You are at least a month into the Fall season. Patterns are developing on your team: who starts, positions, playing time. You may not agree with some of these decisions or you may feel pretty good about where things are at present.
If you are not where you want to be or you want to remain in favorable standing, what do you do? I am getting a lot of this right now. How can I get more playing time? How can I play more as a forward or central midfield?
My answer is usually the same - RAISE YOUR STANDARDS. Showing up to practice and working hard doesn't get you on the field or in the position you want. That is expected. Everyone on the team is doing that, not to mention thousands of other players at other clubs. These are also who you will be competing with for varsity spots or college scholarships.
HOW TO RAISE YOUR STANDARDS
1. Be prepared on time - Showing up to the field or pulling in the parking lot is not on time. Arrive 10 minutes prior to the beginning of training. Make sure you have all your equipment on and are ready to go. Sometimes you cannot avoid being late (traffic, ride was late, wreck, etc); have your cleats on and get out to the field as quickly as you can.
2. Do what is asked (no matter what others are doing) - focus and concentrate on what the coach has asked and do it. If you are to touch the line for sprints, get there each and every time. Cutting the line short by 6 inches makes a difference. If you are to receive with your left foot, do it. Even if this means you make mistakes initially.
3. Encourage, do not criticize - BE A GREAT TEAMMATE. It is easy to see the flaws or what someone doesn't do well. Challenge yourself to see what your teammates do well and encourage them to keep improving when things are not going well. When you feel someone is supporting you, you will work harder.
4. Give 10% more - this goes for everything from effort, preparation, nutrition, and time. Increase your effort each session with more effort. EXAMPLE - finish out every run by not stopping until completely across the line. See #1. Choose water instead of soda (or even sport drinks). If you train 4.5 hours a week with your team, spend at least 30 minutes extra a week improving your game.
5. Challenge yourself - if you want to be a forward, you must put yourself in that situation. During free play, be a forward. If coach doesn't assign positions in a game or drill, be a forward. Watch, study, practice aspects that are associated with being a great forward.
6. Ask for feedback - schedule a time with your coach to get feedback on how you are doing and if there is anything you can work on. This should be done once or twice a season. It takes time to improve, so don't ask for feedback every week. Make sure you can show or demonstrate your improvement.
7. Be good at most, BE GREAT AT 1 or 2 - Always work on your complete game, so you are able to handle all the aspects of soccer. To be a difference maker, you must make an impact every game. Take 1 or 2 things that you like or are already fairly strong and become better than anyone else on your team, in your club, city, state, and beyond. If you are a forward, your job is to score. Spend time finishing. Finish with both feet, head, knees, toe, off the dribble, one touch, two touch. Finish anyway you can possibly imagine, then do it over and over again. Once you master it, practice even harder. If you are 6'6", become the most dominant player in the air anyone has seen. Your height is a built in advantage, but you must take that advantage it and run with it.
8. You get confidence from the work you put in - the more purposeful training you do, the better you will become. You will gain confidence because you know have improved. It becomes a snowball affect.
I could go on with other ways to improve, but this should get you a start. Got some other great ideas, please share. Good luck in your play, habits, and attitude. Now go out and Be Awesome.
