13 Reasons Why You Suck This Soccer Season

Every player has rough patches, but if you’re consistently underperforming, it’s time for some honest self-reflection. Here are the most common reasons players struggle and what you can do to turn things around.

The headline is meant to be harsh to get the point across, but I’m really a nice guy (I swear) 😀

Also, just because you might “suck” this season, doesn’t mean you suck as a person. Don’t let your game define you. Let it reinvent you!

1. Your first touch is trash

You’re taking too long to control the ball, giving defenders time to close you down. Poor first touches kill attacks before they start and make you a liability in tight spaces.

Solution: Practice wall passes daily for 15 minutes. Start close to the wall and work on cushioning the ball with different parts of your foot. Gradually increase distance and pace. Focus on your first touch going in the direction you want to go next, not just stopping the ball.

2. You’re always out of position

Whether you’re a defender caught upfield during counters or a midfielder who disappears when your team needs you, being in the wrong place at the wrong time destroys team chemistry.

Solution: Study your position by watching professional players in your role. Ask your coach to explain exactly where you should be in different game situations. During training, constantly check your positioning relative to teammates and opponents.

3. Your fitness is terrible

You’re gassed by the 60th minute, walking when you should be sprinting, and making lazy decisions because your body can’t keep up with your mind.

Solution: Build a conditioning routine with interval running (30-second sprints, 90-second jogs for 20 minutes), plus strength training twice a week. Add soccer-specific drills like shuttle runs and box-to-box sprints to match game intensity.

4. You only use your strong foot

Defenders have figured out you’re one-footed, so they force you onto your weak side and watch you struggle. Your predictability makes you easy to defend.

Solution: Dedicate 20 minutes of every training session to weak foot only. Start with simple passing against a wall, then progress to dribbling, shooting, and receiving. Force yourself to use your weak foot in low-pressure training situations. The longer you put it off, the more you’ll depend on your stronger leg.

5. Your decision-making is too slow

By the time you decide what to do with the ball, the moment has passed. You’re holding onto possession too long and missing simple passing opportunities.

Solution: Practice quick decision-making drills where you have only 2-3 touches maximum. Before receiving the ball, scan the field and decide your next move. Play small-sided games that force rapid decision-making under pressure.

6. You don’t communicate

You play like you’re wearing headphones. No calling for the ball, no warning teammates about opponents, no organization. Soccer is a team sport, not a silent movie.

Solution: Force yourself to make at least 10 verbal calls per training session. Practice specific phrases like “man on,” “switch it,” and “I’m open.” Make communication a habit by talking constantly during small-sided games, even when you feel awkward.

7. You’re mentally weak

One bad pass and your head drops. You let mistakes snowball into disasters instead of moving on to the next play. Your confidence evaporates under the slightest pressure.

Solution: Develop a “reset” routine after mistakes – take a deep breath, make a positive gesture, and focus on the next play. Practice positive self-talk and visualization. Set process goals (like “make 8/10 passes”) instead of outcome goals.

8. Your passing accuracy is sporadic

Simple 10-yard passes are finding the other team. You’re either overhitting balls or playing them behind teammates, disrupting the flow of play.

Solution: Practice passing with targets at various distances. Work on weight of pass by aiming for your teammate’s front foot where they’re moving. Do passing drills with both feet, focusing on accuracy over power. Start with stationary targets, then moving ones.

9. You don’t track back defensively

When your team loses possession, you jog back like you’re on a Sunday stroll. Modern soccer requires everyone to defend, and you’re leaving your teammates outnumbered.

Solution: Make defensive running automatic by practicing transition drills. Sprint back immediately when possession is lost, even in training. Track your defensive actions per game and set targets for tackles, interceptions, and defensive pressure.

10. Your shooting is pathetic

You either blast every shot over the bar or place them gently into the keeper’s hands. You panic in the box instead of picking your spots.

Solution: Practice shooting with placement over power. Set up cones in corners of the goal and aim for them from different angles. Work on quick shooting after receiving passes. Practice finishing under pressure with defenders closing you down.

11. You can’t win headers

Whether it’s defensive clearances or attacking crosses, you lose every aerial battle. You’re either mistiming your jumps or getting bullied off the ball.

Solution: Work on jumping technique and timing by practicing headers against a wall. Strengthen neck and core muscles for power. Practice attacking the ball rather than waiting for it. Work on body positioning to gain advantage over opponents in aerial duels.

12. You’re selfish with possession

You try to dribble through three defenders when a simple pass would do. Your ego is bigger than your soccer IQ, and it’s costing your team goals.

Solution: Before every touch, identify at least two passing options. Practice one and two-touch passing in training. Set personal goals for assists and key passes rather than individual glory. Ask coaches to call you out when you hold the ball too long.

13. You prioritize your phone over soccer

You’re scrolling Instagram 3 hours before games, you stay up late looking at TikTok, you constantly hear a buzz go off (even if it’s not your phone). Your attention is everywhere except where it needs to be to improve your game.

Solution: Leave your phone in the bag during all soccer activities. Use screen time controls to limit social media during training days. Replace phone time with soccer-focused activities like watching match analysis, studying your position, or visualizing game situations. Make soccer your priority when you’re at the field.