Improve Game Speed

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1. ⚽Improve Game Speed

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⚽Improving Game Speed

One of the most common requests we hear as football coaches is the desire to make players "faster." At first glance, many associate this with pure running speed – the ability to outrun an opponent in a sprint or chase down long passes. However, speed in football is much more than just the time it takes a player to move from point A to point B. True game speed is defined by a player's ability to read the game, make decisions quickly, and execute those decisions efficiently.

In this article, I want to show how we can not only improve our players' physical speed but more importantly enhance their overall game speed – focusing on three key factors: anticipation, game vision, and passing. Players like David Silva, who was never among the fastest sprinters during his time at Manchester City, are a perfect example of how you can dominate the game with your mind.

1. Anticipation – Reading the Game in Advance

A key component of improving game speed is the ability to anticipate. Players who can "read" the game and predict situations ahead of time often stay one step ahead of their opponents, regardless of their physical speed.

David Silva was a master of anticipation. He often knew where the ball or his teammates were moving before the pass was even made, allowing him to position himself perfectly. This skill enabled him to find solutions in tight spaces where others might struggle or feel overwhelmed.

How Can You Train Anticipation?

• Scenario-Based Training: Incorporate drills that require players to recognize and react to situations early. For example, use small-sided games with quick ball exchanges where players constantly adjust their positions and anticipate passing lanes. This helps develop their ability to read the game in fast-paced environments.

• Video Analysis: Show your players examples of footballers like David Silva or Sergio Busquets, who influence the speed of the game through their anticipatory play. By analyzing such footage, players can learn to identify similar patterns and improve their own game awareness.

• Encourage Communication: Players who communicate effectively on the pitch can support each other in anticipating play. Encourage constant communication, where players alert each other to potential threats or opportunities, helping the team to react faster and more strategically.

2. Game Vision – The Idea Behind Every Action

Game vision is the second crucial factor in increasing game speed. It’s about players not just waiting for the ball, but knowing in advance what they will do with it once they get it. Players who understand the game and have a clear mental picture of which spaces to occupy and what options are available can act much faster and more precisely. This reduces time spent on the ball and increases the overall pace of the game.

A prime example of excellent game vision is Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Under Guardiola, it’s not just the individual brilliance of the players that makes the game so fast, but the clear structure and deep understanding of the system. Every City player knows exactly where their teammates are and which spaces to fill in both attack and defense. This level of automation allows for quick decisions and smooth, fluid attacks.

How Can You Train Game Vision?

• Constant Field Scanning: Encourage your players to scan the field before receiving the ball and have a plan for what to do next. This skill can be developed in exercises like "Rondo" or small-sided games where players must constantly keep track of their teammates' and opponents' positions.

• Set Limitations: Limit the number of touches players are allowed, such as two or three touches per possession, to force quicker thinking and decision-making. Small-sided games with intense pressing also promote faster mental preparation and execution.

• Tactical Automation: Work on structured movement patterns and spatial awareness with your players. The more they understand and internalize positional play principles, the easier it becomes for them to read the game and make faster decisions—just like Guardiola’s City. Clear roles and a collective understanding of space and time are essential to increasing team-wide game speed.

3. Passing – Speed Through Technique

Passing is the third crucial factor in increasing game speed. Fast and precise passing allows a team to control the tempo of the game and put pressure on the opposition without requiring players to sprint constantly. By circulating the ball and maintaining a high tempo with quick touches, even less athletic teams can speed up the game and create space.

A team that exemplifies this perfectly is, once again, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Guardiola’s philosophy revolves around quick possession play, where every pass has a clear purpose: to circulate the ball in such a way that the opponent is forced out of position, creating gaps. City’s players are able to pass quickly and accurately under high pressure, often with just one or two touches. This constant movement forces the opposition to chase the ball and makes it difficult for them to gain control of the game.

The key to this quick passing game lies not only in technique but also in decision-making. Players like Kevin De Bruyne or Bernardo Silva are not only technically outstanding, but they also have the game intelligence to spot the best passing option in a split second. They know when a quick short pass is needed or when it’s more effective to switch play with a diagonal ball. This forces the opponent to constantly react, preventing them from taking control of the game themselves.

How Can You Train Passing?

• Rondos and Small-Sided Games: One of the most effective ways to train quick passing is through "Rondo" exercises. These classic drills help players maintain possession under pressure and make quick decisions. Rondos not only develop technical skills but also improve the ability to recognize passing lanes and open spaces.

• Passing Combinations Under Pressure: Work on passing drills where players must quickly and accurately pass the ball while under pressure. Tight small-sided games or pressing drills with a two-touch maximum increase the difficulty and train players to maintain a high tempo, even when the opposition applies intense pressure.

• Pass Quality and Timing: It’s not just about playing the ball quickly but also about improving the quality of the pass. A precise, perfectly timed pass significantly speeds up the game. Players need to learn how to deliver passes that put their teammates in optimal positions, allowing the game to flow smoothly and efficiently.

Conclusion

Speed in football goes far beyond sprinting ability. Players like David Silva have demonstrated that mental speed, technical brilliance, and tactical intelligence are key to shaping the game. As coaches, we must focus on developing our players in anticipation, game vision, and passing to turn them into true accelerators of the game. Those who can process the game quickly in their minds will be able to execute it just as swiftly on the field – and that is the true art of speed in modern football.

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