| A big problem young soccer players tend | | | | ball comes across and you have the |
| to have is a lack of balance while | | | | opportunity to volley the ball (whether |
| playing. The reasons for this range from | | | | it's toward goal or a clearing volley). |
| lack of training to lack of a good | | | | Having the ability to maintain your |
| stance to a simple lack of understanding | | | | balance when others can't will make you |
| of the importance balance has in soccer. | | | | a more successful soccer player. |
| Too often you see a ball go right past a | | | | Do a series of one-legged volleys 3 |
| young player when it seems that all she | | | | times a week (it just takes a few |
| had to do was take a small step toward | | | | minutes a day) and see the improvement |
| the ball. Frequently the reason is the | | | | in your game. |
| player is off balance and unready to | | | | One of the differences between |
| receive the ball. The simple solution to | | | | successful teams and teams that aren't |
| being off balance is for the player to | | | | as unsuccessful is how they pressure |
| be on the balls of her feet when on the | | | | upfront and also how they handle |
| field and not standing | | | | pressure |
| flatfooted. Being on the balls of your | | | | in back. While there certainly are times |
| feet simply means having the weight on | | | | when it's necessary for backs to clear |
| the front half of the foot instead of | | | | balls out of pressure there are other |
| having most of the weight on the heals | | | | times when successful teams work the |
| of the feet. It's what some people refer | | | | balls out of pressure and both possess |
| to as being on their toes (the problem | | | | the ball and also move it up field. |
| with asking people to stand on their | | | | Some of the keys to working the ball out |
| toes is that this would be a position | | | | of pressure in back include backs having |
| that would be very unstable and not help | | | | the confidence to pass the ball to a |
| with the balance issue at all so instead | | | | player who isn't wide open and also |
| having them on the balls of the feet | | | | having midfielders move into the proper |
| allows them more balance and more | | | | space to provide adequate support. Too |
| stability). As soon as players start | | | | often when a back has the ball and is |
| being on the balls of their feet, they | | | | being pressured, you see midfielders run |
| do a much better job of also staying | | | | straight up the field when the reality |
| aware of what is happening around them. | | | | is, the backs need support wide. Rather |
| An example of how to train for balance | | | | than running up the field the |
| is to work on volleys while standing on | | | | midfielders needs to go wide first to |
| one foot. Start off in a group of two | | | | get themselves open and then consider |
| with one ball per group. One player | | | | whether to move forward, backward or |
| stands with all of her weight on her | | | | stay right there. When a midfielder runs |
| left foot and her right foot is in the | | | | straight up the field they frequently |
| air. The second player throws the ball | | | | are making a run that puts them directly |
| (underhanded) to her and she volleys the | | | | behind the player pressuring the ball |
| ball back with her right foot. Do 20 | | | | which makes it very difficult for the |
| volleys with the right foot and then | | | | player with the ball to be able to pass |
| switch roles and then do 20 volleys with | | | | it, under pressure to this midfielder. |
| the left foot. The key is that during | | | | By going wide first, the midfielder gets |
| all 20 volleys, the foot used to volley | | | | out from behind the defender and gives |
| (in our example the right foot) must | | | | the back an angle to make the successful |
| stay off the ground at all times. Not | | | | pass. When you combine the backs having |
| only does this work on some technique | | | | the confidence to pass the ball and the |
| work but it also works on balance and | | | | midfielders coming back and supporting |
| some fitness work (it's a great workout | | | | the ball instead of running away from |
| for the lower leg muscles and will also | | | | the ball, it allows the team to possess |
| help to strengthen the ankle area). Once | | | | the ball and progress the ball down the |
| you train this way for a while, you will | | | | field. |
| find it much easier during a game when a | | | | |