DEVELOPING GREAT SOCCER
PLAYERS ONE STEP AT A TIME
Things Coaches Look for In Players
Coaches
naturally look for different things in players depending on their personal
coaching style and background. Coaches always look for speed, agility, and
strength. These physical attributes come in different forms. For example,
when looking for speed, coaches will look for raw speed, speed of action,
and speed of thought. Soccer is a game thinking, team work, and individual
as well as team creativity. Therefore, mental attributes are at least as
important as physical talents. The following are qualities that coaches
look for in players:
Drive: Pure will power, eager to achieve goals, a burning desire
to achieve success, strong self-motivation, commitment, dedication, determination.
Aggressiveness:
"Go getter", takes risks, wants to dominate opponents, works
hard, and ruthless in attack and defense. (Aggressiveness can have its draw
backs: it can lead to bad losers, players inclined to retaliation and revenge
fouls, loss of self-control, general lack of discipline.)
Determination:
Seeks the direct way towards goal, no compromising, doesn't hesitate
when making decisions, willingness, fully concentrated, success oriented.
Responsibility: Intelligent, can read the game tactically (anticipation),
conscientious, reliable, wants security, cooperative, ready for compromise,
stable and skillful player.
Leadership: Intelligence, dedication, pride, bears responsibility
for the team, influences the environment, anticipation, intuition, independent
and spontaneous, convincing and dominating player, hard worker, no surrender,
composed, self- controlled, endurable, communicative, respected, trustful.
Self Control: Discipline, emotional stability, composure, discretion,
defying conflicts.
Self Confidence: Secure ball control and determined application of
skills and tactics under pressure (both external and self-imposed). (Over
confidence can have its draw backs. These players tend to underrate opposing
players, show a lack of willingness to be coached, and can become easily
complacent.)
Mental Toughness: Persistency, consistency, commitment throughout
the game, no surrender, tough self-assertion.
Coachability: Ready to learn and to achieve goals, self-motivated,
attentive and receptive, willingness, interested, spontaneous, committing
themselves, likes to discuss problems, hard worker, self-disciplined, creative,
constructive, progressive.
Conscientiousness: Sensitive, nervous, pre-contest anxiety, diligent.
Always wants to give their best; modest, reserved, fearful, pondering, self-critical.
Depends on success, reliable player in solid environment.
Artistry: Creative, innovative, ability to see spatially, creates opportunities, unpredictable, enjoys experimenting, spontaneous, enjoyable to watch.
Reference:
Major portions of this web page were taken from the web site of the Clay
County Soccer Club.
DEVELOPING GREAT SOCCER
PLAYERS ONE STEP AT A TIME