My Child Has Been Playing Football for Years, But Isn’t Improving Much. Why?

Many parents tell us the same thing:

“My child has been training for a long time, but progress seems slow.”

“He enjoys football, but doesn’t get much game time.”

“She works hard in training, but struggles in real matches.”

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

And importantly, this is usually not because your child lacks effort or talent.

In most cases, the issue is something else entirely.

The Hidden Reason Many Players Plateau

Most children today already attend regular team training , school teams or another football academy.

They train weekly. They play matches. They stay active.

Yet progress still feels limited.

Why?

Because team training naturally focuses on:

• Tactics and formations

• Team shape

• Match preparation

• Managing large groups

What often gets missed is individual technical development.

Things like:

• First touch under pressure

• Ball control in tight spaces

• 1v1 confidence

• Receiving and turning quickly

• Passing technique

• Decision making with the ball

These details are hard to fix in large group environments.

But these details are exactly what determine whether a player:

• Keeps the ball in games

• Gains confidence

• Earns more game time

• Stands out to coaches

Without strong technical foundations, even hardworking players can struggle to express themselves on the pitch.

⸻

Why Technical Training Makes the Biggest Difference

Technical training focuses on the player, not the system.

Instead of teaching children where to stand, we help them develop the skills to handle any situation on the ball.

Good technical football training develops:

• Comfort under pressure

• Confidence to receive and turn

• Ability to beat opponents in 1v1 situations

• Better first touch and ball protection

• Calm decision making in games

When technique improves, something powerful happens:

Players start enjoying the game more.

They stop hiding from the ball.

They start asking for it.

And coaches naturally trust them more.

⸻

Is Your Child Better Suited for 1-to-1 Coaching or Group Technical Classes?

At our football academy, we usually recommend two pathways depending on the player’s needs.

1-to-1 Technical Training (Highly Individualised)

This is ideal if:

• Your child lacks confidence on the ball

• There are specific weaknesses (e.g. weak first touch, poor ball control)

• They need focused correction and attention

• Progress has been slow for a long time

In 1-to-1 sessions, the coach:

• Analyses the player’s current level

• Identifies key technical gaps

• Designs sessions around the child’s needs

• Gives constant feedback and correction

This accelerates improvement because nothing is generic.

Group Technical Classes (Small Groups, High Quality)

Our technical group classes suit players who:

• Already train with a school or club team

• Want extra technical training alongside team football

• Are motivated and enjoy challenge

• Want to sharpen performance in real matches

These sessions focus on:

• Ball mastery and close control

• First touch and receiving skills

• 1v1 attacking and defending

• Playing under realistic pressure

• Building confidence with the ball

Group sizes are kept controlled so players still receive meaningful attention.

⸻

Why Many Parents Choose a Specialist Football Academy for Technical Development

A specialist football academy that focuses on technical training offers something different from general football programmes.

Parents often choose this pathway because:

• Their child needs more than just match play

• They want visible, measurable improvement

• They want coaches who understand individual development

• They prefer long-term player growth over short-term results

The goal is not just to make children play more football.

The goal is to make them play better football.

⸻

A Simple Question to Ask Yourself

When you watch your child in a match, ask:

• Are they comfortable receiving the ball?

• Do they try to solve problems, or avoid involvement?

• Do they trust their first touch?

• Do they show confidence in 1v1 situations?

If the answer is mostly “no”, then more matches alone will not fix the problem.

What usually helps most is structured, consistent technical football training.

⸻

Final Thought for Parents

Improvement in football is rarely about motivation alone.

It is usually about the right type of training.

With focused technical work, the same child who once struggled can become:

• More confident

• More composed

• More involved

• More trusted by coaches

• Happier playing the game

And that is ultimately what most parents want — not just better performance, but a child who genuinely enjoys football again.