so im a rec player, pretty low level player, trying to get up to par on a much better team. played d all my life, been trying some middle /defensive middle recently and having lots of trouble with it. biggest thing, ball control and beating guys one on one. i feel like i get the ball, and trying to get it under control before you get jumped is tough. then once im on it i have trouble getting buy guys especially from a standstill or isolation type play. yet other guys get around me so easily i dont get it. ive tried being patient where i let them get a bit closer and make a move, but they seem to get the ball as if my reaction time is not too good. whats a good way to fix this up???
ha i get it, i havent timed myself, but ill bet its not that great, whats the best way to improve that without doing weights?
Basically you need to get faster if you are unabe to get past opponents. Fist you need to build an aerobic base wich means long distance running - this will make you a lot faster by itself! And when you feel you have enough endurance, do different sprints to improve your explosive speed. It very important that you build your aerobic base first (for about a month), not start doing sprints right away. That won't make you faster, it'll just make your legs hurt a lot bacause lactic acid is building up. If you have good endurance already, you can do sprints earlier.
Of course that's just the physical part - the other part is ball control and skill. But I promise you that your speed will improve dramatically if for one month you go on a 45 minute run 3 times a week. Can you handle that?
that makes sense. i thought i should just run some sprints. ive got good endurence ever since i started playing mid field., but not enough that i can blow by guys at the end of a game. i play 3 times a week, mabey ill play 2x and run the other 2 x.
When you say you play three times a week, what do you mean? with a team? You should try to do some work with the ball every day when you're not working on fitness.
It doesn't look like you'll be blowing past people soon with just pure speed... Quick feet, good ball control and, more importantly, field awareness are helpful- you'll always be looking to make the pass. Look to draw in the defender, make him or her to (over)commit and then make the move or pass. Meanwhile, buy time by shielding the ball, and keep your head up. And don't be afraid to pass the ball back.