How to Succeed at a Football Trial

How to Succeed At a Football Trial:

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We have talked about how to get out of your comfort zone and find opportunities abroad in the “how to play football overseas” article.

We have talked about how to actually contact the team when you are on ground in the “how to contact a professional football team” article.

Next (and most important step) is succeeding at that training/trial, so you can sign for that team and help them get those 3 points on match day.

I have been in your shoes many many many times before. I have gone on a myriad of trials in many countries.

Going on trial may be scary and can make you nervous.

Obviously, the main goal is that you are well prepared (you are fit and ready to give 100%).

Importance of Preparation:

Importance of Pickup/Small Sided Games:

Besides, just training by yourself, I would recommend playing some small sided/pickup at least 2x per week so you can play against “real players,” get a feel and rhythm for the game, and be able to put what you’ve been working on during individual training to test.

If you can’t find pick up matches, try to find a couple of friends to play 1v1, 2v2, etc.

If you have prepared and you feel ready, there’s no reason to be nervous.

One of the primary reasons I have my 1-on-1 Online Elite Coaching program is for this exact reason. Within my first phone conversation with an Online Client, I always point this out and it’s something to be aware of:

Your goal is to think of your football career as your own business and consider yourself as your most important asset and investment.

If you make yourself as good as possible in every area as a footballer (technically, physically, tactically, mentally) through thousands of hours of repetitions and consistency of training, you will be wanted by a team.

At the end of the day, you have to realize: football is a business.

When you get to the professional level, you have to be an asset to the team so you can help them get 3 points on the weekend.

If you can’t do that, you won’t be wanted by the team.

Obviously, our goal is to get you wanted by the team.

Therefore, your goal is to take matters into your own hands and control what you can control; which is YOURSELF!

I get it, trust me, football is an opinion-based game (which I will get into later).

But, your goal, at the end of a trial, game or training is to look in the mirror and say:

“I focused on what I could control, prepared the best I could for the months/years coming up to this point and I performed the best I possibly can. Now, I will just leave the rest up to the coach and the board.”

In essence, you want to have NO REGRETS!

The way you do that is by focusing on yourself. Ask yourself these questions:

-How are you sleeping?

-How is your nutrition?

-How is your hydration?

-How are you preparing technically?

-How are you preparing physically?

-How are you preparing mentally?

-How are you preparing tactically?

-How are you recovering to prepare yourself for the next day to adapt and get better?

I know it’s a lot, and that’s why it’s hard to get paid to play the game.

It is a 24/7 job. It is a lifestyle that you need to embody and be ready for.

Listen to this Clip Below Where Henderson Talks Exactly This:

But, the great thing about all the things I have listed above is that they are all in your control.

So, if you are not dialed in and disciplined and all the categories listed above or your missing something, I would highly recommend getting started on that now.

Don’t wait any longer! Start today after reading this article.

 

How to Prepare:

If you don’t know how to prepare yourself in that way, I have posted thousands of posts on Instagram and TikTok, dozens of articles on my blog, hundreds of YouTube Videos, and dozens of podcasts to help you out for FREE.

If you don’t want to do any of the digging and the planning and the thinking, simply hire a coach and they will do it for you.

Travel Agent:

Think about it, it’s the same exact thing that you would do if you were going on a vacation and you didn’t want to do any of the planning and thinking..

You would hire a travel agent.

The travel agent’s job is to take out all of the thinking for you and give you an itinerary so you can relax and enjoy your vacation without any extra brain power.

That’s the same job of a coach.

What Happens if You’re Not Prepared? 

Speaking of a vacation, maybe you were on a vacation with your buddies’ and you got a call from a team or your agent that a team in Cyprus wants to host you for a trial in 1 week..

No matter where you are (as long as the trial seems reasonable), I would hope that you would hop on a plane, get yourself sorted and go for that trial. Because the only way you succeed and getting more opportunities is by taking chances and risks.

If you haven’t prepared and it just came upon you without you knowing (which should never happen), give it your best effort and do what you know best.

But, this is why my clients and I abide by this quote:

“Stay Ready So You Don’t Have to Get Ready!” 

When you “stay ready” and are constantly ready, you will always get an opportunity!

It’s just about the matter of time, and that’s the nature of football.

There have been times where I have been waiting (preparing while I wait of course ;)) for months for an opportunity and I haven’t seen anything.

All of a sudden, within 1 week, I have 3 opportunities, and then I am stuck in the middle trying to pick the best one.

\You don’t want to look back and say to yourself, “I wish I prepared the last couple of months.”

As long as you are healthy (body and mind), something will always come up. You just have to be ready when that opportunity comes!

Luck = Preparation + Opportunity

 

What if You Don’t Get Signed:

If you come up short and things don’t go your way; it’s not the end of the world, it definitely won’t be your last opportunity.

But you need to go back to a quiet place and analyze why it didn’t go right:

-Were you not prepared (technically, tactically, physically, mentally)?

-Did the coach think your style didn’t fit his/her team?

-Maybe the coach didn’t need your position?

There could be many reasons, but you need to sit down and be honest with yourself.

If you’re honest, you will learn and grow.

If you’re not honest with yourself, you will never learn and grow.

Like I said, most important is to be prepared so you don’t have the regret of, “I wish I could have done more.”

Pressure:

There is no need put pressure on yourself.

If a trial doesn’t go your way, it’s not the end of the world. It won’t be your last opportunity, I promise.

When you live in an abundance mindset (more opportunity) rather than a scarcity mindset (“this is my only opportunity”), you will automatically take a lot of pressure off of yourself.

I always say, think back to when and why you started playing this game.

What would your 10-year-old self do if you got this opportunity?

 

As Promised, Here It Is:

Become an elite player on the pitch and learn how to build a 6 Figure side hustle off the pitch within Our Exclusive Academy:

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13 Tips to Succeed at a Trial:

Here are 13 Tips that will make it more likely for you to succeed at your trial.

 

1. Say Hello to Every Single Player in the Locker Room:

-Look them directly in their eyes, shake their hand, introduce yourself and ask them their name.

-Even if no one says hi to you, you go say hello to them and show them you believe in yourself and that you have confidence.

-Be a positive presence in the locker room. Add value

 

2. Look the Coach in the Eyes and Shake His/Her Hand with Confidence:

-Looking someone in the eyes means in the eyes. Not at the floor or the ceiling.

-This will show you that you have self-belief.

-The first impression is key.

3. Become Friends with Someone on the Team:

-Become friendly with a guy/girl on the team. Find similar interests. Maybe they know someone you know.

-Chat them up in the locker room or during the warm up.

-When a teammate welcomes you, more of the others will open up to you and be friendlier.

-This can also help you get a bit of “background/history” of the team and you can decide if it’s the right fit for you as a player and person.

 

4. Play Simple:

-Especially when you just arrive, play 1 and 2 touch on the field. Keep it simple, move the ball. Of course, if you have the space and you are good at 1v1, show your ability, but there is no need to be “extra” when you first arrive.

-In a recent Footwork Podcast with Max Mansfield; I heard him say “fit in, then stand out.” I had heard some forms of that before but never so well put in a couple of words.

Here’s the Podcast:

Admittedly, when I first went over to Europe, I thought it was the opposite. I thought the goal was to stand out right away.

-The mindset of Europeans is way different to that of America.

-But, in either case, you need to play simple, keep the ball, keep possession, and do the simple actions first. This will help you gain the respect of your teammates. Once you have that, you can start expressing yourself even more.

-I have heard many “TikTok and Instagram” Coaches disagree with this, and actually “stitch/duet” a video of mine with a response. This person actually DM’ed me about 1 year prior wanting to do a Collaboration, and I didn’t respond, because I wasn’t a fan of his stuff.

So he tried to bash me, and wanted a response. I decided it wasn’t worth my time. I won’t mention names because they don’t deserve any recognition in my content.

After playing 8 years in Europe, I will tell you this is what I’ve learned.

-If you don’t believe me, try dribbling players and making them look silly when you first go to a new team. I promise you, it won’t end well, but you can try 🙂

-Simplicity is genius.

5. Play with Confidence But Don’t Overdo Things:

-Like I said, playing with confidence and trying to do “too much” is completely the opposite.

-When you don’t have time and space, release the ball quickly and keep the ball.

-If you do have time and space, take your space with an aggressive dribble.

-Though, this obviously depends on your strengths and weaknesses as a player, which you know better than anyone else.

6. Be a Leader, Be Positive:

-Show the other players you belong there by being positive and showing your leadership capabilities.

-No one wants to be near a moaner or complainer. Show that you want to win, show your passion and show positivity.

-If a player makes a mistake, instead of criticizing, help their confidence my saying “good try buddy, next action!”

7. Work Your Tail Off:

-This is a given and there is never an excuse not to do this (unless you’re not fit, which you shouldn’t be)!

-Work as hard as you can in every drill and game.

8. Be Focused and Concentrated:

-The coach shouldn’t have to repeat themselves because you weren’t listening. Make sure you are always locked in and paying attention.

-If the training is in another language, make sure you get a buddy who speaks English and can clarify the drill, so you don’t have to ask the coach to repeat themselves.

 

9. Stay After the Training and Pick Up Gear:

-This is very vital and under looked. Pick up cones, pick up pinnies, move the goals back.

-This will show everyone you want to be there!

10. Try to Speak the Language:

-Even if it’s only a couple of words, add some in there.

-It will surprise teammates and the coaching staff and they will have a laugh about it. Whether it’s laughing at you or with you, it doesn’t really matter at this point.

11. Find Transportation to the Training:

-Like I’ve said in previous articles’, don’t ask the club for too much in the beginning.

-Find your way there with public transport, bike or car (whatever you have).

-If you become friends’ with a teammate before, during or after the training, you can ask them for a ride back to your place.

12. Say Goodbye to Everyone:

-Another under looked action.

-Say goodbye to teammates and tell them you will see them tomorrow. This will show confidence (once again).

13. Thank the Coach:

-Thank the Coach for the opportunity and tell him/her you enjoyed the training.

 

Conclusion: 

I hope this article really helped you out and it can help you succeed at your trial.

When you do sign, make sure to tag me in your signing pictures so I can shout you out in my story 🙂

Also, if you have any tips to add to this list, don’t hesitate to reach out, so I can help other players’ as well along their journey.

Keep yourself safe and healthy and make sure to STAY READY!

Do you want to improve your likelihood of signing your first pro contract? Do you need to improve your ball control?

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