The World Cup summer is over, and with it, some of the most emotional weeks of football Switzerland has ever experienced. Now everyday life has resumed: the Super League is underway, and the ball is rolling again in the amateur leagues, too. It is time to carry the enthusiasm from the summer into your own season.
The World Cup as inspiration
What can we learn from the pros? The most successful teams at the World Cup had one thing in common: they were precise in the decisive moments. Spain won the final with a single goal in extra time. The national team reached the quarter-finals thanks to a saved penalty and strong nerves. It is often the small details that decide games.
A routine for the new season
The key to a good season is not one big training session, but a routine that you maintain over months. A suggestion:
- Before every training session: 10 minutes of individual technique, for example volleys or passes with your weak foot.
- Once a week: a short additional session in which you work specifically on a weakness.
- Once a month: a small test, for example ten volleys on goal, to measure your progress.
Setting realistic goals
A goal like "I want to get better" is too vague. Better are concrete, measurable goals: "I want to score five more goals this season than last season" or "I want to get seven out of ten volleys on goal by Christmas." Write down your goal and look at it regularly.
Keeping an eye on the load
Especially at the start of the season, motivation is high and many people overdo it. But those who want too much in the first few weeks risk injury. Make sure you get enough recovery between sessions, get enough sleep, and listen to your body. A season is long, and in the end, it’s about who is still fit in the spring.
For coaches: riding the World Cup wave
Many clubs experience an influx of new players after a World Cup, especially among juniors. This is a great opportunity, but also a challenge. New children need guidance, and training sessions must be designed so that everyone gets plenty of ball contacts. Station training with short waiting times is ideal for this.
A volley station with the VOLLEYCHAMP® can be easily integrated into any station training. The children can practice independently while the coach takes care of other groups, and the three heights allow the difficulty to be adjusted to any level.
The mental side
The World Cup has also shown how important mental strength is. Players who remain calm under pressure make better decisions. This calmness does not come by itself. It grows with experience and confidence in one's own abilities. And this confidence is built in training, through many successful repetitions.
Small steps, big impact
At the end of the season, you will look back and see what the many small sessions have achieved. Ten minutes per training session add up to many hours of targeted technique work over the course of a season. That is the difference between a player who hopes and one who knows that the ball will go in.
Conclusion
The World Cup is over, but the enthusiasm remains. Use it to start the new season with a clear routine. Set concrete goals, take care of your body, and work on your technique regularly. Then this season will be your best one yet.
We wish you a successful and injury-free season!
