OpportunityElite - Developing the Soccer Player

OPPORTUNITYELITE PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT

HOW TO

IMPROVE YOUR

JANUARY 2018 / ISSUE1/ VOLUME 1

CONFIDENCE

We look at how to get back on top of your game

BALL MASTERY

SKILLS

Improve technically with these easy to practise skills

PRACTISING

ALONE?

Then no problem, we can show you how....

WHAT'S IN THIS EDITION?

Page 3 - Welcome

Page 4 - What is Ball Mastery and how does it help?

Page 5 - 20 Ball Mastery Skills Video

Page 6 - How to move on from low confidence

Page 7 - Practising on your own

Page 8 - Improving your weaker foot

Page 9 - Striking with your weaker foot footage

WELCOME Welcome to OpportunityElite and the first release of our magazine, designed to give you the tools to succeed in the game and realise your dreams......

First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to open the magazine. We here at OpportunityElite love the game and can't think of anything better to be involved in!

Our aim is to give you, as the player, coach, parent, or friend, information on how to reach the next level in the game, on and off the pitch.

There is a reason why it is called the 'Beautiful game'. Join us in exploring how you can experience the elite opportunities that this fantastic sport provides.

Elliott Everson Founder of OpportunityElite

Ball Mastery are skills and practices that you can use to develop your touch, co-ordination, balance and skill.

HOW DO THEY HELP?

The skills provide players with techniques to learn and practise over time. Repetition of the skills improves the player's speed of thought, movement and technique, allowing the muscles to remember certain skills and movements that can be transferred into a game.

WHY USE THESE SKILLS?

These aren't skills to use in order to showboat and impress the crowds. They are actually hugely relevant and useful. Have you ever had to drag the ball back away from an opponent and change direction? These Ball Mastery skills allow you to perform these movements with confidence and little thought.

The practice these drills provides creates great balance and touch, allowing you to keep the ball in all manner of situations.

Turn the page and see 20 Ball

Mastery Drills for you to use!

BALL MASTERY What is it and how

does it help?

20 BALL MASTERY DRILLS

Copy this link for our YouTube video of 20 Ball mastery skills!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX2jJLZdNfU&t=40s

Keep practising and you will be amazed at how quickly your movement, balance, and speed improves. Let us know your success stories!

HOW TO MOVE ON FROM LOW CONFIDENCE YOUNG AT 40 'We have all been there, you are going through a tough patch of form, a striker who isn't scoring goals, a midfielder struggling to pass the ball, a centre back worried about the one v one situation or the goalkeeper dreading the next cross. At that time in the game, when you are feeling low, just remember even the best players have these thoughts.

You name them, Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Neuer, I am a 100% certain that they worry and lose confidence over the same things that we do.

The question is how do we move on from it, and get back performing how we know we can?

It is difficult while you're in the moment, decisions get rushed, your legs don't feel as strong, you feel weaker, you are thinking through all manner of possibilities that can go wrong, but you have to remain calm and remember that this is just a blip.

'IT CAN FEEL LIKE ALL EYES ARE ON YOU, WAITING FOR THE NEXT MISTAKE'

Focus on the simple things, short ten yard passes, getting a good first touch and laying the ball off.

All of these little successes build your confidence up and up, without you even noticing it.

Before you know it you've played 20 more minutes and completed a number of passes, beaten that defender with a drop of a shoulder and fostered a growing influence on the game.

You have to build yourself in to the match. Your performance isn't defined through one mistake, or outstanding piece of skill. Your performance is actually built upon with strong foundations, confident passes, simple movements of the ball and positive thoughts.

At times, it can feel like all eyes are on you, waiting for the next mistake, but this isn't the case. One mistake can happen and it can soon snowball into three, four, or five.You are, however, in control.

Do this and you will soon find that your low confidence has been replaced by success, allowing you to then set the match alight and stand out.

Many players make the mistake of trying something extraordinary to make up for their previous error when in reality this is the worst thing to do!

We all suffer from low confidence, but build the solid foundations over the first 5-10 minutes and then you will feel ready to show everyone what you can do, at exactly the right time!

You need to build your confidence back up again!

HOW YOU CAN PRACTISE ON YOUR OWN.....

We are often asked 'How can I practise on my own?'

It's rare that you have someone who is able to devote the time to come and practise with you, you have therefore got to get out there by yourself, but where do you start? There is no-one to pass to, no-one to attack or defend against, so what can you do?

The best answer to these questions is to be creative. You can practise as much as you can on your own, remember, practice makes permanent. The countless hours spent on your own striking the ball, dribbling, crossing and working on your control pay off.

Take a ball into the garden, dribble around some cones, (if you don't have cones, use some old trainers!) Pass the ball against the wall, shoot 100 times.

Practice makes permanent

You can do near enough anything you want to on your own, the most important aspect is having the ball at your feet. I have heard stories of Cristiano Ronaldo arriving at Manchester United and being dragged off the training field while dribbling around the pitches with his weaker foot. If you begin to think creatively, then anything can be used as an opponent, an obstacle to dribble around, or a target for that pass. All you need to do is get a ball and put the work in.

The best players develop through constant repetition.

If you want to be the very best, whether that be at your club, school, or world, then you are going to be up against lots of competition. If you out work them, then you will be a long way to achieving your goals!

IMPROVING YOUR WEAKER FOOT FOUNDER, ELLIOTT EVERSON,DISCUSSES THE HUGE BENEFITS OF DEVELOPING YOUR WEAKER FOOT.

OpportunityElite founder, Elliott Everson, is a huge believer in developing your weaker foot.

Here he talks us through why!

Since the age of about 10 I focused greatly on using my left foot.

I was a young Striker, who loved to score goals, but I would always look to move the ball to my right foot. One day my Dad said to me that it would be a good idea to practise with my left foot.

I never looked back!

Countless laps dribbled around the garden, shots, and passes were all practised. It took me a while but, over time,

'SOME OF THE BEST, AND MOST IMPORTANT GOALS WERE WITH MY WEAKER FOOT' my game developed significantly. it wasn't long after, that the goals started to come.

As I progressed through the age groups, my position began to gradually change. I moved to being a winger, initially playing on the right. As time went by I began to play on the left, giving me the option to cut in and shoot on my right, or cross with my left.

Developing my left foot gave me countless opportunities. Some of my best and most important goals were with my weaker foot.

Your ability to receive the ball in tight situations will improve, passing options will increase and the ability to change direction with speed and control will develop hugely.

Two-footed players are also extremely adaptable. The game nowadays is becoming very fluid, just look at Guardiola's City team.

Players rotate positions frequently.

Possessing the ability to play with both feet will give you options to affect the game, from all manner of areas.

STRIKING WITH YOUR WEAKER FOOT

Focus on technique over power Copy the link to see the footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o72gV4PF4F4

Check out our YouTube Channel for more