Base on what I learned from On Dexterity and Its Development by Nicholai A Bernstein, I summarize the way how to maximize our soccer practice.

Here are 7 points.

• Practice like a game

• Aim for a higher target

• Be accurate first

• Decide quickly

• Pay attention to quality

• Change the movement

• Have fun

let’s look for one by one.

Practice should be like the game.

So imagine surrounding players even if we are only 2 players and do passing each other. There is no 1 vs 1 in a soccer game. If we can do passing very well in a practice without defenders, we can’t do passing in a game. Because there are defenders.

How we practice like a game

Let’s think about we are 2 of us and do passing each other.

Before we receive the pass, we have to look around to see the position of enemies and teammates and open space. (Of course, there is no one and a lot of open space.)

If the pass speed is slow we have to approach the ball otherwise invisible defender may intercept the ball. (Of course, no one is there so the ball is not intercepted because we are 2 of us.)

The first touch is important because if the trap is not good we may lose the ball. (Of course, we won’t lose the ball because there is no defender.)

Then we will look around to find the dribble and passing route. (Of course, we don’t dribble. Yes, this is a passing practice.)

Aim for a higher target

Once you set an easy target level for practice and eventually realize that the level doesn’t work in the real game, we may need to try a higher skill level. It’s not easy because we may need to re-learn that skill. So we should know re-learning is more difficult than learning from scratch. So at least we should have to aim for enough high level to use the skill in the next game.

Be accurate first

It’s difficult to achieve movement with accuracy & quickness. It may be easier to slow & accurate movement or quick & inaccurate movement. We can’t play like Messi easily.

But if we have to choose one of them, I should take accuracy. In the early stages of each practice, we should pay conscious attention to the detail of the movement. The worst mistake is not to pay attention to the quality of the movement as the first step. Once the details of the action are automated it’s difficult to pay attention to learned movement and unlearn the wrong movement.

Decide next movement quickly

Quick desition is also important as well as quick movement. So look around and be ready for the next movement. Actually, passing practice is only one choice, that is passing back to the other player because of 2 of us but imagine the scene and try to play in a game. We can trap in the opposite way and do some faint and pass it back to play like a center midfielder.

Pay attention to the quality

Therefore it is more effective to exercise for 10 minutes with concentration and intention than to exercise without consideration for 2-3 hours. So the quality of the practice is important, not the practice time.

Change the movement

Do you know how to practice the movement? The essence and purpose of the practice are to improve the movement, that is, to change the movement. The correct practice is repetition without repetition. Instead of repeating one method, try the various methods by changing something such as muscle movement or what you pay attention to. Change the movement every time and see the result. Our brain takes the feedback and tries to improve it and then finally finds the best solution.

Have fun

Sometimes practice might not be fun but try to enjoy yourself with teammates. Please don’t forget about the quality of the practice.

I’m confident to improve the practice with my son!