How to be a Student of the Game
February 2003 Dear Players, Parents, and Coaches:I would like to suggest that you add something special to your game. It will raise your level of performance. It's fun, easy and unique because too few players do it regularly. It can make a positive impact on your personal development as an elite soccer player. What is it? Wait…I speak with young female soccer players all over the country that share your love for the game of soccer. I ask them if they want to play for the U.S. Women's National Team or for a WUSA Professional Team. The response is always, "YES!" These young players are smart. They know they have to be fit, develop their skills, and play in the most competitive environment possible. I ask them to name other things they can do to reach their dreams. Only a few mention what I want to suggest to you today. Women's National Team players Brandi Chastain and Ali Wagner have done it for years. U19 National Team player Lindsay Tarpley does it regularly. It shows in all of their performances at the international level. What is it?I'll tell you! These U.S. National Team players watch as much soccer in person and on television as they can. I recommend that you do the same. You will improve significantly by watching and learning from the best female players in the world.How to be a student of the game:
- Observe the players who play your position.
- Focus on the skills that make them successful.
- Study the decisions they make with and without the ball.
- Observe how much time and space they have or don't have.
- Notice their first touch, does it solve pressure or create pressure?
- Examine their fitness level. How fast, strong, and agile are these players?
- What kind of emotional intensity do they bring to the game?
Technical Director & Head Coach
US Women's National Teams Program