Old fashioned views of football dictated that a common reason for rejection was size. Despite generations of small geniuses including Pele (5′ 6) and Maradona (5′ 4) it is Messi (5′ 5) who has been able to use the globalisation of the game to dispel the myth that size is everything.
I still do see reasons of physical stature used as an excuse to rejection. I recently saw an 11 year old rejected because he wouldn’t be able to physically affect the game at 14……. the balance between performance and potential is often missed.
The game is scattered now with amazing talent, Dani Alves, Jordi Alba, N’Golo Kante, Santi Cazorla, Serio Aguero, Eden Hazard, Raheem Sterling, Xavi, Luca Modric, Neymar Jr, Andrie Iniesta, and my new favourite Lucas Torreira. That is not to say the use of power and pace is diminishing, that is not to say that superstars in the past, now and in the future will not also be giants of the game.
What is important is that you focus on yourself. If you are small analyse those players. What players have physical attributes similar to you, are you a Kante? Sterling? or Iniesta? Once you understand yourself you can work on the areas that make these players great.
Naturally as a smaller player you have a lower centre of gravity which gives you a better base for stability. This means that if you work on your balance and agility you can be hard to knock off the ball, hard to unbalance, and will give you an advantage when you are changing direction alongside a bigger player.
You can use quick changes of direction on and off the ball to your advantage. Get behind the opposition, out of their line of site, and sharp movements will give you the advantage. When you are about to be engage in possession try and position yourself between the ball and your opposition.
When you receive the ball, play quickly, play off 1 or 2 touches, and make positive decisions. When you think of the best attacking players in the world like Messi and Hazard, they play very quickly in possession, when they receive the ball their mind is already set to play the ball off 1 or 2 touches, or make an aggressive sharp dribble into a more dangerous area.
If you focus your analysis and your training on your game, your strength, and forget about the 6′ 4″ defender who could put you on the floor you will develop. Try your unique traits into your 10 out of 10.
Our top three tips for training for small players are;
- Train your agility and balance – Use the natural low centre of gravity you have to your advantage. Work daily on co ordination exercises and even use other sports to support your training for better agility and balance.
- Play off 1 or 2 touches – In training focus on ball mastery and playing quickly off of 1 or 2 touches. This will enable you to move the ball quickly, to stay away from you opposition and effect play in a positive way.
- Focus on yourself – It’s very easy to give us. It’s very easy to take the phrase ‘You’re too small’ to heart. Don’t reach for something that is physically impossible. If you are small you have an advantage, now focus on that advantage, and make it your main strength.
The beautiful game is a blend of styles. The individual players who make up a team are there to complement each other. Tall, short, quick, intelligent. Focus on your strengths.