. If you want to improve, the person to start with is in the mirror looking back at you. You are responsible for yourself. As you stand in front of a door that is locked, you have to realize that you are the key. You have to shape yourself accordingly in order to fit the lock and access your dreams. 

At the end of the day, you decided what you want, how much you want it, and how you’re going to get there. Your development depends on you. You are in control.

*of course you can obtain valuable resources and knowledge from coaches, mentors, and others, and this is very important. Learn as much as you can from these people along your journey.

Many people say they want to achieve greatness, but they do not want it bad enough. They don’t take responsibility for it. Then, they find external things to blame when they don’t get it. Those are the challenges that serious players look back on at the end of their career and appreciate for the lessons and trials learned and the experience gained. Experience it, learn from it, and get on with it. You can’t expect your coaches to do all the work to make you better.  And you can’t blame them. You have to become your own personal coach in order to get your own personal results. 

Playing in games is the #1 best way to improve your football actions. Yet there is a lot more to training than being thrown into an 11v11 game and expected to improve. Yes, in games, you’ll be training within decision making and execution based on different position, movement, direction, and speed which is exactly what you need to improve. But this is not a viable option for most amateur clubs who don’t train accordingly several times per week. So to offset the lack of training effect from not having enough game situated training, he will have to train as efficiently (and as close to game situation) as possibly. 

In the future, I'll give you a run down of exactly which areas you’ll need to be developing individually.

If you spend time on the pitch in an efficient, effective way, your improvements will translate directly to your gameplay ability and help you to reach your potential. This is where you’ll start seeing your development.  

This deliberate training will separate you from those who only focus on training what they’re already good at, or repeating the same on stuff. You’ve always to to push the boundaries and ask more of yourself. If you aim for even just 1% better each day, that interest is going to add up! Excellence is just a habit that you can develop.

-z

Imagine…

The whistle blows and you’re on the pitch. You’re completely ready for this. You start the game with grit and you’re going to end that way. You take control. You make all the right decisions in the game. You’re able to make explosive actions to beat your opponents. You communicate with your team and dictate the pace of the game. You press the other team so well that they start making mistakes. 

You’re a force to be reckoned with. You keep possession of the ball as you shield. You dribble with easy, cutting left and right. Your passes are crisp and clean, perfectly weighted, always getting where it needs to go. You win your arial challenges. Your shots are accurate and timely. You’re able to make smart decisions time and time again. You can endure a full 90 minutes of this. You maintain your explosive actions all game, and even in the final minutes, you still have the physical and mental edge over the other players.

You are a leader. You are the player that your team wants on the ball. Your coach wouldn’t dream of taking you off the pitch. You’re confident. You have gusto. You’re the right person for the job and when the going gets tough, your teammates depend on you to make the winning play. You leave it all on the field. When it’s all said and done, everyone who witnessed it applaud you. You have their respect and admiration.

… you just played your perfect game.

If that is something you’re interested in then please stay tuned for more. . . because it’s possible. You, me, or anyone can achieve football greatness, but not without a price. It takes more than just 10,000 hours of time spent on a field with a ball. It takes more, but you can do it and I’m here to help.

Stick around and I'll give you the ins and outs of how to best prepare and develop yourself. If you’d like to reach your potential, finish reading this, then go out and make a commitment to taking action. In doing so, you’ll be separating yourself from the masses. You can achieve what they never though was possible.


You can make your dream become a reality. Let’s do this!

If you want a copy of the FREE Achieve Your Goals ebook please feel free to join the mailing list here!

-z