Developing chemistry with your teammates is vital to you and your team’s success.
This article will cover the benefits of team chemistry and how to develop it with your teammates.
3 Benefits of Having Good Relationships With Your Teammates
Good teammates make soccer fun
I know that many of you are serious about becoming a great soccer player.
But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have fun.
Having fun can actually make you a better player. It allows you to loosen up. You make less mistakes when you are relaxed.
Good teammates motivate and support you
Close teammates support each other.
They uplift you when you mess up, provide support when you’re tired, and motivate you to try your hardest.
Soccer is a game of highs and lows. Having teammates support your successes and failures will motivate you to play better.
Good teammates win games
When your team has good chemistry everything works efficiently.
Players know what types of runs their teammates will make, when the winger will cover the opposing winger, and are organized on set pieces.
Everyone is in sync. Everyone knows their role. Everyone encourages each other.
Teams with good chemistry regularly beat teams with more skilled players because they are more effective on the pitch.
5 Tips For Developing Chemistry With Your Soccer Teammates
One player can’t create perfect team chemistry. Chemistry is partially determined by things outside of your control – like the quality of your coach and the personality of your teammates.
However, you can have a significant effect on your team’s chemistry if you follow these tips:
1. Play your role
Players often care more about themselves than the team. As a result, they dribble when they should pass, push up the field when they should be defending, and conserve energy when they should be making runs to create space for teammates.
Don’t be this player. You will drag the team down.
Always try to do what’s best for the team. Play unselfishly, support teammates (even when you want to yell at them), and give 100 percent every game and practice.
Make the smart, effective play rather than trying to show off. You may not be the fan favorite, but you will help your team win.
Play your role and many teammates will admire you and follow your lead.
2. Interact with your teammates off the pitch
Friendships off the pitch lead to chemistry on the pitch.
Spent as much time as possible getting to know your teammates. Talk to them during breaks in practices, party with them (if you are old enough), play Fifa together, have unofficial practices/pickup games, have sleep overs, etc.
3. Support Your Teammates
Saying positive things consistently creates chemistry.
Compliment your teammates when they do something good and support them when they mess up.
Many teams have too much negativity. Yelling is only okay when a teammate doesn’t play his role.
For example, when a player dribbles too much constantly, yelling may be the only way to change his behavior.
However, if, for instance, a player has a bad touch yelling at him is pointless. He knows he messed up and is likely already angry at himself. Yelling won’t make his touch better, it will only make him more uptight, leading to more mistakes.
4. Use Constructive Criticism
Criticism can improve team chemistry when used correctly
We (Jake and Cris) both like being blunt, but it’s not always the best method. So, we often use constructive criticism.
Constructive criticism is the art of criticizing teammates without making them angry or offended.
Compliment a teammate, then criticize, then end with optimism. It sounds cheesy, but it works.
For example say “I’ve noticed that you’ve been working hard recently, but you need to use your body more. If you learn how to shield better I know you will really dominate.”
It’s usually best to use constructive criticism 1 on 1 with the player or in small groups.
The level of respect from your teammates will determine how well your criticism is received.
5. Include Everyone
Your team is only as strong as your weakest link.
For this reason, you should do your best to develop a close-knit team.
Include shy, less popular teammates in conversation, support and provide constructive criticism to everyone – not just starters -and try to understand and work with unique personalities.
Follow these tips, play well, and work hard. You will become respected. When you become respected, start taking more of a leadership role.
A team leader can have a large effect on chemistry (sometimes even more than the coach) so become a leader if you are serious about improving team chemistry.
Are You a Good Soccer Teammate?
Good teammates:
- Compliment
- Communicate effectively
- Talk on and off the pitch
- Play their role
- Have friends on the team
- Use constructive criticism to help teammates get better
- Listen to constructive criticism from teammates
- Pass the ball when appropriate
- Congratulate teammates after scoring
- Stand up for teammates that are singled out in a negative way (if they don’t deserve it)
I have this player on my team who feels the need to make snappy comments to piss me off and I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I have wronged him somehow, but he dislikes me a lot. he is not even a good player and I know I can just ignore him, but that wont do me or my team any good in developing chemistry… what should I do???
Hey Omar,
I’m assuming that this problem is still happening.
My advice for you is that after practice you should pull him aside and address the issue one-on-one. Ask him what is going on. And if he gets aggressive with you, remain calm. You don’t want to aggravate the situation.
I hope this helps.