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25 important things every player should know

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  1. A good player must have skills, conditioning, and tactical knowledge. A player must work on all three to be the best he can be.
  2. When your team has the ball, everyone is on attack; when your opponents have the ball, everyone is on defence.
  3. A football team does not have defenders, midfielders or strikers-only football players. No matter what position you may start the game in, you will still have to head, pass, receive, shoot, make space, etc., as any player would do regardless of position.
  4. If you can't pass and receive a ball, you can't play football. Practice passing to a man or to space with proper pace and receiving balls along the ground and in the air.
  5. Do not just kick the ball unless it is in a dangerous position in front of our goal. Instead, take a "picture" of the situation before you get the ball. In this way you can perceive the situation, determine the best solution, and act accordingly when the ball arrives.
  6. Don't run forward when your team has the ball, unless you run back when the other team has the ball.
  7. Your team is limited only by each team member’s effort.
  8. In most sports you need to be balanced on both feet. In football, you must also have superior balance (to shoot, pass, receive, etc.) on one foot. The best way to develop and improve balance on one foot is by keep-ups.
  9. If you lose the ball, you should be the first person on defence. Giving immediate chase is the first rule of defence.
  10. When changing from attack to defence, sprint to get between your man and the goal you are defending.
  11. Beat your opponent to the ball. It is more difficult for your opponent to score a goal if he doesn't have the ball.
  12. If your opponent has the ball and his back is to you, do not let him turn with the ball or he can pass or dribble forward or shoot.
  13. After a goal, always thank your teammate for the assist. Quite often that player has made the tougher play.
  14. Never criticise the goalie after a goal: Before the ball got by him, ten players also let the ball get by them.
  15. In a football game, only one team plays football. The other team chases. What would you like to do? Maintain possession of the ball!
  16. Good dribblers give up the ball before they are in trouble, not after they are in trouble.
  17. Losing possession of the ball is acceptable in three situations: after a goal, after a shot, or in the attacking third of the field.
  18. Do not say anything to a referee! They are not dishonest, but sometimes they will make mistakes, just as we do. If all of your players made as few mistakes as referees in a game, the team would be undefeated every season.
  19. Never harass or criticise a team-mate: If they make a mistake help them learn to play properly by showing them how to do the required skill.
  20. Never argue or talk back to the managers, they want to help you to become a better player. Listen and learn from them.
  21. An effort of 99 percent or less will not win football matches against good competition.
  22. The world is full of potentially good football players, but lacking in players that reach that potential.
  23. Potential means that you haven't done anything yet.
  24. Players should not say "I can't" or give excuses. "I’ll try" will be accepted.
  25. Win, lose, or draw, if you have given 100 percent when you walk off the field, you have nothing to be ashamed of and should not have any regrets.