Prepping for a showcase: How to impress coaches and what they are looking for.
Great news! The 3 biggest things coaches are looking for in athletes are all controllable and have nothing to do with how well you kick a soccer ball. They are work rate, body language/reactions and vision/awareness. Let's break each one down.
Believe it or not, not everyone has a great work rate, even when the stakes are high or scouts are present. Some kids think they are ‘too cool’ or ‘too good’ to have to work hard on both sides of the ball. The thinking usually goes ‘as long as I am good on the ball and score a goal or do something good, it will overshadow me not getting back on defense.’ Wrong. Please do not be that player. Work ethic is a huge component of the game and something you can own, no matter the opponent, field, or circumstance.
If you’ve ever heard Greg speak, you’ve probably heard him say “The game of soccer is a game of mistakes.” It sure is. Which means every game there are countless situations that illustrate to anyone watching what your body language and overall reactions are to mistakes. And we’re talking about both your own mistakes and your teammates’ mistakes. Poor reactions to mistakes will almost always outweigh great plays made when it comes to scouting. Some examples of good reactions include the following:
Immediately trying to win the ball back; no hesitation.
Applauding or giving thumbs up to a teammate who tried to pass it to you, but it went out of bounds or awry.
Words of encouragement.
Hustling back to get into defensive shape.
The 3rd attribute is vision or awareness. They are looking to see if players understand the game…when to run, when to pass, where to go, etc. The vision of seeing the right pass is just as important as actually executing the pass. This should give you confidence to take appropriate risks and not get discouraged at mishit passes or bad bounces.
There you have it. 3 really important and fundamental attributes that will help you catch an eye in your next showcase.
Good luck!
P.S. As far as on the ball, my advice would be to highlight what makes you different. On the ball, off the ball, offensively or defensively.
