| Think soccer stardom is won on technical skills alone? | | | | sessions. You build relationships with your teammates, |
| Think again. | | | | the same as players in international soccer schools. |
| Beyond individual ability, scouts at international soccer | | | | It's almost second nature, a sort of inbuilt telepathy. |
| schools look at how players work with their team. | | | | You know where people are going to be on the field. |
| They don't want to sign a player who's going to | | | | You know what they're going to do with the ball. |
| disrupt harmony within the squad. They're going to | | | | You build those relationships through many hours of |
| research, talk to coaches and parents, and get | | | | practice as a team. |
| background information about team attitude. | | | | Building better teamwork off the field |
| What they want is a well-rounded soccer player, | | | | Chemistry for teams works the same at home as it |
| someone whose teamwork skills will fit into their | | | | does in international soccer schools. You have to learn |
| system from day one. That's a big part of what | | | | to live with the good and bad about everyone. When |
| scouts look for, and it's the same thing we tell | | | | you step over the line on the field, you're as one. |
| players in our international soccer schools. | | | | You've got to be as one off the field as well. |
| A lot of players show individual ability. Good team | | | | Social activities bond teams together so you can |
| players take the game to the next level. | | | | understand each other's personalities. Players in our |
| Training for teamwork on the pitch | | | | international soccer schools take cultural excursions |
| Players moving up to pro teams from international | | | | together. You can do the same thing with your local |
| soccer schools average about ten thousand hours of | | | | team. |
| play with the ball. Our coaches estimate | | | | Activities can be simple: a hiking trip, paintball, laser |
| conservatively 50 percent to 60 percent of that time | | | | tag, or something similar. It doesn't have to be |
| involves practicing with a team. | | | | soccer-related. |
| Like any other skill, practice is crucial to building player | | | | Training like a pro |
| interaction. Our international soccer schools dedicate | | | | Players in international soccer schools concentrate on |
| one training session per day to team-oriented play. | | | | teamwork as well as technical skills. Don't forget to |
| Do the same with your team: set up scrimmages and | | | | implement that at home. Coaches and parents talk |
| organized positional plays. Let players know where | | | | about players showing better organizational skills, |
| they should play a specific position on the field. Make | | | | reading the game better, and helping organize their |
| it a priority to interact with teammates. Develop an | | | | teammates into different positions on the field. |
| instinct for how each player reacts. | | | | Are they talking about you? Start training like an elite |
| Participation is key | | | | international soccer schools player today, and they |
| It's important for all players to attend the practice | | | | will be soon. |