The goal of becoming a top athlete is a long road for anyone to achieve. Many factors go into developing soccer players that compete at the highest level but a key aspect can start with simple everyday habits as a child. Everyone shines in their own way, at their own time. That’s the beauty of soccer; it builds people for whatever comes next in life.

Practice makes perfect! That begins with a good warmup to focus training players to get as many touches on the soccer ball and increase their heart rate to help prepare them for practice and soccer clinics with technical activity, creating an environment where players can get as much repetition of a skill as possible. The more a player practices, the better they’ll get!

Coaches who engage in active listening guarantees clear, mutually understood communication makes players more willing to talk to the coach as well as promotes a more meaningful relationship between the coach and player. Communicating with purpose by being aware of posture, eye contact, facial expressions, distance between the coach and the player, distracting behaviors and voice quality is crucial in addressing players and understanding their questions and quandaries.