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The practice - from street football to pro environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Growing up in England, everything started in the schoolyard and on the streets. That's where you learned creativity, toughness and improvisation. Not through an outline, but by playing. By losing. By starting again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the amateurs, between the ages of 12 and 16, training sessions were simple.
A few exercises in the park.
A little fitting.
Sometimes some technique.
Occasional short sprints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And after that? Parties. 6 against 6. 7 against 7.
It mostly depended on who showed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What was striking:
There was hardly any focused training on finishing.
Positioning received little attention.
There was little structure to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet players developed. Not because of the system, but despite the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, when I joined Hull City's professional youth team, I expected a totally different approach. More structure. More detail. More substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But no.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n There, too, I noticed something striking. We often trained in big games, sometimes even 18 against 18 in a hall. Also here:<\/em> little specific coaching on tactics. And when I turned pro? <\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, if I am honest, back then during my time as a young pro in England, the training programme did not make me better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That may sound strange, but it is the reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many players from my generation, even at big clubs, received similar training. Yet only a small proportion made it to the highest level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because mental strength in football makes the real difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What I saw, and what I experienced myself, was this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n not everyone had the same base. The players who broke through had something different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not a perfect training schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What eventually took me forward had little to do with the structure of training sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It had to do with who I was as a player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The specific basic qualities I had were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n - Physically strong These are not luxury properties. Scouts always look at specific basic qualities. Not once, but several times. They want to see consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because technology can be developed. And that is not only true in football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In work. The question remains the same: how do you react under pressure?<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the current era, training in England has greatly improved. There is more focus on technique and tactics. More structure. More coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But one thing has not changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Basic qualities plus mental strength still determine how far you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get the best training, but without the right mindset plus physical foundation, you won't get far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n My real development, getting better technically and tactically, came not in England, but in the Netherlands. That's what my next blog is about,<\/p>\n\n\n\n There, more attention was paid to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n - Tactical insight That then made me more complete as a player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But it was only possible because the basics were already there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is an important point that many young players miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They want to work on engineering. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In short: success in football does not start with training. The right environment helps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With the right foundation, you can continue to develop yourself no matter where you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That's why I say to players: if you find that your surroundings are not helping you move forward, be prepared to change places, cities, countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My move to the Netherlands made me better as a player. Sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone to really grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have the basics? These are the questions that determine how far you get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not the schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In my next blog, I will tell you how my technical and tactical performance improved by moving to the Netherlands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay tuned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Want more insights like this from the practice of elite sport and coaching? Reflect on your own development: do you play to prove, or to grow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Next Goal is not just about what you achieve, but about who you become along the way.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n With The Next Goal<\/strong> I want to share these very stories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not just the pretty exterior of football, but the reality behind it. The lessons from the dressing room. The mental side of the game. The team dynamics. The small moments that have a big impact on a career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because if you really want to get ahead in football, you need to understand how the game is really played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only on the pitch, but also off it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you are a player, coach, scout or simply lover of the game: there is always a next goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next step. In upcoming episodes of The Next Goal<\/strong> I will take you into the real world of football. With stories, insights and conversations with people who know the game inside out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don't want to miss an episode?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was light strength training.
Occasional endurance training at the beginning of the season.
Speed training - often on hard surfaces, which was not ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Little individual development.
Little focus on real match situations such as 11 against 11 with clear roles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did the training intensify, but the basics remained the same. No spectacular new insights or a different approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nThe insight <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Not everyone had the same drive.
Not everyone kept going when the going got tough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But a strong inner foundation. Unyielding, mental strength: that made the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhat really matters in football and beyond<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- Always 100% commitment in matches
- Fast over the first few metres
- The will to win
- Never give up, no matter the situation
- Strong in the air and dueling power<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These are foundations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tactics can be learned.
But character... you can see that right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In leadership.
In life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBasic qualities first, then the rest<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
- Position play
- Technical refinement
- Game insight<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They want to get better at systems.
But forget the foundation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It starts with who you are as a player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good coaching helps.
But without a foundation, you won't get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I got there what I was missing before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nQuestion: are your basics in order?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Are you working hard enough?
Do you give your all in competitions?
Do you keep going when the going gets tough?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not the exercise.
But your mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMore inside tips? Subscribe to my podcast The next goal.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Then listen to the podcast The Next Goal with Rob McDonald<\/em>, in which I expanded on these lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWhy I started The Next Goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Your next goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A new challenge.
A chance to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\nListen in to The Next Goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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