Create separation on the soccer field

When we look at ways for a soccer player to create separation on the soccer field, we often talk about quickness and speed. While a soccer player's quickness and speed is important to work on and improve upon, there is more to it than that.

While I acknowledge that speed is critical for a player to have to create separation on the soccer field, what you do with that speed is more important. I see many talented youth players that do possess speed make two costly mistakes that once corrected will make them even more dangerous on the soccer field.

The first mistake is they play at one speed. What I mean by this is if they are a fast player, they play only at that pace, if they are a slow player, they only play at that pace. Changing up your speed and tempo on the field will do wonders for your game. It keeps a defender guessing!

Lets say that a player possesses great speed with the ball. Once a defender knows that or realizes that, they will quickly understand what they have to do to keep this speedy player in front of them. However, if this quick player can incorporate several different levels and establish that in a game, he will leave his defender guessing most of the time. The defender might decide to crowd the player allowing the speedy player to blow by or if he decides to give him space, this player now has more time to distribute the ball and become very dangerous. For those of you who are also baseball fans, many baseball experts will tell you that a pitcher that has a good fastball and good change up is going to have success. It keeps players off balance. That is what I am talking about here. Once you have a defender off balance, as an attacking soccer player you have them right where you want them!

The second mistake is playing too linear. Many youth players like to attack in a north/south manner. Once a player develops change of direction into their attack, they will create a ton more space for themselves. Adding different speeds along with changing direction on the field will make a player very dangerous to defend. This crafty player will be able to enjoy more time with the soccer ball and will create more space and separation on the soccer field as a result. So instead of always attacking straight ahead in that north/south manner, add a little east/west into your game and watch how you create so much more space on the soccer field.

Go out today and either start working on your "change up or fastball" and see what happens when you play your next game!

I hope you have a great day!

Gary
www.soccerandspeedcoach.com