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WHY PLAYERS FAIL TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL?
WHY PLAYERS FAIL TO REACH THEIR POTENTIAL?
Throughout my career in professional football, I have observed too many talented players not fulfil their potential. Sometimes players have been unlucky, suffered an injury or not got an opportunity they deserved. But the most common theme I have observed is that the majority of players who fall short often have a lack of adequate coaching support to help them improve their self-awareness and knowledge for how to get better.
My observation is evidenced by scientific research. Nico Van Yperen, a football researcher based in Holland, investigated the characteristics of Dutch players playing in an academy. 15 years later, he was able to see which characteristics predicted success (i.e. professional status). He found two things that successful players did, especially in times of stress, such as suffering from poor performances or lack of progress:
They sought support from others
They made plans of action and followed it
Furthermore, Tynke Toering, another Dutch football, examined the psychological attributes of academy players who progressed to international level and those who did not. She found four things that international players did more often than national players:
Evaluate and reflect on their development
Set their goals and create plans to achieve them
Train with purpose and practice more away from training
Reflect on their progress and make adjustments.
What we can conclude from these studies is that many players are failing to reach their potential because of limited skillsets in reflecting, assessing and evaluating on their performances, as well as an insufficient understanding of how to create goals and effective plans to achieve them. This is often all due to a lack of personal coaching support that even the world's most talented players receive.
This is my reason for creating a Personal Coaching service to aspiring players committed to getting better: to provide players with the knowledge, support and confidence to create effective development plans to take control of their progress and accelerate their performances to new heights.
WHY IMPROVING YOUR FOOTBALL TECHNIQUE SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE A CHORE
WHY IMPROVING YOUR FOOTBALL TECHNIQUE SHOULDN'T FEEL LIKE A CHORE
Individual training - practicing to fine-tuning your technique away from team training - is an essential aspect of development. David Beckham was not born as a free kick specialist, he became one of the best crossers and free-kick takers in the world because his consistent devotion to improving his technique. As a child, he worked on it with his Dad after every match. As a professional, he worked on it after every training session.
Practice makes perfect, right?
Yes - but not quite?
Repetition and volume are important, but the quality and effectiveness of practice is just as important. One vital thing you have to unlock is a chemical called dopamine, the body's 'feel good' hormone that keeps you coming for more. When you activate this chemical, interest and learning sky rockets.
When dopamine is activated in practice, you learn faster.
So, how do you activate it?
Set Specific, Challenging Goals
Don’t just ping the ball aimlessly. Set yourself a target. Hit the top corner. Dribble round cones in ten seconds. 30 passes against the circle on the wall in a row! This creates pressure, focus, and a sense of reward when you hit it — exactly what triggers dopamine.
Importantly, make it challenging, and don't give up until you achieve. Did you see how many free kick's Beckham missed in the video? Most of them. That's fine. It shows that he is pushing himself to the limit. Like in the gym, you won't get stronger if you keep lifting the same weights. You have to progress the load. Keep pushing forward and don't give up.
Celebrate the Small Wins
Reward yourself when you achieve your challenging practice goal. A quick break, a sweet treat or drink, whatever motivates you. Share your progress with someone. That moment of achievement and rewards boosts your dopamine response and encourages you to repeat the behaviour.
Mix It Up/Keep it fresh
Dopamine also responds to novelty. Change your environment, vary the drill slightly, or add a time limit. Keeping things fresh keeps your brain alert and learning.
Takeaway: Train Smarter, Not Just Harder.
Takeaway: Train Smarter, Not Just Harder.
I see too many players treat individual technical training like a grind — mindless repetitions, no structure, and very little motivation. But the truth is that working on your technique should never feel like a chore. It should be fun, challenging and interesting.
The best players don’t just train more — they train better. By structuring your solo sessions to activate your brain’s reward system, you’ll stay motivated, improve faster, and actually enjoy the grind.
So the next time you’re working on your technique, don’t just go through the motions. Make it focused, goal-driven, and rewarding. That’s how you get better — and stay better.
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