For top-speed a high center of gravity is advantageous, but in soccer, players with a low center of gravity are often at an advantage.
There have been a big influx of players from west-african countries to Norwegian soccer recently and one of the things that (speaking generally) mark them apart from the natives is the way they will lower their center of gravity and work closer to the ground (“sitting down”)when handling the ball, regardless if they have a low center of gravity to begin with or not. The typical norwegian soccer-player on the other hand will be more erect (stiff) when handling the ball. Once again regardless of having a low center of gravity or not.
Here’s an example of what I’m talking about. The player in question have a naturally low center of gravity, still, you can see that he is actively lowering it even more whenever he is in possesion of the ball.
Is regular speed and strenght/power work enough to develop this skill or is there an element of specificity involved? If there is, I’m thinking it is more mental than anything. What are your thoughts?
There isn’t much time to accelerate all the way up to full speed most people are never running with the ball at 100%.
It just runs away from you if you try to.
I don’t even think about it. It’s an automatic reflex. If I want to keep control of the ball at pace, I look down most of the time and maybe look up every 2-3 secs.
I usually never look down when running with the ball, but I think that is related to the fact that I’m very upright when doing it, which is something I’m trying to correct. Basically I’m trying to make the transition from “elegant” to “powerful”.
This very upright way of running with/recieving the ball is something that I find is very common among norwegian (and indeed north-european) soccer-players. The strenght is there, but in my view it is not being utilized correctly. Of course this is related to the style of play too; “Kick and run”.
I certainly don’t think that looking down is necessary. It’s good to always look up and see where you are going, and I am working on that aspect of my game instead of looking down all the time.
I think the key is to stay low but keep glancing up every so often.
Elegant is good - Cristiano Ronaldo seems to run upright a lot of the time and is very elegant. If you play like him, there should be no reason to change unless you are getting knocked off the ball constantly.
I think Charlie said that “the best starts feel light”(or something similiar) so you don’t necessarily need to feel powerful.
Summary: Don’t read to much into keeping your body low. Lower centre of gravity is better for balance - so if that is an issue, stay low.
Elegant is good - Cristiano Ronaldo seems to run upright a lot of the time and is very elegant.
I probably played/looked a lot like him when I was younger, but I don’t have the quickness to do it on the senior level.
What I have found since trying for the first time to consciously become as good a soccer player as I can (training instead of being trained) is that my force lies in doing things at high speeds. In fact my touch is infinitely better at high speeds than when playing at a leisurely pace (I’m no Valderrama). Typically it is also much better when the ball is in the air than when on the ground.
The problem is that all to often I’m accelerating from to upright a position and can’t get into those situations where I can really shine. This is where consciously thinking about lowering the center of gravity comes into play. Maybe when I get more fit this will happen instinctively.
Yeah, the majority of people on here are from the US.
I’m the opposite from you… I’m short and much better on the ground. I have poor ball control.
Personally, I go low automatically when I want to accelerate. I think you probably
do this a well - but my image of you is someone who will slow down to take someone on, rather than running at the at top speed.
Just the reason why I think you aren’t automatically going low.
Yes, I will slow down to take someone on, but on the other hand that is the only time when I will instinctively lower my center of gravity before accelerating. It’s from a stand still I’m struggling. Instead of preparing for something to happen, I’m waiting for something to happen, which means when it does it is already to late to react. The old saying “keep on your toes at all times” ought to be my motto.
If I understand you correctly you are a lot like many of the young players that is coming up here in Norway. Players who are good at running with the ball at high speeds, which is essential in the fast attacking game we play, but who are lacking in the ability to orientate themselves before passing.
Yeah, I suppose in that case, it’s just a case of being prepared.
I’m not sure how you train this, but if you have a partner, could could get him to drop a tennis ball around 10yards away from you. Then try to catch it before it hits the ground (without diving for it; stay on your feet).
Your analysis of me is pretty accurate although I am a full-back. Here in Scotland, the full-backs never get the ball and are never comfortable on the ball. We aren’t like the full-backs in Holland who can get out of almost any difficult situation.
What I do is place two goals opposite each other about twenty meters apart, shoot the ball into the crossbar that is resting on the ground and when the ball comes back through the air I kick it over myself, turn and run for the ball, aiming to catch it before it hits the ground. I’m also practising my volley-shots this way.
Only problem is that I’m using goals so small I have to stand very close to the first one or else the ball will hit the back of the crossbar on it’s way back.
I’m going to make my own portable wall soon, which will make things better.
unless you are getting knocked off the ball constantly.
For some reason I thought you where from the US.
although I am a full-back. Here in Scotland, the full-backs never get the ball and are never comfortable on the ball. We aren’t like the full-backs in Holland who can get out of almost any difficult situation.