What Is Vision Training?
by TJ Kostecky
Director, VTSC and Men's Soccer Coach at Long Island U. (Division I)

Alumni Achievements

As a player on the attack one of the most frustrating parts of playing involves relying on teammates to inform you about the location of the defender when the ball is passed to you. This reliance gets you in a bad habit of "ball watching" and diminishes the quality of your game.

In my observations as a coach, too often I witness an attacking player focusing on the ball as a teammate makes a pass in his direction. At the same time, a defender steps in front to intercept the ball. Invariably, the receiving player asks his teammates, "Why didn't you tell me where the defender was?" Even when the teammate shouts "MAN ON", you may experience a poor result. For example when a player hears a shout, instead of staying relaxed the player may tense or panic and lose control of the ball or simply kick it away.

Vision Training for Soccer DVD with with TJ Kostecky and Len Bilous. Click here to purchase This innovative training method is aimed at improving your players` on and off the ball awareness and vision. Unique exercises require the players to `see the whole picture` even before receiving the ball, allowing them to make their next move quickly and with confidence. All great players have great vision and thus are seemingly always one step ahead of the game. Take your players to the next level with this proven training method! "The Vision Training System guarantees to improve your game." Included in this DVD are: Individual Possession, Dribbling and Seeing the Field, Shielding, Passing and Receiving with Vision, Possession Games, and Advanced Possession Games. Vision Training addresses the skills of dribbling, shielding (hiding the ball), scoring, receiving out of the air; and tactics of maintaining individual, group and team possession, and playing in varying rhythms. Click here to purchase A comprehensive VISION TRAINING DVD and COACHING  MANUAL are NOW available and include topics covering: Individual possession Individual penetration Group possession Possession Games Team possession and penetration Scoring Order the VISION TRAINING DVD  (30.00) and COACHING MANUAL ($20.00) plus $5.00 shipping/handling. Order Online here or fax or e-mail your credit card information. Fax number, 610-820 3974; email, visiontraining@rcn.com

There is a better way to maintain possession of the ball without getting frustrated. Several years ago, Len Bilous, Director of Vision Training Centers, observed Franz Beckenbauer, a world class sweeper for the New York Cosmos, compete in an N.A.S.L. game. Franz was known as the "Kaiser", a general on the field. Rarely, when he received the ball, did he appear to be under pressure. Len observed that Beckenbauer would always peek over his shoulder before receiving a pass. In this way, he was able to determine (before the ball arrived) if he was going to be challenged for the ball as well as what his choices of action were. At times he dribbled and at times he passed, yet he always remained calm.

The greatest players in other sports also possess outstanding vision. Wayne Gretsky in Hockey, and Magic Johnson in Basketball both were able to consistently make spectacular passes to the amazement of fans and teammates alike.

The method of glancing used by Beckenbauer became the foundation of the Soccer Magic Vision Training. Vision Training uses the following principles to enhance your game. First, the nature of the game demands that effective players be critical thinkers who can make decisions quickly. Next, that players recognize opportunities when they present themselves, e.g. locating a player with a one touch pass twenty-thirty yards away. Finally, that players solve the problems they are faced with, e.g. efficiently receiving the ball while keeping it out of the reach of a challenging opponent. If, while a player is receiving the ball, he hears "MAN ON or TURN" from a teammate, "GET RID OF IT" from a coach, "PASS IT TO BILLY" from Billy's mother, or "SHOOT IT" from the player's own father, he relies on someone else's information to make a decision. It is hard enough to make an informed decision under the demands of the game, and, as you can imagine, confusion is generally the bi-product of an overload of information, i.e, multiple shouts directing the player's action.

In addition, at the time a player receives a pass, it is most important for him to relax his body so the ball remains near him. When someone or several people are shouting "MAN ON" it is nearly impossible to remain calm, relaxed, and level-headed. Finally, the most compelling reason to begin glancing or looking around before you receive the ball is simply that the speed of light travels much faster than the speed of sound (approximately 186,000 miles per second versus .2 miles per second). What does this mean in terms of performance? Well, if you have to wait for verbal information from your teammates you are probably missing a valuable opportunity to see the field, make an informed decision and quickly execute the appropriate action.

What can you do to improve your vision on the field? First of all, you can copy Beckenbauer's method by practicing striking a low ball at a wall. Imagine the wall is a teammate. Glance over your shoulder at the instant the ball hits the wall. If the ball comes off the wall slowly, see if you can take a glance over both shoulders. If it comes off hard, then you may only be able to take one quick glance. Once you are comfortable and able to glance and still receive the ball near you, begin to chip or drive the ball in the air. As in a game, you will now be challenged to receive the ball with other parts of your body. Practice this action hundreds of times until it becomes automatic. Next, get together with a teammate, friend or sibling and pass the ball between yourselves. You can have fun with this exercise by varying the pace and height of the ball to see if you can still glance behind you and receive the ball efficiently. Finally, transfer the glancing to your team practices and games. What you will find is your performance will improve and you will become a better player. In addition, the next game you watch observe which players are glancing over their shoulders before they receive the ball. Are there other times that players could have looked and did not? What was the result? Was the ball intercepted? Could they have found a teammate with a one touch pass that would have penetrated the defense? Learn from your observation and apply your improved vision to your game.

Len and I have helped many players, teams and coaches improve their ability to see the field of play. Perhaps the one player who has benefited the most is Claudio Reyna, a current member of the U.S. National Team. Several years ago, as a state select coach in New Jersey, I coached Claudio on the U14 and U15 teams. The two areas that we concentrated on improving in his game were his field vision and the first touch on the ball. Years later he confirmed to me that at the international level the one part of his game that allowed him to perform quickly and effectively and creatively was his ability to see the field of play.

Using Vision Training in practice, you too may some day achieve your soccer goals. Find a wall to strike against, a friend to pass with. Make glancing a habit and you will be on your way to becoming the best player you can be.

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