A new soccer season presents every soccer player with the opportunity to get even better. The point scoring kinds aren’t the only soccer goals we’re going to talk about here. Setting goals for yourself is a simple way to keep yourself accountable, and on track to becoming the best player you can be. Here are a few goals to set when you suit up for this coming season.
Become a Better Runner
This one may seem super daunting, but I promise it is easier than it sounds. We’re not telling you to become a world-class runner over the course of one season. What we are recommending is some fundamental improvements. Mechanics are the easiest way to pick up the pace. Before you go out on a run, check in with your form. Do some A-walks and skips to make sure you’ll be hitting your midfoot strike; make sure your head is high, and your shoulders are relaxed. Making simple tweaks to how you run will get you a better mile time, improve your endurance, and could keep you from injury.
Nail a New Trick
No matter your position on the field, your footwork is important. No highlight video is complete without a killer compilation of fancy footwork. Maybe there’s one trick that you’ve always wanted to learn or been so close to getting but just haven’t been able to perfect. Take some extra time this season to get it just right. Focusing on one special trick or footwork, in general, will help you become a better player and help to build your confidence. Nothing feels cooler than ripping an awesome trick to get past a player in the middle of a game.
No Negativity
We’ve all had a tough loss. Sometimes it feels like the whole thing is your fault, and you can’t help but get down on yourself. If you’re prone to taking things to a negative place and tend to fall into the sore loser category, use this season to work on yourself. Learn how to learn from losses and mistakes, rather than just beating yourself up. Being kinder to yourself is one of the hardest things we can do consistently. We are so often our own worst critics. Don’t let missteps keep you from moving forward. Setting soccer goals can be as much mental as physical.
Pass Quota
This is something coaches have implemented in the past for practices and easier games, but it’s a great thing to be conscious of. Putting a passing goal in place for your games will help you become more aware of the field. Knowing that you need to make 10 or 20 passes during a game will get you to keep your eyes open and your head on a swivel. Ball movement is something the entire team will benefit from, so they’ll learn right along with you. Keep track of how many passes you make in a regular game and go from there.
Sharpen Your Dullest Skill
Each position has its own set of demands. For defense, mastering the long ball is useful; for midfield stamina is crucial, strikers need those bursts of speed and little evasion tricks. So, personalize this goal to what you need the most work on for your position. We all know where our greatest weakness is, but don’t let that keep you down anymore. Instead, turn it into an opportunity to become a better player and teammate. Overall, there are plenty of soccer goals to set for yourself to subtly improve this season.
Featured image via Adobe Stock
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