Both Feet Forward

BOTH FEET FORWARD

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Thanks for joining us again at OpportunityElite Player Development. We value your time in reading our articles greatly, and hope that you have found them useful in the development of your, or your players', games.

If you are reading the magazine for the first time then please feel free to take your time and ask us any questions that you may have regarding player development. We are hugely passionate about footballers developing technically, assisting them in getting the best chance to further their game.

We love the game, we love coaching, and we love helping others. We hope that this month's edition gives you further tools and ideas to take the next step in your development.

Thanks again and enjoy!

Elliott Everson, Founder, OpportunityElite info@opportunityelite.co.uk

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6 Steps to Becoming Both Footed Becoming both footed takes time and effort. Sometimes players will feel  worried about attempting to use their weaker foot. We take a look at how you can develop your game and become both footed , bringing more opportunities and chance for success.

There are many players, even some at the very top of the game, who struggle to use their weaker foot. On many occasions it is due to a lack of confidence in their abilities, or  just lacking in the technical skills. Being able to use both feet is something that we would all like to be able to do, but, in reality, only a few can do it to as high a level as their strong foot.

Now we're not saying your left foot will be as strong as your right, and viceversa, however, you can definitely bring that weaker foot to much higher levels, giving you the confidence to perform and make the most of the opportunities in the game.

Developing the weaker foot doesn't happen overnight, but, with consistent practices, it can definitely improve and give you the confidence to use it in all manner of situations and games.

We've set out 6 steps that will help you as the player, or coach, develop the individual. Get on the ball more, keep using that weak foot, and see the benefits of your training.

Sometimes, just using your stronger foot can be the easy option. Back yourself and know that with hard work, you can become both footed.

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One of the areas that players naturally gravitate to is striking the ball with power. Many players have fallen into the belief that they can only class themselves as both footed if they can strike the ball with plenty of power from long distance. In our opinion, this isn't the case.

There are so many skills and techniques that build the foundations of a player's game first. We class the foundations, something which the player's can build the rest of their game upon, as the key part to becoming both footed.

'The foundations of the players' game are the close control techniques, dribbling, ball mastery, control. These allow the player to keep the ball and be comfortable in possession'.

Focusing on the foundations is our first step into developing a both footed player. Aim to take as many touches on the ball as possible, getting a feel for how you can move and manipulate it with that weaker foot. At first it will feel quite odd, possibly uncomfortable.

However, with the more touches that you take, the more comfortable you will feel with the ball at your feet.

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Keep working on these little touches, using dribbling through cones, ball mastery and just general ball manipulation. As time progresses you will feel more comfortable and confident on the ball, giving you a strong base to develop the techniques in other areas of your aim with your weaker foot.

Build these strong foundations and it will put you in a position to accelerate development in other technical areas.

Developing close control on your weaker foot can sometimes be forgotten, make sure to keep it as the first key step in your training.

To the right we have some training videos that will help you build these foundations, becoming comfortable and confident on the ball while keeping it under close control.

Just click on the link in the picture and see how to develop step 1.

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You've now taken plenty of touches on the ball, building your confidence and developing your close control in small areas.

The aim is now to focus on your dribbling can you keep close control of the ball while moving forwards and changing direction?

It's a hard task, sometimes you will over-run the ball, or struggle to turn without losing control. You may even feel clumsy, Â but the only way to develop is to practise. Practise by taking more touches, dribbling around objects and then gradually increase the speed as you progress.Â

We're all guilty of rushing, but players and coaches will develop more with patience. As the number of touches increase, you will soon see your players, or yourself, moving the ball with their weak foot with great confidence.

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Some may think that first of all you need to receive the ball before dribbling, or developing close control, but we think they are important foundations, giving you more touches on the ball and, most importantly, developing the players' confidence. As you or your players' confidence increases then more success is likely. To develop the weaker foot you  must take as many touches on the ball as you can.

Development will happen through the repetition that a high number of touches on the ball brings.

With this increase in confidence begin practising your first touch, receiving the ball and then positioning it to show your new found skills and techniques.

You'll be more confident, your first touch will improve and you will also be able to gain more success in your training.

When receiving the ball on your weaker foot it can feel completely alien, almost like writing with your wrong hand!Â

How often does this cut down our options, or lead to us missing a fantastic opportunity?

The more we can practise our first touch the better. We'll soon find ourselves controlling the ball without favouring a certain foot, increasing balance and the opportunities available to us.

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You've worked on developing your first touch, positioning the ball where you want it to go.

Now, can you pass it quickly and with the correct weight to your team-mate?

Work either with a partner or by yourself, aim for the target, pass with the instep and keep the inside of your foot facing its intended direction. Be confident, be firm, and take control of the situation.

As you develop your accuracy can you now pass while on the move? After receiving the ball and dribbling can you get your head up, assess the situation and execute a firm and crisp pass that goes to target?

It will feel odd, as with all other techniques with your weaker foot.

Sometimes you will drag the ball to the side, kick the ground, scuff the pass, and maybe even miss the ball! That happens and realise that every mistake you make is one step closer to mastering the skill!Â

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We've taken the smaller touches, developing the close control and the foundations of the game. Now, can we make an impact? Can we switch the play, shoot from distance, or cross the ball, providing the spark to create opportunities or finish them?

The fifth step of developing both footed players is to practise passing over longer distance. It can be incredibly difficult at first but there is one key thing you must remember...

Even on our strongest foot we can try to strike the ball with too much power, usually ending up in a wild slice of the ball or a poor connection. In some cases, maybe even ending up on the floor!

These larger techniques (as we call them) can be very difficult to perfect, but practice and focusing on the technique will begin to show you clear results. If you are struggling with the technique and just can't remember how to strike cleanly on your weak foot, or pinpoint where you are going wrong, then focus on how you would strike the ball with your strong foot. It's the same principle and technique, just on the other foot.

Start over shorter distance and then increase the range of pass as you become more confident and comfortable.

Check out the long distance passing tutorial below to give you a hand...

You must always remember that technique comes first. A result of good technique is power, so make sure to forget focusing on how hard you can kick it, instead keep your thoughts on striking the ball cleanly.

Make sure that your body weight is central, you are striking on your laces and you maintain balance. As you follow through, your shoelaces should be facing the intended target.Â

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We've developed the techniques to provide control, balance, speed, and quality on the ball. Can we now finish off teams with our weaker foot?

Even in the top leagues in the world we still see players move the ball onto their strongest foot, when a clear shot with the weakest foot was open for all of us to see.

By developing your shooting power and accuracy you will begin to take more of your opportunities and also make yourself less predictable to defenders.

Make sure to remember technique over power, then, before you know it, you will have a great technique that generates power whenever you require it. The shooting videos below will give you the ideas and detail the techniques that you can use to shoot with your weaker foot, hitting the back of the net in a much wider range of situations.

Work on these six steps and move with both feet forward.

Opponents soon realise that you rely on your strongest foot, therefore allowing them to predict which side you will shoot from and getting in the best position to block your shot.

Developing the weaker foot and showing confidence to use it in attacking situations will create unpredictability, giving you more time on the ball and causing uncertainty in your opponent's mind.

When practising shooting make sure to focus on the technique, aiming for the corners and keeping the ball out of the goalkeeper's reach. As you find yourself striking the ball cleanly and hitting the corners you can start to introduce more power.Â

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Sports Performance Coach and Psychotherapist, Trevor Gray, discusses competition in this month's edition, giving you the edge in your game.

Most people think they’re competitive but they aren’t.They just like to win.

Everyone likes to win.

Being a winner doesn’t make you a competitor, but being a competitor will eventually make you a winner So how we can improve our competitive abilities?

First of all we need to give 100% effort.

Winners just want to come in first whereas a competitor wants to test their limits. It doesn’t matter if they are ahead of the pack or they are dead last.

One of the biggest mistakes we can all make is to compare ourselves to others.

Really, we should only compare yourself to yourself. It’s useless to compare yourself to someone else because they can’t make you better or worse, only you can.

Strive to be the best you can be.

Don’t worry about losing, competitors want to win, but they are more concerned with being better. Since they aren’t focused on the outcome of winning, they aren’t as hurt when they lose.

Remember - “If you don’t win, you’ll learn” One common area that we at times all succumb to is to blame others. Competitors never make excuses for why they lost, they instead take complete responsibility for the loss, no matter what, focusing on what they have to do to perform better.

It is always important to give credit where credit is due. Congratulate your opponent and then strive to be better than them the next time. We all have difficult performances, games where we struggle.

Make sure not to dwell on the past and look to the future.

All that matters is what you are going to do.

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Think about how you can improve your performance in your next match: Am I giving 100%?

Am I focused on winning or competing?

Do I want to be the best I can?

How to be more Competitive: 100% Effort.

Only compare yourself to yourself.

Don’t worry about losing.

Don’t make excuses.

Give credit when credit is due.

Don’t dwell on the past.

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Many young players have the dream of being signed for a professional academy, pitting themselves against some of the best youth players in the country.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work out for many, and a reason for this can be that we just don't know how good the level actually is and how much work you need to put in to get to the very top.

OpportunityElite One to One Football Coach, Joe Lea, has been there and done it, competing against some of the very best players and current Premier League footballers.

We talked to Joe and discussed his experiences in the game and the noticeable differences that he encountered. At the age of 9, Joe was signed by Southampton FC, noticing differences from the grassroots level almost instantly; "the biggest difference between academies and grassroots football at a young age, aside from the obvious quality of player, would probably be the level of detail you receive from coaches and the contact time between player and coach."

'The difference between the best I've played against and the other players is the speed at which the best players make their decisions.

Also, the best players I've played with/against are always capable of performing under pressure.'

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We asked Joe some further questions below: What, in your own opinion, is one of, if not, the most important areas of the game that a player should be skilled in?

"I think the most important aspect for any player is their attitude. Each player will have their own level of technical ability but a good attitude in terms of hard work and commitment can take a player very far in the game. Technically, I think ball control is an important part of any player's game, no matter what their position."

Since leaving Southampton where have you played and what have been your main experiences/challenges in the game?

"Since leaving Southampton I have played for Yeovil Town, Bognor Regis Town and Gosport Borough FC, where I'm currently playing. I enjoy nonleague football due to the good people you find at this level and the enjoyment I get from both playing and coaching football. My best experience in the game is playing against Everton at Goodison Park for Yeovil and my biggest challenge was adapting to nonleague football having been an academy player for so long."

Joe has had many a great experience within football, with many more to come. Currently he works at the development centre of a Premier League Football Club and also as one to one coach for us here at OpportunityElite.

What advice would you give to any young footballer in their dream of playing professionally?

"The advice I would give to any player looking to make it professionally is to play somewhere where you enjoy your football. I only spent a short time as a professional and I think one of the reasons for that is I didn't enjoy playing for the club I was at. The more you enjoy your football, the better you'll play."

If you are interested in any one to one coaching to develop your game and take you to the next level then Joe is the guy. Based in Portsmouth, Joe can provide highly detailed sessions with significant technical development.

If you are interested in a One-to-One session with Joe and you'd like to ask some further questions then click here...

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STRENGTH & CONDITIONING With George Lyons

The overhead lunge provides great core strength, very important for footballers in maintaining their balance and stability. Using the bar overhead encourages an upright torso which provides stability to the core and strength within the shoulder area. It is important to make sure that you initially use light weight, only progressing when you feel comfortable with the lunge pattern. If this is a struggle for you then it is best to go back to the lunge and perfect that technique, giving you the balance to move forward with the overhead lunge.

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