Soccer IQ is very important to have when you are playing the game of futbol because this not only affects the way that you play, but the overall performance of the team. Some player are just natural born smart player and adapt to changes very easily during in-game situations; however, most player will have to take the time to learn as you gain experience and that is okay. Not everyone knows where to start improving or may not even know they lack skills in certain areas so in this article I am going to give you some tips on how to increase your soccer IQ so you can take your game to that next level and be able to elevate your teammates as well.
I was always told to play smarter and not harder and I have implemented this into my game since. I was always told to "look for the easiest pass" and this was honestly some of the best soccer advice I have ever received because we as soccer player tend to get stuck on the idea of pressuring and attacking at all times but if you are aware of your opponent's position, you can play the ball easily to your open man.
Play for the team
Everyone likes to score goals and be the "best player on the team" but that does not win games. The game of futbol is not a one-man sport, as we know it is a collective effort between you, your players and coaches. If you are a selfish player and only care about filling out the stat sheet, your soccer IQ is not going to be where it should be to play at a high level. The greatest players in history are team players and they got there because they are aware that they need their teammates to help them achieve their goals.
Understand that you and your teammates are all on that pitch for one reason only, to win. You must have confidence in them as well as yourself in game situations. Your futbol IQ will increase gradually over the span that you work on being a team player so if you are a selfish player, work on changing that mindset.
Change your game up
A lot of futbol players will get stuck in a repetitive notion that allows them to be figured out by their opposition easily. For example, if you are in a game and you keep using the same skill move on and opponent, they are going to figure you out quickly and will stop you from progressing. This is why keeping your opponent's guessing is a major key here and you can do this by simply using new skill moves to get by them or by changing directions quickly and pass and move. Always stay moving because this confuses your opposition and they will have to work twice as hard to keep up with you and feeds into changing up your game because you are constantly moving and working.
This is a great tactic to use and is very efficient in the game. Player like Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo and Gabriel Jesus are always changing the way that they attack and oppositions defense and the reason they are so successful. The greatest athletes have a deep arsenal and therefore, figuring them out is near impossible! Always remember that your opponent wants you to do the same thing so they will not have to work as hard so keeping them guessing increases your soccer IQ because it forces you to make quick decisions like passes.
Know set piece tactics
Set pieces are much more important than people think. Many games have been won due to set pieces so the importance of knowing your teams set piece plays is deeper than you think. A well-executed penalty kick or corner kick routine increases the likelihood of your team getting on the scoresheet. When I was playing soccer in college, we spend a great deal of time practicing our set piece routines over and over until we got it right. By doing this, you are improving your soccer IQ because you are learning and adapting to any environment on the pitch.
A well executed set piece play not only looks good but is actually very effective. Your opposition does not know what to expect so you can easily catch them off guard and play around that.
Consistent Training
Everyone knows the saying "practice makes perfect" and this is true when preparing for anything in life not just sports. My favorite quote is, "do not practice until you get it right, practice until you cannot get it wrong". This has guided me in my trainings because I will not settle for less than my absolute best. When you are training you are increasing your soccer IQ because you are working different parts of your brain and body. Training your passing one minute then you dribbling the next all helps your soccer IQ.
A lot of players think that after one training session they are going to be able to dribble like Messi and shoot like Ronaldo and this is not the case. You must understand that results take time and developing a solid soccer IQ takes time and effort. You are not going to be able to walk on the pitch the next day and pick out passes like a pro but that is okay because in game situations is what is going to help you develop your soccer IQ.
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