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5 Steps to Develop as a Player
Follow this Step by Step Guide!
If you want to get better as a footballer, showing up to team training isn’t enough.
The real gains come from what you do on your own.

Individual training isn’t just physical - it’s mental, tactical, and technical.
This guide outlines five clear steps to help you structure your personal development and level up, whether you're just starting out or trying to break into the next tier.
1. Understand Your Game
Before you train, you need clarity.
What position do you play?
What do you do well?
Where do you struggle?
What situations come up often in your matches?
For example, if you’re a left-back with solid crossing but poor 1v1 defending, that’s your starting point.

If you're a central midfielder who dictates play but panics under pressure, focus there.
Don’t guess. Reflect on your matches, get feedback, and write down your strengths and weaknesses.
Your individual training should sharpen what you're already good at while targeting specific areas for growth.
2. Train With Match Intent
Most players train “skills.” Few train “situations.”
Don’t just dribble through cones or hit the wall randomly. Recreate the moments you face in matches:
Imagine pressure behind you when receiving.
Picture a defender when you’re turning.
Simulate scanning and quick decisions.
For instance, set up cones in a small grid. Use a wall or partner. Receive the ball, take a directional first touch, turn, pass, move - just like you would under pressure in a real game.

This kind of game-realistic training improves:
Touch efficiency
Body positioning
Awareness
Speed of play
Decision-making
Thirty focused minutes of this style of training is more valuable than two hours of random effort.
3. Study Players Like You
Forget highlight clips. Watch full matches of pros who play your position and have a similar style.
While watching, don’t just look at the ball. Watch:
What they do off the ball
When and how they move
How they react after mistakes
How they find space or create it

Example: If you're a left-footed No. 8 who likes pockets and final-third passes, study Martin Ødegaard.
Watch him with and without the ball—how he checks his shoulder, when he speeds up, how he recovers after an error.
The goal isn’t to copy everything—it’s to learn the logic behind their movements and decisions. That knowledge becomes the foundation for your own training and match IQ.
4. Make Training Natural and Specific
Your training should replicate match reality, not just drills from social media.
Here’s how:
Train for the exact situations you face in games.
Add pressure, direction, and choices.
Visualize teammates, opponents, and scenarios while you train.
For example, a winger might receive the ball from a “left back,” take a touch into space, cut in, beat a defender (cone), and shoot.

Add layers like calling out cone numbers or using visual cues to simulate decisions.
This keeps your mind sharp and makes the practice directly transferable to the pitch.
5. Build Mental Toughness Through Reps and Reflection
Mentality sets players apart.
You will make mistakes. So do professionals. The difference? They move on fast. They stay confident because they’ve earned it through preparation.
Before a game, instead of trying to feel confident, ask:
“Why should I be confident?”
List what you've done:
Match analysis ✅
Gym ✅
Diet ✅
Sleep ✅
Focused individual training ✅
Confidence doesn’t come from hype - it comes from knowing you’re ready.

Also, reflect during your training and game study. Ask:
Why did that player move there?
What pattern keeps showing up?
What does this tell me about my own game?
Asking “why” turns mindless viewing into active learning. Your football IQ grows, and so does your performance.
Final Thoughts
If you’re serious about development, don’t just work harder—work smarter. Use these five steps as your personal blueprint:
Understand Your Game
Train With Match Intent
Study Players Like You
Make Training Natural and Specific
Build Mental Toughness Through Reps and Reflection
This isn't about doing more.
It's about doing the right things - consistently and with purpose.
And if you wanna dive even deeper into this topic, watch our full masterclass on how to develop as a player 👇
Stay Effective! 🔴
the Train Effective Team