May 25, 2009
Soccer Vision? When you watch a soccer match what do you see?
Chances are you see what's happening on the entire pitch and you sit there shouting instructions to your TV set or at the team from the stands at a live match. Like a general standing high on a hill top, before modern technology changed the rules of war, you have a bird's eye view of the battlefield.
If you're really 'seeing' what's happening you can see the play before it happens. But looking at something is not the same as seeing it. You've got to be able to understand, evaluate and make decisions based upon what you see. That's what seeing truely means.
There's a way to make the battlefield more clearly defined by reaching this level of 'seeing' – strategy. Strategy is a long-term plan for reaching a goal. It allows you to see the battlefield, no matter how complex it becomes, and make the correct decisions quickly and consistently no matter what may arise.
As a coach, working with a future asian soccer star, changes on the battlefield requires a vision and awareness both on and off the pitch. Adapting to these changes could mean the fulfilment of a kids dream to play professional soccer or failiure.
Those of us entrusted with the responsibility to help youngsters achieve their dreams need to develop the vision to 'see' the battlefield and respond to those changes strategically.
An even greater task is to help develop the vision and awareness of our young players on the pitch. While many talented players, including Sobha, have inbuilt match vision and awareness they still need to hone this 'seeing' ability to a higher level.
This includes a thorough understanding of player positions and simple to complex drills both on the pitch and in a classroom setting.
But a more fun, and simpler way that I personally use with Sobha, to build the ability to be aware of your surroundings that filters onto the pitch is to play a game of "what did you see" in everyday life surroundings.
Let me explain.
The idea is to simply build a kind of sixth sense in your young soccer star by honing their sense of what's going on around them.
At any point in time, while out and about or even when watching tv, I will ask Sobha "what colour was that car that just went past us?" or "what was that person carrying?" Or any number of questions related to our surroundings at that particular point in time.
This process works so well that after about 3-4 months Sobha subconsiously knew what was happening around him, and believe me it shows during his match play.
So next time you're driving your kid to soccer, instead of listening to the radio just play a game of "what did you see?".