How to Become a Student of Soccer

Socceristas, if your goal is to reach the top of the game and play at a collegiate or professional level, becoming a student of soccer is a necessity.

Being genuinely curious and having the desire to learn is hugely instrumental in your development as a growth-minded, forward-progressing player.

Without a growth mindset, it becomes nearly impossible to be the best because constant innovation and improvement set players apart from the rest.

You can be an extremely technical and physical player. But without a growth mindset, another player will come along and pass you. The best players, coaches, and teams understand this. Mindset matters and an attitude of constant learning is part of that.

What does it mean to be a student of the game?

Being a student of soccer means that you are an invested soccer player. You are genuinely interested in soccer, all the way down to the tiny details.

When you are a student of the game, you are eager and relentless to pursue new information and new ways of looking at things. You seek out knowledge. You ask questions. The tactical, technical, mental, and physical details of the game get you excited.

You enjoy coming across things that you knew nothing about previously. You admit you don’t know everything, and you are totally cool with that. In fact, you love it because it means there’s more to learn and more room to grow.

Being a student of the game means you enjoy learning from various people. You enjoy hearing the perspectives of your teammates and other coaches and players. And coaches and players beyond your team or club.

Being a student of soccer means you come to training to learn. Every day, you intend to leave practice a better player than you came in, and you truly work hard to absorb the day’s topic and add it to your toolbox.

How to become a student of the game

To become a student of the game, start by asking many questions and learning from as many sources as possible. No information is correct, and no information is wrong. It’s just all stuff to consider and think about to broaden your perspective.

Ask your coach questions for clarity if you don’t fully understand the application of a skill or tactical concept they are teaching at practice. Likewise, ask your teammates and soccer mentors questions about how they personally work to improve their mindset skills.

Ask Google about the history of soccer formations. Just ask and absorb. You don’t have to take in and keep everything, but you’ll want to ask many questions to broaden your view of particular subjects and ways of doing things.

Figure out what you want to add to your game and then go and find the information you need.

You want to be better at staying composed during high-pressure soccer games, but it doesn’t work, no matter how much you tell yourself to be calm. Do you want to do a better job of standing out at high school soccer tryouts this year?

Research, investigate and learn about other people’s experiences or advice on achieving these things.

Watch and review your game film. Reflect on your weaknesses and strengths. Additionally, watch professional games not as a fan but as a student. This means watching the game with an objective–take notes, and treat it as an assignment.

Example: Choose someone who plays your position and break down their play–what are they doing when they have the ball versus when they don’t, on transition?

Take a deep dive into mental performance skills and mindset. Research and learn ways to increase your confidence, perform under pressure, be a good leader, and improve at soccer.

Listen to podcasts, read books, and watch YouTube videos. Learn about tactics and styles of play. Learn about fine-tuning your technique and ball mastery skills. Find individual training drills you love and use them in your training routine.

Being a student of soccer makes you an invested player

When you are a student of soccer, soccer becomes more fun. You become more passionate about your pursuit of excellence. Your enthusiasm shows through in everything you do. As a result, you become a better leader and a better teammate.

Being a student of the game awakens your drive and motivation. It makes it easier to overcome obstacles and progress forward. It empowers you to take responsibility for your development.

You better understand all positions, read the game better, and know the power of collective play.

You are more flexible in the run of play; you adapt better on the field to the changing game environment. And, you are more likely to play at an elite level and reach the top when you are a student of the game.

When you are a student of soccer, you are a better soccer player!

Featured image via Adobe Stock Images

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