Core skills in football

Balance

Footballers with excellent balance lower their chances of sustaining knee and ankle injuries. Statistics show that while only 1.7% of footballers tend to be exposed to injury, ankle injuries account for 17% of all injuries. This could be particularly critical given that injuries tend to be the most significant factor affecting a football team’s success in a championship.

A footballer with good balance needs to concentrate less on his stance and so can focus more on what’s happening around him – whether that’s the ball, free space, a team-mate or an opponent. Better balance also improves a player’s ability to dribble and control the ball while changing direction.

Jumping ability

The power which goes into a jump has all sorts of benefits for footballers. Not only does it mean they can jump higher than opponents, but it means they can start sprinting more quickly and kick the ball harder.

The strength manifested in jumping ability is also important for footballers. It means they can change direction quickly, tackle well and accelerate rapidly.

Speed

The faster a footballer can run or dribble, the more they have an advantage over their opponents. Research shows that there are 50% more explosive sprints (under 10-15 metres) in football today than 20 years ago.