This article originally appeared at Soccer Classroom

Shorter sessions make soccer more fun! – (Photo: Goinswriter.com)

Like most things you try in life there is a definite difficulty in starting out, and soccer is just the same.  When you first touch a ball, it is quite difficult to control with your feet, and you wonder how on Earth people like Ronaldinho can perform all those wonderful little tricks.  And so you set out to join a team and start practicing on your own time as dreams of World Cup glory begin to fill your head.  But one question remains, what is the best way to train?

Young soccer players often engage in marathon practice sessions.  Playing for 3 or 4 hours straight in the backyard and growing exhausted, they use their fatigue as motivation to push them further.  The resulting soreness of the following day prevents the player from continuing their intense practice regime, and they wait a whole week before touching a ball again.

Do you see the error in these ways?  What works best for a developing soccer player is to play every single day.  You don’t have to put 3 or 4 hours in each day, but say you spread 3 hours over a week and play roughly a half hour each day, your skills will improve much quicker.

The reason is that when you focus on training a new skill, your legs and muscles need time to let the skills soak in.  The mind requires time for new ideas and thoughts to become ingrained in your head as well.  When you play for 3 hours straight, your body and mind become overflowed with the new challenges.  Some of it will stick, but much will be forgotten, especially in the following week when you cannot play due to soreness.

Now let me analyze how you would progress with a daily half hour practice.  Each day your body would be introduced to a slightly improved skill set.  You can work on small items and come back the next day.  One thing players will realize is that when you finish a practice session frustrated because you cannot correctly master the scissors move, the next day it suddenly comes naturally or more easily.  This is because the mind and legs are growing accustomed to the move and have had time to reinforce the necessary muscles.

As you steadily improve each day, your body won’t be broken down and sore from over-exertion, and you will grow as a soccer player.  The great challenge with this method is that one must dedicate half an hour to soccer each and every day.  Although an occasional missed day is fine, you will only develop as a soccer player when you continuously spend time on the ball.

Therefore, when summer vacation roles around, make some time every day to go outside and play soccer, even just for a little bit.  Short training sessions will feel less like a chore and be more rewarding as you watch your skills improve.  Remember, soccer players aren’t developed overnight; they grow over years of consistent and dedicated practice.  You don’t need to rush and become an all-star on one long afternoon.  Take your time and learn to develop your skills.

Soccer Classroom