Summer Training Schedule to Increase Your Soccer IQ

As soccer mentors, we can attest that the physical requirements for a successful career are much more common than the mental requirements. This is why coaches tend to pay special attention to soccer IQ for teams at the highest levels. They want to see if you can consistently make smart decisions throughout the match, especially when the momentum shifts in your opponents’ favor.

Fortunately, the most effective way to improve your soccer IQ is doing something you already enjoy: watching soccer!

Remember, watching soccer like a professional is different than watching for fun. Instead of following the ball, you’re focusing on some of the most overlooked aspects of the game, things you’d never notice if you were watching with your friends.

Figure Out What Should Happen Next

The key to watching soccer like a professional is putting yourself in the cleats of whoever has the ball. So, whenever a player receives the ball, think about what you would do next, and try to make a decision as quickly as possible. Would you drop it back? Would you switch fields? Would you take on a defender 1v1, or would you try to ping a ball in for the winger running in behind?

If you’ve never watched soccer like this before, you’ll be mentally exhausted in a matter of minutes. That’s perfectly normal. You’re essentially training your brain to make decisions at lightning speed. If this is what you’re used to, you won’t panic and lose focus when you have to do the same thing in your next game.

Watch Your Position, Both On and Off the Ball

Coaches favor players who display an in-depth understanding of their position. So, when watching soccer, focus on someone playing your position and observe the decisions they make, especially when they’re nowhere near the ball.

After all, high-level players don’t just stand around and wait for the ball to come their way. They’re constantly making educated guesses as to where the ball will end up next, and then putting themself in an advantageous position based on the anticipated outcome.

Watch how your player reacts to different shifts in momentum, and where they choose to position themself. Do they drop back and cover for someone going forward? Do they make a run to pull a defender and make space for a teammate? Every decision your player makes has an outcome that tells you if this was a good decision or not.

How to Study Individual Positions

The problem with watching soccer on TV is that the camera follows the ball, not individual players. That’s why we created BGTV, a massive library of professional footage organized by position. This allows you to watch players in your position reacting to a host of common scenarios. Each video features an analysis explaining the thought process about the decision, so you can learn how the player knew what to do.

You can also use BGTV to study positions you’ll be going up against. For instance, if you’re a Striker, it’d be very helpful to watch a video of a Centerback winning a 1v1. This can reveal exactly what NOT to do in this situation, and what kind of tactics you can expect from a high-level Centerback in the future.

Watching Soccer Like a Pro Improves Decision-Making

The underlying purpose of watching soccer like a professional is practicing your decision-making. You’re trying to improve your abilities to anticipate what’s going to happen next and act on these anticipations immediately. When a high-level player receives the ball, you never see them pause and think about what to do next. They take action immediately because they’re accustomed to making decisions quickly, and that’s something you should strive to emulate so you can play faster and smarter.

Of course, accelerating your speed of play requires fitness and technique as well. And what happens when the other team gains the momentum? Do you have the resilience to remain calm and continue making smart decisions?

To cover all of these bases, we’ve created a summer packet for improving the four components of a high-level soccer player: fitness, technique, soccer IQ, and resilience. Trust us, coaches will be looking at all four components when evaluating potential recruits during try-outs.