Both Footed Players - Should we focus on developing more?

Should we focus on developing OPPORTUNITYELITE more both footed players?

Vol. 3 Issue 78 August 2018

BOTH FOOTED PLAYERS Do all players need to be developed so that they can use both feet to the best of their abilities?

Contents Page 3 - Welcome Page 4 -Subscribe to YouTube Page 5 - Both Footed Players Page 11 - Coach and Develop Both Footed Players YouTube Page 12 - Follow us on Page 15 - Ball Mastery for Beginners Page 16 - Intermediate Ball Mastery Page 17 - Advanced Ball Mastery Page 18 - Subscribe

WELCOME Welcome to our first Player Development magazine of the New Year. We hope you all had a fantastic festive period and are raring to go with your coaching and individual training needs. The beauty of football is that it never stands still, constantly evolving and developing. New coaches enter the game and help change the focus of many a coach's thoughts, but the main constant is the player and the ball.

How can we help them fulfil their potential and reach the highest levels of the game they can?

In this month's magazine, we look at developing both footed players. Is it worthwhile? Does it take focus away from learning other technical skills, and will it help the player reach their potential?

Developing the player takes time and there are many things to learn. We'll take a look through at what we think will give them the best possible opportunity to achieve what they want to within the game.

We hope you enjoy and have a fantastic start to the New Year!

Elliott Everson, Owner, OpportunityElite

OPPORTUNITYELITE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

JOIN THE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE

BECOMING BOTH FOOTED TAKES TIME. DO WE SPEND MORE TIME WORKING ON THOSE TECHNICAL SKILLS AND WOULD THAT DETRACT FROM OTHER AREAS OF THE PLAYER'S DEVELOPMENT?

Both footed footballers are rare. In some cases players are naturally comfortable at using both feet, but we don't see this very often. When developing young players we more often than not will see a player that is very comfortable with their strong foot, but with a complete lack of confidence and balance when using their weak foot.

As coaches it can be difficult, especially when you have a group of ten to twelve players, if not more.

Can we spend the time to help the player develop their weak foot, and is that to the detriment to their learning of other skills, such as a tactical understanding of the game?

It's a long process in developing both footed players and with many factors to consider when coaching children, should it be one that takes precedence over other technical and tactical elements of the game?

It's mainly down to coach's opinion, but we'll look through and discuss why developing both footed players is so important within the grassroots game.

THE CONSIDERATIONS Unfortunately it isn't going to be a quick fix. Developing both footed players won't happen within the space of a few weeks. It may even be months before you really see the process working, but the sooner that the player can work on using their weak foot, the better they will be for it.

As a player, or coach, we have to be aware of this. It won't happen quickly and there will be many times where it feels like the player may not be progressing. Consider this carefully and make sure to remember that it will take time and perseverance.

There will be times where players will need to spend longer on techniques that might cause the session to deviate off plan, or frustrating moments where it seems that we are spending too long on a certain aspect of the session. As coaches we can adapt to this. Don't spend too long on something to the point where we feel the players are getting bored, but maybe revisit it in the following weeks. Don't be disheartened if their technical development on the weak foot doesn't go to plan at the stages you would have liked it to.

Always remember that it will take time, that there will be mistakes, that there will be opportunities passed in a game to use the weak foot to shoot, score, or assist a goal, that are not taken. Patient coaching with guided questions can help the player realise when and when not to use their weaker foot.

At times we may want to move on to other areas of the player's development but always try and include the use of the weak foot within those practices.

The weak foot can be used in any drill. Get players used to always being challenged with it and eventually they will become more confident on the ball, more consistent with their use of both feet, and more comfortable when the ball falls to them.Â

WHY DEVELOP THE WEAKER FOOT WHEN YOU CAN IMPROVE THEIR STRONGER FOOT? It is an interesting point: should we spend time on developing something that is significantly weaker, or do we improve the player's strengths, making that strength something that will stand out?

Many a time we have seen players who are one footed, but their ability on that one foot is frighteningly good. But, have a think of the players below, would they be as good if they were just one footed?

There is a case for developing the stronger foot of the individual, making their strength a real threat and danger to the other team, but it is incredibly important to help players develop the correct balance, poise and technique on both sides of their body.

Would those players in the column to the right be as good if they were one footed? In some cases the players that are predominantly one footed can become a touch predictable. One player who has had success being quite one footed is Ashley Young, of Manchester United.

Throughout his career I have felt that he is very one-dimensional. His ability to cut inside and curl to the far corner with his right foot was, at one stage, one of the best in the league. However, his lack of confidence on taking the ball down the left has made him very predictable, allowing the defender to read what he is doing and force him down the touchline instead, blocking the shot.

In his prime, Ashley Young, had fantastic technique but would he have been able to show that more if he used his left foot?

Both Footed Players Cristiano Ronaldo Ronaldo (Brazil) Neymar Rashford Greenwood De Bruyne Xabi Alonso Modric Kroos

USING BOTH FEET BRINGS UNPREDICTABILITY. The case of Ashley Young, as with many other players in the game, is an interesting one. They have a fantastic strong foot, with the ability to place the ball on a postage stamp from 25 to 30 yards out, but does that predictability actually limit their opportunities more?

Someone such as Cristiano Ronaldo, albeit one of the best players the world has seen, demonstrates this greatly. His ability to strike the ball, and beat a player on the left and right side, provides him with great opportunities. If he was one footed it limits his opportunities significantly.

Very often we will see players who are put in a position where they can affect the game, at times even in the Premier League, but they shy away from using their weaker side, or aim to move the ball quickly onto their strong foot, reducing their opportunities. Opponents quickly figure out what a player is going to do if they are one footed. The player may be good enough to still beat them, but create better chances by being more unpredictable to the opposition.

PRACTISINGÂ THE USE OF BOTH FEET WILL DEVELOP THE PLAYER'S ALL ROUND ABILITY ON THE BALL, EVENTUALLY IMPROVING THEIR WHOLE GAME. Today's game has developed to being far more technical than what it may have been 10 to 15 years ago. Take a look at re-runs of fixtures from the early 2000's. There were a lot more heavy challenges, long balls and more direct play. In today's game there are more touches on the ball and players who express themselves through their use of skill.

What we aim for in technical development is to help assist players in being more comfortable with the ball at their feet, shifting it from one foot to the other with control and changes of pace.

The main aim is not to make a player strike the ball as hard as they can with their less dominant side. Instead focus should be on helping the player become comfortable in controlling the ball, passing, dribbling and manipulating it to develop control and have a higher chance of keeping possession.

Practising with both feet will actually develop the player's balance, and coordination on the ball.

Improving balance will allow the player to change from one foot to the other under pressure, reacting to and anticipating the pressure that their opponent is putting them under. Co-ordination will also improve their ability to keep the ball under control in tight situations, especially those that require quick changes of direction.

Developing both footed players doesn't just improve the weak side, it can also drastically help the player in their all-round game, not just their striking ability.

COACH AND DEVELOP BOTH FOOTED PLAYERS AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE

FOLLOW US ON

BALL MASTERY SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVEs THE PLAYER'S USE OF BOTH FEET

DEVELOPING BOTH FEET DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE AWAY FROM OTHER PRACTICES OR ELEMENTS OF TRAINING. WE CAN INCLUDE IT WITHIN ALL DRILLS, PRACTICES AND SMALL SIDED GAMES. Ball Mastery is a great example of this, allowing the player to focus on getting more touches on the ball while switching from one foot to another.

It can be adapted to work primarily on the weaker foot or generally to improve control on the ball using different movements and changes of direction.

It isn't specifically designed to practise just the weaker foot but its nature will allow for an increase in confidence and control of the ball on the player's weaker side.

We can include practice with the weaker side in any session, whether that is shooting, possession, dribbling, passing, or small sided games. We don't have to take anything away from our specific drills or sessions but it's so important to keep encouraging players to use their weaker foot.

The more often we can get players using the weaker side, the better they will be. Mistakes will be made and it will take time for them to feel more comfortable on the ball but, with repetition, regular inclusion of weaker foot practices and an encouraging voice, then players can achieve confidence and skill in the use of both feet.

BALL MASTERY FOR BEGINNERS:

10 BALL MASTERY TECHNIQUES

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

INTERMEDIATE BALL MASTERY

TECHNIQUES

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

10 ADVANCED BALL MASTERY

TECHNIQUES

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

RECEIVE THE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE, EACH MONTH, STRAIGHT IN YOUR INBOX

SUBSCRIBE HERE