The Importance of Watching Professional Games

When I watch a soccer game, I look for specific things, macro and micro details that allow me to learn more about both teams style of play, matchup against one another, players to watch, and the coaching philosophy.

All of these can change from game to game and makes it exciting to watch. I have particular teams I like to watch based on the style of their play and success rate. I also enjoy watching teams with a similar philosophy to successful teams yet struggle and lose more than they win (ex. US Men’s National team).

This helps me understand the types of players needed to fulfill a “system of play”, where things break down, how one pivotal position changes the entire game, and how team chemistry looks different across the world. This is why I enjoy watching teams managed by Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, and Johan Cruyff (the latter being previously played Barcelona games). I’ve recently been turned on to Eric ten Hag at Ajax, Frank Lampard at Chelsea, and Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds.

But why should we watch professional soccer games? Why bother? As players, why not just go outside and play the game with friends? Or wait until practice? Sports on television are just entertainment, right?

When we watch a professional game, we naturally concentrate on what’s good and bad for our team. We want them to succeed. And that’s good. As players, it helps us build a desire to play our best and help our team win.

Yet, what I’m asking our players to do is to take a more objective standpoint during the game. At this age, they haven’t been exposed to many professional teams and games. I always recommend to them to "watch the Man City game this weekend” because it resonates with our ever-growing philosophy and style of play. But I also encourage our players to expose themselves to many teams and styles of play and to watch the teams they like. Watch the players they like, especially.

Watching a player they like, such as Ronaldo, Messi, Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Mane, Manuel Neuer, etc. can help any player tremendously. What do we do as kids (and adults)? We emulate our role models. So if I see Messi cutting through three guys and passing to Luis Suarez for a tap in goal, I will say to myself, “I want to play like that.” Then I may go into the backyard and visualize myself as Messi, weaving in and out of defenders and making a beautiful assist or goal. I practice over and over until I’ve had enough.

Now, imagine doing that over and over, even if it’s just on a weekly basis at first. I’m watching and soaking in ways of thinking, ways of moving my body with and without the ball, ways to find space on the field from the best in the world. This type of experience, watching professional games, cannot be underestimated. It is yet another way to learn the game.

Below I’ve attached a simple, one page list of questions for our players to answer when watching games. This list will become more detailed with more experience watching games. Encourage your player to sit down and watch a game once a week with you. I’d love to see their forms when they’ve filled them out.

Skills Practice at Home - 15 minutes a day:

1. Trapping, Outside of the Foot- 5 minutes

2. L Turn - 5 minutes

3. Wall Pass Turn - 5 minutes

See you Thursday.

Michael