Back to the Fundamentals

A few months ago, I asked two gold medalist players from the US Women’s Olympic Soccer Team how many times a week they go back to practice the fundamentals. Eyebrows rose, and I got a by-the-book answer: “All the time”, one said. “Improving the fundamentals is an everyday task for all professional players and a carrier-long necessity.” Well, if you are one of those people like me who enjoy sitting by the sidelines observing professional teams during their practicing sessions, you will quickly notice that this is far from the truth.

In November 2006, I spent the whole month following Real Madrid C.F. on games, practices, and everything else I could. Practices usually started mid-morning with a gym session, and moved to the field around 11 AM, where the traditional field activities happened for about an hour or two, depending on the upcoming game. As soon as the activities were finished, players rushed to the showers and quickly after that to their top-of-the-line automobiles to fulfill the appointments of their glamorous lives.

To my surprise, just one player had a daily routine to stay an extra hour or more perfecting two fundamentals: direct free kick and corners. No need to say, his name is David Beckham. Not long after that pleasant November I did the same routine with FC Barcelona, and this time the only thing that changed was the name of the player who stayed longer: Ronaldinho.

It is common to see players, coaches and analysts make a tremendous effort to explain or justify game results. It is obvious that the team’s formation, tactical plan, and even game substitution will influence the result, however, what really decides the game is the team’s efficiency to perform with precision the various fundamentals. The more they can do that, the more they increase their chances to succeed.

To win a game you need to maximize the few opportunities to finish and be perfect in holding the game. On games between two leveled teams, there are no more than 3 or 4 real opportunities to score, that’s why it is crucial to not miss any chances in front of the woodwork. That’s why I loved Romario so much, he needed just one chance to put the game away, and in his minimalist way he made scoring look like a simple task. Zico, Brazilian superstar in the 80’s, used to explain: “Inside the 18th, always use the side of your foot”. Yes, it is simple, but you must beat the same key day after day until you perfect and internalize the moves.

Today, with all the fitness techniques to transform players into perfect athletic machines, chances in front of the goal are diminished in great scale. That’s when corners and free kicks become as important as having a quality finisher like Samuel Eto'o, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Fernando Torres, just to mention a few. And these are the set plays that coaches have in order to do their best to prepare their teams to surprise the opposition when such opportunities arrive.

On the other hand, if a team is defending, the fundamental to be developed is the perfect positioning to close spaces. This is so basic but at the same time so commonly forgotten that teams of Chelsea’s caliber are constantly conceding goal from these situations. Possession is another fundamental so commonly debated but frequently under-performed. It is no rocket science that if your team keeps possession of the ball the opposition will not score.

All this to say that regardless of your preference for a 3-5-2, 3-3-3, 3-6-0 or whatever makes you trip on the philosophic dimension of the game, coaches should work their teams to be flexible enough to always have an open option, a clear pass, a visible triangle to get them in front of the goal and finish with precision. Also, lock the defensive gates as soon as it becomes necessary. Game volume is the result of rehearsing fundamentals; overlapping on the wings, what to do when a ball is sent to the box, what to do when you are being counterattacked, etc.

I talked a lot about the possible results that hard work over specific fundamentals can produce, but I am conscientious that the geniality of the Maradonas, Pelés and Ronaldinhos (yes, I think Ronaldinho is part of this very prestigious group - I gladly had the opportunity to see all three playing) will add an unpredictable factor to the game, but unfortunately, they don’t come around often, and they will cost. So, talk to your players, include a good half hour of old good crossing, or just entice your players to get a ball and hit against the wall for a good 30 minutes and you will see results.