Football Brain Training | Football Training Torquay

Personal training that thinks differently

Who stands out as the footballer in your team?

Not the fastest runner, or the biggest and strongest. Or the one with the juggles and flicks.

Who’s the footballer?

The one that THINKS throughout a game. That uses the brain as much as the feet. With a mindset of confidence, belief and composure. Is it you?

What’s in your head as you play?

Are you always thinking about finding space to get the ball? Is your head always up, scanning the pitch?

Are you relaxed with it, thinking how best to use it? Looking for space to get it again when you pass?

Do you talk, inform and encourage? Is your body language bright and bold?

Do you always stay positive, confident, composed?

Has anybody taken time to work with you on all this?

How to do what every smart player thinks and believes?

Isn’t it time somebody did?

Way I see it

Good footballers do simple stuff well

Pass, move, offer, scan, talk. Thing is, ‘simple’ doesn’t mean easy. So start to think more during a game. About the basics you build your play on.

And you’ll start to be better than most – who don’t think at all.

Start talking to yourself

Is my head up, scanning? Am I in space to receive? Can I lose this marker? Does my first touch open up my next pass? Is there an easy ball? Or a clever, penetrating ball? Can I switch it and stretch them? Can I get it again? Where’s the opening? What’s on? What isn’t?

Don’t ever let anyone tell you football isn’t a thinking game.

It’s in your head, not your boots

It’s focus of thought: your movement, positioning, decision-making. And state of mind: your confidence, self-belief, self-control. In a game, the ball’s at your feet less than a couple of minutes. But your mind ought to be working the whole time. You get your muscles ready and warm for each game.

So shouldn’t you do the same with your brain?

What gets you noticed

Taken and edited from:

‘The Nowhere Men: The Unknown Story of Football’s True Talent Spotters’

Michael Calvin, Century Publishing

‘As a scout, there are things that grab your attention. I’m not talking about beating nine men, or scoring from fifty yards. I’m talking about comfort on the ball, the player who always wants the ball.

He might be physically smaller, but is he at ease? Can he evade the big man who tries to clobber him? Does he receive the ball well? Is he two-footed? Does he move quickly? Has he a low centre of gravity?

Has he got a good range of pass, a good first touch? Is he comfortable taking the ball from the keeper or is he going to hide? When one-nil down (or up) with ten to go, what’s his reaction? Does he still want the ball?

Does he respond to criticism well? Does he squeeze (or drop) at the right time? Does he communicate well with his teammates? Does he act as a leader?’

Confidence, intelligence, technique, bravery, hard work, team player.

Sound like you?

What's your goal?

Do you want to stand out in your grassroots team or perhaps play in the Junior Premier League?

FBT makes sure you work towards showing coaches and scouts what they’re looking for.
Focus is on what you do when you don’t have the ball - not just when you do - and being involved in a game THE WHOLE TIME YOU’RE ON THE PITCH.
Emphasis on what you do BEFORE YOU EVEN RECEIVE THE BALL: body language showing you’re alert and ready; shoulder check to see space/pressure; good movement to find space/lose opponents; clear communication to call for the ball/inform.
The majority of FBT training exercises ask you to respond to visual and verbal cues/stimuli, and make decisions based on what you see/hear.
We ask you to move on from ‘playground habits’, to think far more about what you do and why – until those thoughts become new, better habits.
Many more touches of the ball than in any team training session or game.

Do you want to get into a Professional Club’s Academy?

Vast majority of 1-to-1 training focuses on the technical side of football; FBT works just as much on what you do without the ball.
We want you to show watching scouts another level of intelligence on the pitch.
Some of what we practice, you won’t have faced before: we want it to be stimulating, engaging, rewarding and motivating.
No static, ‘comfortable’ passing drills - we ask you to make decision after decision.
Working on the simple, but essential, aspects that the good players do better than most – regardless of size, speed or power.
Football’s a thinking game. The physical challenge will always be there - it’s a contact sport - and some players are naturally quick and strong, but the ones that stand out are those with focus, awareness, vision, anticipation – all of which you can acquire.

Do you want to shine in Academy and be seen/acknowledged to be making good progress?

Reinforces Academy development plans – reflecting the needs and expectations of Academy coaches.
Another, different voice of advice and guidance outside the Academy ‘bubble’ – another perspective, another way of thinking about your game.
The work is intense; the mental tasks challenging – a physical, technical AND mental workout.
Work on what to do not only when the ball’s at your feet (less than a few mins/game), but also when it’s not (the vast majority of your time on the pitch).
By developing ‘360’ vision, good movement and decision-making, you can tell yourself you’re gaining better habits than the next player.
By knowing you’re doing the right things on the pitch at each moment, and understanding your contribution to the team, you can gain real confidence – regardless of the score, or size/ability of the opposition, or other things you can’t control.