FineSoccer Kids 24

Welcome to the FineSoccer Kids Newsletter. Today's subject deals with changing pace.

It seems when players learn to move off the ball, they make the progression from no movement at all (which can be seen when a player has the ball and all of her teammates stand around and watch) to constantly moving in order to create space and get open.

However, until players learn that the proper movement (with and without the ball) is to change pace, they will not ultimately be successful. I learned this the hard way, as when I first started coaching I was fortunate to work with a player with tremendous ability. She was significantly above the other players and was always moving on the field (her conditioning was tremendous). With her skills and work ethic she was able to accomplish a great deal including being a two-time High School All -America selection. However, when she first went to college she struggled because she found she was sometimes going up against players who were older, stronger, more experienced and just as fit. This meant they could stay with her for an entire game and thus, her first few games in college, she struggled. Then her college coach started to work with her on changing pace and once she learned this, she became quite successful (and was named collegiate All-America four years in a row). Through this changing of pace, she was again able to be successful.

Changing of pace simply means going at different speeds. Instead of always running at the same speed, the person who changes pace, goes faster, then slower, then faster, then stops, then accelerates etc. This is much more difficult to defend against because the defender never knows when the change of pace will happen and thus, can never be really comfortable.

One of the misconceptions that people have about top players is that they are constantly running on a field. Watch a high level match and you will see this is not true at all. The top players know when to run and when to relax. They know when to go fast and when to jog.

The point is, don't try to run hard all the time, instead, get in the correct position and learn when to run hard and when not to. This is changing of pace and will make you a better player.

Any comments, questions or suggestions should be sent to kidscomments@finesoccer.com.

To subscribe to any of the FineSoccer Newsletters, please go to http://finesoccer.com/subscrib.htm. 

Have a great day!

Lawrence