[MAJOR HELP NEEDED] Soccer :)

I need a lot of help... I am pretty average at playing soccer. I play mostly midfield for my school team. We have a record of 1-1 at the moment.. Recently, I realized how badly I want to play Varsity in High School (I am in 8th grade atm) and how badly I want to play in college... I am better than about half my team, making me average in my opinion... I am currently trying to decide between a private catholic all boys school that I know I can make the Varsity team on or a large public school that has an amazing varsity team that i might not make.. The private school seems better if I want to play, but it is hard to play in college if you are coming from a private school because you don't get recognized, and no scouts see you... I also need help on drills I can do myself and ways I can increase my skills.. So...

- How would I go about trying to play in college and/or making Varsity in HS?
- What are the best drills for a midfielder who defends/shoots/passes/runs?
- Best ways to motivate myself if I get skeptical?
- Other help?


Thanks a bunch,
Andrew

 

Few freshman ever get picked for the varsity team so don't get discouraged if you don't make it the first year. If you don't make it, definitely come out the next year and try again, show the coach you really want to be on the team.

As for exercises, I'd say focus a lot on cardio. Go for frequent runs during the week and challenge yourself, you're going to be playing against older kids so try to put on some muscle mass work out to the best of your ability.

 

Thanks. Yeah, I don't expect to be a true-fresh on the Varsity team. I just want to make it on the Varsity team eventually... As for cardio, I think running is the best, right? Also, what is your opinion on the Private vs Public school thing both athletics, socially, and even acedemically?

 

Playing soccer in general makes you a better player at the end of the day. Train your stamina and endurance. Most players who play die out quick so make sure you last on the pitch. Just practice, practice and practice is all I can tell you. Practice your passes, kicks and don't be predictable.

I play soccer myself and above average. I play defense and was told to be the best defensive player by my coach that played for him and my team is pretty damn good. We're undefeated so far 6-0.

 

I can give you the right advice I love soccer and I am very good at it, played it all my entire life, and actually just got back from playing it lmao

- How would I go about trying to play in college and/or making Varsity in HS?
- What are the best drills for a midfielder who defends/shoots/passes/runs?
- Best ways to motivate myself if I get skeptical?
- Other help?

Honestly to play in college, you just have to be good at soccer, I have many friends who are bad at soccer but they still LOVE IT and wish they were great players. Best way to motivate yourself is playing it as much as you can

I train every weekend with my friends In mid also, a good soccer player is the one that can pass the ball well and doesnt get nervous when he receives the ball, think your actions as thats what ruins a soccer player. Many of my friends get nervous when they receive the ball and just throw it away

 

@DMR - Thanks. What would you recommend for endurance training? I often find myself unable to continuously sprint, stop, sprint, stop, then sprint again. Best of luck with the rest of your season mate!

@Integrate - I myself completely understand what you are saying about the thinking when you get the ball. I have seen a lot of my talented friends find themselves a spot on the bench after making a wrong decision due to lack of thinking.. As a midfielder, I think we can all agree the hardest decision is whether or not to take the ball up the sidelines and take on the defender or to pass it into the middle/up the field and hope your teamate finds an open hole. What are the best drills in your opinion to work on decision making?

Thanks ya'll,
Andrew (Anet390)

 

Just do interval training for endurance. When you play with your friends, play in close proximity so that you are always moving/running (4x4). You can also do interval burst runs.

I played striker before switching to defense so I'm good on both positions and also played midfielder a few times. When you have an open man to pass to, you ALWAYS pass it to him. If you don't, you take on the defender. As a good team with good players, the players will always find a open hole to pass it through. Soccer is mostly a passing game. Usually the team that plays a passing game wins.

Thanks and good luck to you as well!

 

@DMR - Thanks again. Best of luck to both of us in our soccer goals (see wut i did therrr)

 

UPDATE: So I have been doing a lot more running than usual. I have been attending all my practices for my team, etc.. But, I noticed something.. As a midfielder, it is crucial to know where you should be and when. I play mostly right midfielder, but the two center midfielders (we play 4-4-3) are both ball-hogging kids and ALWAYS chase the ball ANYWHERE it goes. They always show up on my side and take up ALL my space and we all bunch up and end up losing the ball. Not only that, when I tell them to center up, they get an attitude and say "Don't tell me what to do"... I don't want to bring this up to my coach because he hates disputes, especially between teamates. On top of that, most of the other midfielders say that I am horrific at soccer because whenever I get the ball, I usually mess up. But thats because I have two jackasses up my fucking ass, not giving me any room. How do I know it is their fault? Well there was a game where both of them were suspended because of grades, in that game I had 2 assists and a goal. We also won that game. The game they were in, we lost.. I had no assists and no goals. The team we beat was SO MUCH better than the one we lost to. Furthermore, I give both of the assholes beautiful crosses and passes ALL THE FUCKING time. But, they claim that it was lucky or something alike. I know I should just ignore them and let my talent shine, but I feel like they are fucking up my skills on the field...

Any advice?

 

It's situations like these that are tough to deal with and affect a team. Do you get along with the other 2 midfielders outside of soccer? If not, there's really nothing you can do but try to get along and play the game. When they run all over the place and go to your side, doesn't your coach say anything? You should bring it up to your coach and tell him that they keep getting on your side and that its affecting the way you play. See if he deals with it because as a coach, he's suppose to.

 

My coach doesn't address the problem because he is too caught up in the moment. He thinks there are bigger problems. Also, at this level, people should know where they need to be during the game... As for bringing it up to my coach, how should I? I don't want to come off as a jerk or a complainer. Especially because my coach is strict on backtalking..

 

You're coach seems like a bad coach. Every problem is a problem, big or small, they affect the team. Don't you guys have team meetings? Why don't you bring it up then and is it only you that notices them coming to your spot or do other teammates see it too? If it's just not you, your teammates can back you up and another right time to tell your coach about it would be during the game when he does the substituting and they keep coming to your spot.

 

I think I am going to bring it up during our next game on Thursday. And yes, almost the entire team realizes the problem. My coach just sucks too much to address it.. I am glad he isn't going to be my high-school coach.

He is pretty bad though. I hope he will take it well and not flip shit.

 

You shouldn't worry about anything then as you have back up. What sort of league do you play in? Is it in anyway a competitive league? From the sounds of it, it doesn't seem as so. Am I right?

 

Seeing as I am still at the middle school level. The leagues are pretty sketchy. I play for my school. We play in a "section" of all the middle schools in our school district. Each section contains 5 other teams. You play four of the teams once and one twice. Then for your last game, you have an "out of section" game which is against a random team in the district. So, in a season we have 7 games total. There are no playoffs, no championships, etc... An undefeated record means as much as a non-winning record. There is competitivness in the players, but not in the league. Winning really racks in NO BENEFIT. As for the highschool I will be going to, it is completely the opposite. They take sports VERY seriously in that league and there are playoffs and championships and tournaments, etc... I also play on a club team in the fall, but they are pretty shitty and I just play on it to stay active.

 

That explains for the lack of coaching on the coaches part and the shitty midfielders. Just get through this phase I guess and when you get into your High School league, it won't be as bad.

 

My thoughts exactly. That is why I am going to try and work my ass of before this season ends. I need to be ready for those big ass kids in high-school.

I know, I'm a youngin'. :embar:

 

Welp. My team is 1-3 at the moment. I have been playing my heart out, but sadly, others haven't.. We'll see how it goes i guess.. I just hate knowing I played the best I could and other didn't.

 

Kind of old thread, but I've played soccer since I was 5, reffed since I was 15, and was on highschool varsity as a freshman, was being looked at by scouts from all over, and my second to last game senior year, I tore my ACL and gave up. Enough explaining my situation, but I suggest you go to the public school, why? A. All guys school SUCKS. B. you'd rather have a challenge instead of knowing you're going to be the best. C. Like you said, more scouts look at highschools.
I would also suggest working out, don't try and get extremely buff, minor upper body, a AMAZING core and back, and GREAT legs..

Just keep at it, and don't give up.. You get better over time, and soccer will make some GREAT friends.

Keep in there bud.

 

I literally made my decision just hours before seeing this. I chose public school. I chose many of the same reasons. But I also thought of it education-wise and realized that even though private schools are harder and the people are smarter, at a public school I know I will always be in the top 10-15 percent with average grades because there are always kids dumber than me. And, I probanly will go to college in-state, so the higher percentage at your highschool matters more to them than which highschool.