To Be Successful, You Do Not Have to Do Extraordinary Things
By Coach Gianni Mininni
This is a quotation of John Rohn that I love, because it perfectly captures a concept I've tried countless times to instill in my players during practice.
I've almost given up trying to convince them to keep things simple and just execute during games what we practice. Take scoring opportunities for example - why try to blast a hole through the net when all that's needed is to calmly place the ball in the goal? Why unleash a rocket shot with maximum power only to miss the target entirely?
I've watched thousands of basketball players execute a simple fake before shooting. The defender jumps, and as they're coming back down, the shooter has all the time in the world to take an uncontested shot. Why is it so difficult for soccer players to apply this same principle? Make a fake, lose the defender, and you have the entire goal to softly place the ball in the corner with the inside of your foot. Is it really that complicated? Apparently so! Time and time again, forwards shoot directly into defenders' legs or feet as if somehow the ball might magically pass through them.
When we watch the greatest players, one thing becomes immediately apparent - they make everything look effortless. Let me share a secret with you: it looks easy because... IT IS EASY!
The only reason it's not easy for us is that we overcomplicate it. Keep it simple and you'll discover its simplicity. Consider how often we mishandle trapping the ball. Have you noticed it usually happens because the ball rolls under our foot, between the cleats and the ground? There's absolutely no reason to trap by putting your foot on top of the ball. Obviously, if the timing isn't perfect, the ball will slip underneath. Instead, keep your foot just inches from the ground, move slightly forward to receive the ball, and guide it slowly or directly in your intended direction.
There are no easy or difficult questions - only questions we know or don't know the answers to. That's what makes them challenging - our lack of knowledge. Soccer is the same. There are no inherently easy or difficult skills. Skills only seem difficult because we haven't mastered the fundamentals of trapping, passing, shooting, or juggling.
It doesn't take genius to realize this mastery comes only through endless repetition. Consider that it takes years just to learn to walk, practicing 8-10 hours daily. How can anyone expect to master ball control practicing only 2 hours weekly for a few months of the year?
Have you ever met a chess player without a chess set at home? A guitarist without a guitar? Similarly, have you ever known a true soccer player without a soccer ball at home? I haven't. Let's be clear - if you don't have a soccer ball at home, you're not really a soccer player. It's not about talent or ability - it's about commitment to the craft.
The day you begin doing ordinary things extraordinarily well is the day you become extraordinary yourself. And this principle extends far beyond just soccer!
Thank you for reading!
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