Qualities of A Good Football Player

Do you know what makes a good footballer?

What characteristics, traits and qualities do you need to have to make it in football?

In this article we take a look at the areas you can develop to help in your journey of becoming a quality football player.

Or scroll to the bottom to watch the video.

To make it in the game, you need commitment and dedication. (There’s a reason why Money Mayweather shouts it during his workouts).

It's no use only being half invested and half interested in what you're trying to achieve.

Ideally, you need to be sleeping, eating and breathing the game if you really want to succeed.

Why do I say that?

Well, that's because when times get hard and things get tough, if you're not fully invested into it, it's very easy just to say, “I'm not going to go out and train today, I'm not going to go put in the work that's required”.

Whereas if you are truly passionate about it, when you eat it, breathe and sleep it, you're committed to the cause. It’s that commitment that is going to get you off the couch and outside to train.

Maybe you've got a trial at a club that's 2 hours away. Maybe you've got no transport or no way of getting there where you need to go.

These are all excuses that can step in the way and stop you from achieving your goal.

But if you're truly committed and dedicated to it, you'll find a way around these barriers and through them.

Because at the end of the day, your main goal is to become a football player.

Discipline is what keeps you on track and keeps you on course to help you achieve your goals.

It's what keeps you doing all the little, small, boring, monotonous things that otherwise you wouldn't be bothered to do.

But, you know, by doing those things, at the end of the game, it all adds up to helping you become the best football player you can be.

So what does discipline look like?

Well, discipline could be you having to turn down your friends for a night out when they're calling you, having a great time, laughing and joking, and you're sat at home because, you know, in the morning or the next day, you need to be up and out on the training field.

You need discipline to make sure you're eating the right foods, fuelling your body for the upcoming game that you've got whilst all your mates are sat around tucking into that nice, big, juicy bit of pizza.

You've got to stay disciplined, making sure you're doing what's right for you and your body.

Discipline is doing what needs to be done, even when you can’t be bothered.

Work ethic relates to on field and off field.

Are you doing the hard work when no one's watching?

Are you out there busting your gut, swelling, making yourself feel like you want to vomit because you've worked so hard? Because you know putting in the work now makes it easier for yourself in the game.

On the pitch, are you doing that one extra sprint that's needed that might get you a goal? You've already made nine runs and never got the ball…That 10th run could be the one where you score the goal.

Are you chasing that misplaced past? It looks like it's going out of play. Most people will stop and not bother chasing it down, but maybe you get there in time, create an opportunity for your team and they score a goal.

Work ethic is a very big thing that coaches look for.

You can have two very similar, very talented players, but the one with the best work ethic, who's going to put in the effort that is required, is the one that will always come out on top.

And this segues us very nicely into the next one, which is…

Has the coach has asked you to play out of position?

Are you being asked to do something that's uncomfortable or unnatural for you?

It may mean that you have to sacrifice yourself for the good of the team, for the greater goal.

So it may mean that you don't get to stand out for a game and be the star player because you're being asked to do some negative work that will ultimately impact the team in a positive way and means that your team gets the result that you're looking for.

This brings us to our final point…

Are you being proactive?

Again, this relates to on the field and off the field.

On the field, are you being proactive and thinking about the things you need to do to be successful on the pitch?

Are you anticipating the game, reading what’s going on? Are you thinking about your body shape, getting yourself into the correct position?

Are you putting yourself in the right areas of the pitch, knowing what play is about to develop rather than just reacting to what's happening?

Are you making your moves at the right time? Are you making those runs, those sprints?

Are you dragging that player out, giving yourself some more space or giving your teammates some more space to receive the ball?

These are all things that being proactive within the game will help you become a better player.

Being proactive off the field is equally, if not more important, in my opinion.

What are you doing away from the field to become a better player and to have a more successful career?

Are you sitting back on the couch, arms up, waiting for that coach to give you a call and offer you that dream contract you've been waiting for?

Or are you out there putting yourself in the shop window, networking, creating connections, and trying to hustle your way into your next opportunity?

In this day and age, with social media, pretty much everybody in the game is connectable and contactable, and I myself have had some great success reaching out to coaches via this method.

Play Away Global’s online scouting network, which gives access to players to connect directly with coaches is a perfect way for you to be proactive in taking control of your football career and climbing up the levels.