Discipline and rigour are essential when it comes to football. Both young and old players will face various obstacles on the field, but don’t worry, even the most talented have been there! If your child plans to train regularly, they should first be aware of the most common mistakes that could hinder their progress.
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Discover the detailed guide on mistakes to avoid for football progress, along with expert tips to help your child improve:
- Their physical training
- Their striking technique
- Their tactics
- Their mental training
Progressing in Football: Attending a Football Camp
Football camps are typically organised by professional football clubs, football schools, or local sports associations. Here are some benefits of attending a football camp:
- Improve Your Skills: Football camps are designed to help players improve their football skills, including technique, tactics, physical fitness, and mental strength. You can work on aspects of your game that need improvement.
- Learn New Concepts: Learn new game concepts, tactics, and strategies, which can help you better understand the sport and become a more well-rounded player.
- Meet Other Players: Football camps are an ideal opportunity to meet other passionate football players and share your love for the sport. You can also make new friends and learn to play as a team.
- Access to Qualified Coaches: Football camps are led by qualified professional coaches who can provide tips and tricks to improve your game. Benefit from superior teaching compared to training alone.
- Focus on Football: Fully concentrate on football for several days or weeks. This allows you to immerse yourself completely in the sport and focus on your progress.
Looking For Soccer offers the best football camps near you to help you progress quickly and elevate your game !
Football: Physical Training
Strength, endurance, speed, and agility are all essential qualities for a professional football player, but not only! Your child, regardless of their current level, can also work on these foundations.
Indeed, poor technique or overly intense training could lead to injuries. Here are some expert tips to encourage your young footballer to improve their physical training.
Warm-Up
As with any sport, it is necessary to prepare the body and warm up the muscles before a session. Encourage your child to start with an effective warm-up consisting of:
- Running
- Dynamic stretching exercises, such as jumps or lunges
- Passing, shooting, and dribbling drills
- Lateral movement and direction-changing exercises for greater agility on the field
- Static stretching exercises, focusing on the quadriceps, hamstrings, calves, adductors, and shoulders
This type of warm-up is suitable for all levels; your child can manage the intensity of the exercises. This way, your child won’t play cold and risk injury in the first few minutes.
Examples of Static Stretches
While training may always seem more fun, it can sometimes be difficult for a child to remember the stretching phase. Here are the main exercises:
- For the Quadriceps: Ask your child to stand and bend one leg backwards, grabbing the ankle with their hand. Holding this position for about 30 seconds and repeating on the other side completes the stretch!
- For the Hamstrings: Your young footballer should sit on the floor with legs extended. Help them slowly lean forward, keeping their back straight to reach (or try to reach) their toes with their hands.
- For the Calves: Stand facing a wall and place your hands flat against it. Bend one leg and keep the other leg straight. Gently push the heel of the straight leg towards the floor while keeping the feet flat.
- For the Shoulders: Cross your arms in front of your chest and try to touch the opposite shoulders. Alternatively, for a shoulder stretch with rotation, place your hands on your shoulders and twist your torso to the right while keeping your head to the left. Hold this position for about 15 seconds, then release and repeat on the other side.
Caution: No stretch should be painful. The static stretching phase can be done both before and after training. The child should listen to their body and not force their joints.
Progressing in Football During Training: Endurance – Speed – Muscular Strength
Since a match lasts an average of 90 minutes, young players must be able to maintain concentration and intensity throughout. Good endurance is necessary to last the duration and avoid mistakes.
Moreover, a good player is distinguished by their ability to seize opportunities on the field and create scoring chances. Whether in defence, midfield, or attack, the professional must demonstrate flawless agility and speed.
Finally, keeping the ball and maintaining position on the field requires great muscular strength. Players possess great striking power and excellent heading technique. Strengthening physical strength is crucial for resisting opponents and helps reduce the risk of injuries.
For your child to train effectively, they must work on three essential aspects of their physical condition:
- Endurance
- Speed
- Muscular strength
Keys to Improving Football Skills for a Performing Team
On an individual level, progressing in football and improving one’s game necessarily involves good striking ability, both powerful and precise. On a collective level, a performing team consists of players who know their tactics and can communicate with each other. Discover how to improve shots and perfect team tactics.
How to Become a Striking Expert in Football?
The difference between a goal and failure lies in striking technique; it is an essential element of a budding football player’s training! Since shooting errors are easy to make, here are some tips for rapid progress:
- The foot must be correctly positioned, and the body well-balanced before striking
- The player must observe the target and remain confident despite the pressure
- The footballer must repeat the motion again and again
How to Become a Tactical Expert in Football?
A lack of communication, and in an instant, your child can lose the ball. To avoid tactical errors, here are some key points to follow:
- Work on Communication: It is essential on the field. Each player must understand their role and responsibilities. It is crucial for the team to stay on the same page. This will avoid any misunderstandings during the match.
- Vary Tactics: The opposing team can quickly understand your game plan. Varying tactics allows the team to create more scoring opportunities.
- Similarly, your child and their teammates must observe the opponent’s movements to anticipate and counter them.
- Finally, analysing performance allows a team to distinguish good from bad strategies. Reviewing past matches is the best way to learn from mistakes.
Progressing in Football: Continuing Progress After Training
If your young prodigy is set to play professionally, the intensity of physical training may demand a lot of energy. To stay motivated and focused during matches, they must learn to recover and take care of their mental health.
Recovery After Physical Exertion
The priority for good mental health as a great athlete, even at a young age, is recovery. The time dedicated to recovery after a match or simple training, even if it was easy, should not be neglected. Good recovery consists of four parts:
- Hydration: Hydrate as much as possible after physical exertion! Dehydration exposes the body to injuries, fatigue, and painful muscle soreness.
- Stretching: To relieve muscle tension and prevent pain, gentle and recuperative stretching is best.
- Nutrition: In general, and especially if they are young, children do not need to follow a strict diet. However, after training, it can be beneficial to eat protein- and carbohydrate-rich foods that the body needs to recover from physical exertion.
- Rest: Sleep is the best medicine for recovery! If your child dozes off on the way home, do not wake them; their body needs it.
Mental Resilience
Sometimes, one might leave a match disappointed due to a defeat. Frustration is normal, as long as it does not discourage your child in the long term. Working on mental resilience means facing the challenges and setbacks of a football match without losing motivation. Moreover, if your child can overcome failures in football, they will become resilient in all aspects of life.
Becoming resilient also involves introspection, especially in football, where players must perform under pressure. Managing highs and lows is part of the life of all great athletes, regardless of the discipline.
Finally, a resilient mindset will be particularly beneficial in the event of an injury. After a fall, the athlete must be able to get back up and stay motivated to improve performance even when things do not go as planned.
Progressing in Football – FAQ
Q: What are the most common mistakes children make in football practice?
A: Adopting physical and mental rigour from a young age is not always easy, and that’s understandable! The most common mistakes among young footballers are lack of regularity in training, neglecting stretching, and basic exercises.
Q: How can a child stay motivated for training?
A: To keep your child motivated, avoid overly intense training and excessive mental pressure. It is important for your young footballer to set realistic goals and integrate into a cohesive team with a good atmosphere.
Q: How can injuries be avoided during my child’s training?
A: Warm-up is fundamental to avoiding injuries. Ensure your child wears quality equipment and stretches regularly. Also, encourage them to listen to their body and set their mental and physical limits.