Being a top footballer requires a lot of talent and skill, whilst much of this is natural, a lot of it is also learned. That’s why players of all Premier League teams spend much of their week training with a regime of tactical drills, physical conditioning, and friendly games to hone their skills and remain at the peak of physical fitness.
You don’t need to be a player in the EPL to benefit from training though. There are a lot of resources for footballers at all levels to use to help them improve their play on the field, ranging from free online tips and tricks videos to high-tech smart trackers like the Apex Athlete Series from STATSports which uses a GPS tracker fitted to vest to monitor and measure your movements on and around the pitch.
However, you don’t need to limit your learning and development to football-specific resources. There are plenty of lessons that you can take from other sports too.
Poker: Learn When to Be Aggressive and When to Dial it Back
In poker, beginners can fall into the trap of thinking that success comes by playing every hand and being ultra-aggressive, just like you see in movies. The truth is very different and one of the first things that all beginners need to know is that you don’t play the majority of your hands, instead, good poker players are selective about when they are aggressive.
The same is true for football. A match is a marathon, not a sprint. Whilst you might come out of the blocks bursting with energy, it will be depleted very quickly if you push too hard early on.
Similarly, if you play aggressively all the time, getting very physical when trying to win every ball, diving more flamboyantly than athletes in the Olympics, and getting handsy when vying for space during a corner, you will quickly attract the attention of the referee.
Learning from poker, good footballers pace themselves and choose the right times to play aggressively.
Basketball: A Bad Start Doesn’t Mean a Bad Finish
Whilst this is true with every sport, it’s especially true in basketball. Every spring, the March Madness tournament takes the world of basketball by storm as America’s best college teams battle it out in a knockout competition to determine which city has the best student team.
Teams that start out strong don’t often finish strong, whilst teams that may begin looking shaky can often find their feet as they progress. It’s important to be adaptable and flexible, pay attention to what isn’t working and change it mid-game or mid-competition so that you can remain in contention.
In the NBA, an average of 26 points are scored in the final quarter, with the final five minutes of play often bringing a flood of baskets. Although 26 isn’t the highest-scoring quarter, the closeness of matches means it can be enough to decide most games.
It’s important to remember that this is true in football too, as very few games are decided in the first half. A bad start to a game or an early goal by your opponent doesn’t mean it’s over. You just need to keep your head, stay focused, and remember that there’s still time to win.
Golf: Hard Work Comes Above All
Every golfer you know likes to practice their swing. Sure, they enjoy getting out onto the fairway to play a few holes but all the while, they’re honing their craft. They never stop learning, even decades into playing.
That’s because hard work is what matters most in golf. Even the most naturally gifted players can be bested by those who spend enough time practising.
This is true in football too. Even if you are (or at least think you are) the best player on the team, don’t let that go to your head. Work hard in training, take constructive criticism and learn from it, and use every opportunity you have to improve. There are no shortcuts to success.
