DOING THE BASICS.
Sometimes we can be drawn into overcomplicating football and stretching our focus too thin. What’s more beneficial is doing the basics—and doing them correctly. This applies whether you’re a young beginner or a first-team player.
When I was at Southampton FC with the U21s and serving as Head of Sport Science, I was also doing some work supporting the first team—many of whom were Premier League-level players who had just dropped down into the Championship. Some of the work I was doing with them revolved around fundamental techniques. However, there were parts of what I was asking them to execute that a number of the players struggled with. Likely, they didn’t get the grounding in these techniques from a young age. But it’s not too hard to gain mastery of the basics if we focus on them early and stay consistent. It becomes more difficult to catch up later in your football life if these fundamentals are neglected early on. I’m talking about things like sending and receiving, types of pass, and so on. Had I worked with these players earlier and done more with them, we could’ve really helped.
Another problem I see today is that most Premier League players are not truly two-footed. They might be able to play a short pass with their weaker foot, but they can’t really dribble, strike, or operate under pressure with both feet—like a boxer switching stances and leading with either hand. Developing that kind of parity should be one of the first things we focus on.
Beyond that, it’s vital we stay aware of the basics and audit where we currently stand. Like spinning plates in the air, we need to honestly assess our physical and technical aspects. As we grow and our bodies change, we may need to relearn or fine-tune certain elements. On top of that, look at other areas too—like your eating or sleeping. Are those plates still spinning? Having someone around you, like the Integer Football programme, helps keep these areas in check and adds more value.
There are many attributes that make a footballer. I made a list of 132 to form the Integer programme—and later extended it to 150. Out of those, ‘technical’ ability was recorded as just one category, though it could break down into thousands of components on its own. But when it comes to technique, it’s not about constantly learning a thousand ways to do one thing. The basics are the basics—for you. Of course, we can explore wider learning, but once your position is locked in, the areas you need to master become clearer and simpler. You can then put focused effort into getting those right. Deep learning in these areas is what drives progress. As Bruce Lee said: “I do not fear the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks, but the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”
When we’re working on dribbling, for example, we may need to focus on one specific movement for a long time. That’s how perfection is built.
Once you’ve identified the key basics you need, commit your time and energy to mastering them. This is something I picked up during my time in Brazil at a São Paulo FC U20 technical session. I was watching and waiting for them to move onto another drill—but it never came. They spent the whole session mastering a single movement. That’s what it takes.
Keep awareness of where you’re at and the basics you need to work on—technically, physically, and in your day-to-day life. Make regular assessments. Keep the plates in the air. Prioritise deep learning on the specifics—and be willing for it to take time.
Keep Moving Forwards,
Simon