3 Football tips to set you apart from everyone else.
To become a better footballer takes years of practice, dedication and hardwork. You can spend years teaching yourself the perfect free-kick technique, perfecting your passing and dribble through cones for hours on end to improve your control.
However, there is 3 things that would INSTANTLY set you apart from the rest, these are 3 tips that not many people can perfect and it sets the average apart from the best. You can be the best ball striker, best defender or best long passer in the world, but implementing these three things will take your game to the next level.
1. Scanning
Scanning is the action of getting your head up and looking around you. This can be done on the ball or off the ball. Scanning before receiving the ball is what all the top players do—a quick look over their shoulders to see what is behind them. This allows you to know exactly how much time you have on the ball, and you will instantly know what you can do when the ball gets to your feet.
Pre-Scanning: Knowing Before You Receive
Top players like Xavi, Luka Modric, and Sergio Busquets are masters of pre-scanning. Before they even receive the ball, they take a quick look around, assessing the situation. This habit allows them to decide what to do before the ball even reaches them. Pre-scanning lets you know how much space and time you have, where the defenders are, and most importantly, where your teammates are positioned. It turns decision-making from reactive to proactive, speeding up your play and giving you a mental edge over your opponents.
Scanning on the Ball: Keeping Control
Once you’ve received the ball, scanning doesn’t stop. Players like Xavi don’t just glance around before they receive the ball; they constantly scan while on the ball. As soon as they control it, they know what to do next because they’re aware of every player’s position. This is why Xavi was so great at maintaining possession—he could spot passes that others couldn’t see.
Decision-Making and Eliminating Mistakes
Scanning is what sets normal players apart from the best. It allows you to make better decisions on the pitch and helps eliminate silly mistakes. Mistakes you might be familiar with if you don’t scan the pitch before you get the ball include:
- Turning when there is another player right behind you.
- Giving the ball away immediately by making a pass that’s no longer viable.
- As a goalkeeper, not knowing a player is lurking behind you and dropping the ball for an easy goal.
When you don’t scan while on the ball, common errors include running straight into defenders, passing the ball into dangerous areas, or failing to spot open teammates. These mistakes are avoidable simply by getting your head up and constantly checking your surroundings.
Becoming a Smarter Player
When you scan, you make faster, smarter decisions, and those decisions make you a better footballer. It’s a skill that’s easy to develop with practice, but it can have an immediate impact on your game. You’ll find that you’re less likely to get caught out, and you’ll start anticipating situations before they happen. It’s what separates the good from the great in football.
2. Two Footed
Being two-footed will instantly make you better than 90% of other players. If you can answer the question “What is your weak foot?” with “I don’t have one,” you’ve instantly given yourself an advantage.
Unpredictability in Attack
Having the ability to play with both feet opens up a whole new dimension to your game. As an attacking player, being two-footed means you can operate under pressure more effectively because you don’t need to worry about adjusting your body to suit your stronger foot. This allows you to maintain balance and stay composed in tight situations. Defenders will struggle to predict your movements, as you can cut inside or go outside, dribble or shoot, with equal skill on both feet.
If you’re an attacker, being able to strike or cross the ball with either foot makes you far more dangerous. A two-footed player can take shots or deliver crosses from any angle, keeping defenders and goalkeepers on edge because they can’t predict your next move.
Control in Midfield
For midfielders, being two-footed allows you to be more fluid in possession. You can make quick decisions, switch play effortlessly, and break through the opposition’s lines with accurate passes using either foot. This gives you more time on the ball, as you don’t need to position yourself awkwardly to compensate for a weaker foot. You’ll also find that your first touch improves, as you can control the ball from any direction without worrying about which foot to use.
Versatility in Defence
If you’re a defender, the ability to tackle and clear the ball effectively with both feet is a huge advantage. You can deal with attackers coming from either side without hesitation. Being comfortable with both feet means you can play anywhere along the backline, whether on the left or right, and be equally strong in defensive situations. This versatility makes you a more valuable player to any coach.
Examples from Top Players
Think about players like Kevin De Bruyne, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Santi Cazorla—players who are equally proficient with both feet. Their ability to shoot, pass, and dribble with either foot is part of what makes them world-class and incredibly hard to defend against. By training both feet, you unlock more areas of the pitch, increase your chances of success in one-on-one situations, and become a more complete player.
Start practising with your weaker foot. It may feel uncomfortable at first, but with consistent effort, you’ll notice massive improvements in your game.
3. Communication
Communication is one of the most underrated skills in football. It’s not just about shouting or talking—it’s about delivering clear, concise, and actionable information to your teammates.
Impact on Team Organisation
Good communication makes you the eyes and ears of your team. Even when you don’t have the ball, you can have a massive influence on the game by guiding your teammates, keeping them alert, and letting them know what’s happening around them. For example, as a midfielder, you can instruct a teammate to close down space or cover a gap they may not have seen. A simple shout like “man on,” “turn,” or “switch” can prevent mistakes and keep your team in control of the game.
If you’re a defender, communication is essential for maintaining an organised backline. Defenders who talk and direct the players in front of them ensure the team stays compact and in shape. A quiet defence is often a vulnerable one. By staying vocal, you ensure that everyone around you is in the right position, ready to react.
Impact on Team Organisation
In attack, communication can lead to game-changing moments. Whether it’s calling for a pass, asking a teammate to overlap, or telling them to hold their run, these small pieces of communication create better opportunities. When you talk, you’re always engaged in the play, which keeps your mind sharp and your decision-making quick.
For example, a simple shout like “through” or “hold it” can time a run perfectly or ensure a pass reaches the right spot. The more vocal you are, the more aware you become of what’s happening around you, making you an active part of the game—even when you don’t have the ball.
Leadership on the Pitch
Top players like Virgil van Dijk, Sergio Ramos, or Jordan Henderson are not only great athletes but also exceptional communicators. Their ability to marshal their teammates, alert them to danger, or offer encouragement is a hallmark of their leadership. Their communication helps maintain discipline, focus, and organisation on the pitch, often turning them into natural leaders.
By developing your communication skills, you become a player others look to for direction. Even if you’re not the captain, you can still have a significant influence on your team’s performance through your vocal presence. Communication builds trust and confidence within the team, which translates into better performances and results.
How to Improve
If you’re not used to being vocal, it can feel strange at first, but like any skill in football, it improves with practice. Start by making small calls during training sessions—whether it’s giving your teammate a heads-up about an opponent’s position or letting them know they’re free to turn. The more you do it, the more natural it becomes.
Being a good communicator on the pitch helps the entire team function as a cohesive unit and allows you to stand out as a key player.
Conclusion
While football is a game that requires years of effort to truly master, implementing these three skills—scanning, being two-footed, and communication—will immediately elevate your game and set you apart from others. Scanning improves your decision-making and reduces costly mistakes. Being two-footed makes you unpredictable and versatile, while communication ensures your team operates as a single unit.
These might seem like small details, but attention to these aspects of your game can make a huge difference on the pitch. The best players do these things instinctively, and with practice, you can too. Start working on these skills now, and you’ll notice an improvement in your game overnight.
