MJL Soccer Academy

“Coach Matt, how do I become a professional soccer player?”

I receive this question almost every single day. The truth? There is no magic potion. You have to train harder than anyone else is willing to.

A man named Malcolm Gladwell wrote a best selling book called “Outliers” made the claim that in order to master something, you need to spend at least 10,000 hours practicing at it. Subsequently, there was an article written that equated this claim to soccer, suggesting that if you change the 10,000 hour requirement into 10,000 touches daily, that you would begin to approach a mastery of the sport.

In almost anything that you do, the more you practice... the better you become. The reality is that 10,000 touches is going to seem daunting to most people... but to some, it’s going to be the gateway to becoming a professional player. Becoming a professional player is more than just practicing as a team and playing competitively in your matches. It’s self discipline and dedication. It’s working individually on your days off. It's the indomitable desire to be the best that drives you to work while others are resting.

So many players want to jump straight into the advanced mechanics, but the truth is that implementing a simple circuit of 5 -10 different basic ball drills that you repeat on loop is going to be what produces huge results. Getting 100 - 200 touches in each station is going to be what develops your fundamental skills to the point that you can work towards making the advanced mechanics second nature. The Dutch implemented this into their youth system and have been continuously recognized for the amount of talent they produce.

Committing to practicing different skills each day will really help to develop you as a player. For example: ball mastery is incredibly important to practice at a young age, as it gives yourself a platform to compete at the highest levels. These circuits can also help you understand different techniques needed to play in multiple positions on the field. Mastering multiple positions gives you the greatest chance to succeed at a higher level.

The results of 10,000 touches a day begins to manifest in all of the smallest details that you forget to quantify. The development of your weaker foot is something that is always overlooked, yet truly sets the top tier players apart. Strengthening and practicing different mechanics with both feet is going to make you into a flexible player that can respond quickly in a match without needing to spend crucial seconds thinking about how to act. You begin committing these mechanics into your muscle memory… and you’re giving your body all of the possible tools to put that muscle memory to work.

Most importantly, the 10,000 touches rule provides young players with the opportunity to evaluate. Why did my shot go wide? What was different about this time? How can I correct it next time? Conclusions are always most powerful when they’re reached on their own. Repetition is the absolute best way to foster an environment where reflection can lead to conclusion.

The good news is that you don't need a coach to get your 10,000 touches each day. All you need is a field and a ball. You want to play at a professional level? Use whatever resources you have to get those touches in. Remember that repetition leads to habitual patterns of play… and eventually makes the complexities become simple.

However, that’s not to say that supplemental training isn’t vital. If you’re lucky enough to have someone who trains with small groups and individuals then you have a huge advantage in the game. Just a few years ago, this was a concept that didn’t readily exist for the average player. Supplemental training allows you to step out of the team setting and really focus on yourself as an individual. This is the training that builds on the fundamental skills you’re building with your 10,000 touches a day. It is very clear that the best in the world are talented, but not a single one of them gets by on talent alone. It requires hard work. When the pros are done with team training they continue to work hard individually to get better. Their trainers find the specifics that they struggle with and work solely on improving them.

Overall, the point of this post was to tell you that if you want to become a professional soccer player… you need to put in the work. Every day. You need to turn your passion for the sport into consistent dedication, and tackle challenges daily that others find daunting. Work on building your fundamental skills at home, and then enlist a coach to fine tune your skills into that of a pro.

See you on the field.

Coach Matt

It was a pleasure working with Mana and EZ today. Both worked super hard and are really dedicated to improving their game. Can’t wait for the next one 💪🏼

Hi my name is Coach Matt and I am from Stoke-on-Trent, England. I started playing soccer at a young age and was playing for a professional academy called Port Vale Football Club. While growing up I also played for Stoke City Football club and multiple semi professional teams before coming to the U.S. to play college soccer. Throughout my time playing in England I also was able to coach and gain experience that helped me become a UEFA licensed coach. This turned out to be very beneficial when I decided to coach collegiate soccer after I was done playing. I have coached for nine time national champion Lindsey Wilson College and University of Providence. I have also obtained some USSF Licenses in the U.S. to gain another perspective into coaching. I now hope to pass on my knowledge of soccer in an effort to help others reach their goals and maximum potential.