May 27, 2025: Did you know that in a game or scrimmage, or any type of full field open play, you are only actually ON the ball about 1% of the time? (ish)
Sometimes it’s more, sometimes less, but it’s not the exact number here that matters, it is about understanding that for a VERY LARGE portion of the game, you do not have the ball at your feet… About 99% of the time.
and sometimes we can get WAY too hung up on the 1%…
Let’s think about this in the context of tryouts, or an ID camp, or a showcase of some sort. Something where you are in a situation where you are trying to perform in front of coaches, scouts, etc. and only have a short amount of time to leave an impression.
If you only have a short amount of time to impress, focus on the 99%!!!!!
Meaning, make sure you are maximizing that time that you are OFF the ball.
The 99% of the time we do NOT have the ball at our feet is a golden opportunity to impress, one that many of us do not even think about when heading into a tryout or ID camp.
What do I mean? Well: What can people tell about you in the time you don’t have the ball, what can they tell about you even if you never touch the ball? What can they see when you are maximizing that time? Game IQ, decision making, leadership, fitness, intensity, speed, agility, quickness, motivation, focus, investment, confidence…. SO MANY THINGS.
A coach watching you can TELL ALL THESE THINGS based on what you are CHOOSING to do with your time off the ball. If you understand this as a player, you can go into any tryout or ID camp situation and guarantee that you present as a leader, as a difference maker. As an IMPACT player.
Here’s the magic to this mindset: you actually have FULL CONTROL over everything that happens in the 99%. All of these things (movement off the ball, change of pace, assertiveness, relentlessness, situational awareness, sharing information, directing traffic, checking in and out of space to draw defenders, etc.) are things that other people CANNOT STOP YOU from doing.
Now I fully understand the importance of the 1%, the time on the ball. For sure. But here’s the thing, even if you play fantastic during the 1%, if you are doing NOTHING with the 99%…. Well that’s not a good look.
And honestly if you level up what you are doing with your time OFF the ball, you are going to end up with more time ON the ball. It’s math at that point.
So to summarize, what we do when we have the soccer ball obviously is a big piece of performing, but do NOT undervalue all that time off the ball. That time is equally as important when it comes to showing people what type of a player, and person, you truly are. It’s a window into so much more than you think, and when we discredit it and think we can only do something impressive and good after our teammates have given us a pass, then we are standing in our own way and limiting the player we can be.
I like to think of it like this: leave the impression with the 99%, put the icing on the cake with the 1% 🍰 ⚽️ 🔥
Till next Tuesday,
Grow your confidence through preparedness.
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Hi everyone! I’m Jenn and I create content to help female soccer players and coaches maximize individual and team potential by developing healthy mindset skills. Join other subscribers and sign up for the newsletter for all my best tips and advice!
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