If you have dreams of one day becoming a starting player for a top college football team like Mack Prioleau or even becoming an NFL star like Odell Beckham Junior then you have a lot of work ahead of you. Being a great footballer is more than just having the ability to play, you also need to be hard working, smart and dedicated. There are lots of different skills and attributes that you are going to need, aside from being able to play well, if you are going to improve your skills and be a great footballer. In order to improve your game, here are some of the things you need to be doing.
Nailing Your Position Down
Even if you are something of a jack of all trades, it is important that you elect a position to play and work hard on excelling in it. Make sure that you spend lots of time looking at people who play your position professionally, watch how they play, what tricks and skills they possess and then try to emulate them. Practice a lot. Do not just juggle the ball, or dribble or learn tricks … The basics of practice. You see it more in a pro game, like passing the ball, receiving the ball, shooting, fighting, first touch, running with the ball, positioning well on the court. I’ve met a lot of guys who are amazing in freestyle football, who do not know why they are not playing for a pro team. That’s because coaches and managers do not look for the type who can do the tricks the most they look for guys who will improve their team.
Put the Work in
It may sound incredibly simple but the truth is that you will not ever succeed if you are not prepared to put the work in both on and off the training field. You need to give 110% in every aspect of your footballing life and the unfortunate truth is that natural ability can only get you so far. You need to be consumed by the idea of becoming a professional footballer, you should be willing to dedicate your time to watching football, playing football, training and thinking about ways in which you can improve.
Find Your Place in the Team
Nobody excels in a bad team and it is important that you find your role within the team as soon as possible. Team work is not only an important part of the success of your team as a whole but it will also massively enhance your individual ability. You will need your teammates behind you in order to find the success that you are looking for and it is irrelevant if you are the shouter, the listener, the comedian or the one of who gives advice, find your role within the team dynamic and work hard to get along well with your teammates.
Be in Great Shape
Whilst coaches, dietitians and other professionals may be on hand to help you out with your health and fitness, the responsibility to be in your best possible shape falls squarely on your shoulders. If you want to be taken seriously as someone with great footballing ability then you need to be self disciplined and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Slacking on this side of things will only damage your ability and your future opportunities, if you want to improve your game then you first need to ensure that you are at the peak of your powers. Even a footballer with the greatest natural ability in the World won’t make it if they are not physically up to the challenges that football brings with it.
