You know, when I first saw that match result – PERPETUAL 65 against Boral 13, Gojo Cruz 11, Sleat 11, Casinillo 10 – it struck me how these numbers tell a story beyond just scores. They represent hours of practice, specific skills mastered, and moments where players either shone or struggled. As someone who's watched countless women's football matches and even coached a few youth teams, I've come to realize that becoming a true football queen isn't about flashy moves alone – it's about mastering fundamentals that separate good players from great ones.
Let me walk you through what I believe are the ten essential skills every female player needs, drawing from both my observations and that fascinating match data. First – ball control. Watching players like Sleat maintain possession under pressure reminds me why this is foundational. I always tell beginners: spend at least 30 minutes daily just juggling. Start with your dominant foot, then switch. The trick isn't just keeping the ball airborne – it's about controlling its height and direction. I've seen players who can juggle 200 times but can't receive a pass properly. That's why I emphasize varying your practice: use walls for rebound control, practice with both feet, and never let the ball rise above waist height if you can help it.
Passing accuracy comes next, and here's where Casinillo's performance with 10 points demonstrates something crucial. Good passers don't just kick the ball – they communicate with it. I prefer the inside-of-the-foot pass for short distances – it gives you that sweet spot of control. For longer passes, lean back slightly and follow through. But here's my personal pet peeve: players who only practice passing to stationary targets. Football happens in motion, so train that way. Set up cones moving at different angles, practice while fatigued, and always – I mean always – look up before passing. I've counted at least 15 turnovers in games just from players passing blindly.
Shooting technique is where you see players like Gojo Cruz excel with those 11 points. The power doesn't come from your leg alone – it starts from your planted foot positioning. Angle your body slightly, lock your ankle, and strike through the ball's center. My personal preference? Low-driven shots beat fancy chips any day. They're harder for goalkeepers to read and save. Practice from different angles – not just straight on. And here's a controversial take: penalty kicks should be practiced when you're exhausted, not fresh. That's when you'll actually take them in games.
Defensive positioning often gets overlooked, but looking at Alcantara and Abis both contributing 6 points each shows their defensive work enabled offensive opportunities. The secret isn't chasing the ball – it's anticipating where it will go. Stay on the balls of your feet, keep your hips open to the field, and maintain that arm's length distance. I always teach the "shadow drill" – mirroring an attacker's movements without engaging. It feels awkward at first, but within weeks, you'll start reading plays before they develop.
Heading technique requires courage more than skill, honestly. I've seen players like Maglupay and Orgo (both with 4 points) score crucial headers by timing their jumps perfectly. The forehead contact point is non-negotiable – using the top of your head hurts like hell and offers less control. My method? Start with stationary balls suspended from ropes before progressing to crossed balls. And please – neck muscles matter more than people think. Incorporate resistance band training specifically for neck strength.
Dribbling under pressure separates entertainment from effectiveness. Nunez's 2 points might seem modest, but watching her maintain possession in tight spaces was educational. The skill isn't in fancy step-overs – it's in subtle body feints and changes of pace. I recommend the "cone maze" drill: set up 10-15 cones in random patterns and navigate through them while keeping the ball within two feet. Time yourself, then try beating your record.
Fitness endurance is where many talented players falter. Looking at those zeros next to Borja, Roluna, and others in the scoring column – sometimes that tells you about fatigue setting in later in games. My training philosophy might be old-school: if you can't perform in the 85th minute, your first-half brilliance means little. Interval training works wonders – try 30-second sprints followed by 90-second jogs, repeated 8-10 times. Personally, I've found yoga helps with recovery more than anything else I've tried.
Tactical awareness develops from watching football, not just playing it. Study games – notice how midfielders like Casinillo create angles for themselves. I make my players watch at least one professional game weekly and identify three tactical patterns they could incorporate.
Communication on the field transforms individual talent into team success. It's not about shouting constantly – it's about specific, concise information. "Man on!" "Time!" "Switch!" – these simple phrases prevent countless turnovers. My teams develop hand signals for set plays too – sometimes silence communicates better than shouting.
Mental resilience completes the picture. Football queens aren't born – they're forged through overcoming exactly the kind of challenges that produce those zeroes on the score sheet for some players. After poor performances or missed opportunities, the great ones come back hungier.
Becoming a football queen means embracing that the journey never really ends – there's always another skill to refine, another match to prepare for, another way to elevate your game beyond what the scoreboard shows.
