The holidays are here, the winter break has begun, and the ball will be resting for a few weeks. Now is the perfect moment to look back and set some goals for the new year. Instead of a vague "I want to score more goals", it is worth setting concrete and measurable targets. Here are five training resolutions that will make you more dangerous in front of the goal in 2024.
1. One dedicated technique session every week
Technique is built through repetition, not by accident. In addition to team training, schedule an extra 20 to 30-minute session per week focusing solely on your finishing. Consistency is key: it is better to do 20 minutes every week than two hours once a month.
2. Take your weak foot seriously
Most players shoot almost exclusively with their strong foot. Defenders know this and position themselves accordingly. Make it your goal to take at least a third of your shots in training with your weaker foot. It will feel strange at first, but after a few weeks, you will feel the difference.
3. Go for more first-time finishes
In the penalty area, there is rarely time for a touch. Players who take the ball first-time catch the goalkeeper and the defence off guard. Therefore, practise first-time finishes and volleys from different heights. Especially with a volley, a clean movement is crucial: plant your standing foot next to the ball, keep your upper body over the ball, and keep your ankle firm.
4. Count instead of guessing
During every technique session, record how many shots you took and how many were on target. This way, you can see in black and white whether you are making progress. A simple notebook or a note on your phone is perfectly sufficient. Knowing your conversion rate automatically leads to more focused training.
5. Don't forget to have fun
Training doesn't always have to be serious. Small competitions with friends or teammates - for example, seeing who can hit the target most often out of ten attempts - provide motivation while ensuring plenty of repetitions. If you enjoy practising, you are more likely to stick with it.
What a 20-minute session looks like
To ensure your resolutions don't just stay on paper, a fixed structure helps. An example of a short but effective session:
- 5 minutes warm-up: light jogging, ankle circles, a few ball touches with both feet.
- 10 minutes technique: a single focus, for example, volleys with the weak foot. Better 30 clean repetitions than 60 hurried ones.
- 5 minutes competition: ten attempts at a target, count and record your successful shots.
This session fits in before or after team training, in the garden, or in the school playground. The deciding factor is that you actually do it every week.
Why now?
The winter break is not lost time. Many players use it to recover, and that is exactly the right thing to do. However, those who start back up with small technique sessions in the first few weeks of January will start the second half of the season with an edge. The foundations you lay now will pay off in the spring.
Volley tip for the start of the year
For volley training, you need one thing above all: a ball that comes to you the same way every time. With the VOLLEYCHAMP®, the ball is positioned at a height of 10, 20, or 30 cm, allowing you to perform as many repetitions as you like without a feeder. This makes implementing your third resolution easy, even when you're alone.
We wish you a relaxing holiday season and a great start to your 2024 football year!
