SOME PLAYERS PRACTICE; TRUE ATHLETES TRAIN

Every Player Practices—Elite Athletes Train.
Weekly practices teach skills, but true development comes from dedicated training. As competition rises, the difference shows—who's truly training?

Training vs. Practice – Why It Matters!

Team practice builds skills and game awareness, but real growth happens through focused training. At DELBOCA ELITE ACADEMY, our expert coaches go beyond basic drills to refine technique, enhance performance, and give players a competitive edge. Why just practice when you can train to excel?

THE PROBLEM IS THE LACK OF TRUE INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT:

While team practice can help players learn general aspects of training, most players do not gain the individual development needed to truly improve.

  • This is where training becomes critical to improvement!

    Why Private Training Matters

    Private training accelerates player development by targeting individual strengths and weaknesses. Athletes improve technical skills, mental focus, and creativity—without fear of failure. Soccer rewards adaptability, not rigid play, and we encourage players to think outside the box. Mistakes are part of growth, and that’s exactly what we want to see!

90% of soccer is technical authenticity.

The other 10%?

“You have to critically think on your feet; using instinct and creativity!"

Breaking Comfort Zones

Many players hesitate to push boundaries in practice due to fear of failure.

  • Coach Focus -With team-focused coaching and limited practice time (just 4.5 hours a week for most teams), individual development often takes a backseat.

  • Limited Practice Time - Most teams only practice 2-3 times a week (AT MOST) or approximately 4.5 hours. Like any skill, mastery in soccer requires extra work beyond practice—training is the homework that leads to success. We provide the extended training needed for accelerated success of athletes.

GREAT TRAINERS & COACHES

Great trainers will push your child-athlete to step outside of what they think is possible; a feat not comfortable yet one that is critical to fully develop, & one that both Coaches at The DELBOCA ELITE ACADEMY have fine-tuned with years of experience. Additionally, great trainers will push these youth athletes’ individual development to reflect the ideas taught in group training sessions. This allows for a seamless merge of development at practice and in games.

WHY IS THIS A BIG DEAL?

To become a completely developed athlete, you must focus on every aspect of your skill set; both individually and as a teammate.

That includes:

  • Individual technique

  • Individual & team tactics

  • Physical conditioning

  • Mental awareness

  • Decision making and critical thinking

  • Knowledge and understanding of the game (formations, team tactics, etc.)

  • Communication

If players focus on the team aspect of development, they will not develop fully as an individual. On the other hand, if players only individually train, they will not be able to adjust to their team required demands of the game. Team practice and individual training go hand in hand.

Think of it this way:

Individual Training + Team Practice = Complete Athlete

If one part of the development equation gets out of balance, the end results does not happen. In order to become the best player you can be, you must spend time both with your team and as an individual.

SO WHAT IS PROPER TRAINING?

Simply put, training is working individually combined with a group of players on aspects that directly affect your sport. Our coaches make sure that the exercises and drills worked on reflect what soccer demands from athletes.

There are many personal training coaches that utilize drills from their playing days or that are "flashy" in their training sessions; only to have players not able to execute to translate to their own gameplay, especially at the youth level. The problem is soccer is constantly evolving and requires proper training to reflect what is needed; not just what "looks cool".

Not all soccer training is created equal.

The DBE Academy Coaches will critically assess their training to determine whether it is essential for success on game day or merely an unnecessary addition. Does the training focus solely on finishing and 1v1 moves, or does it encompass the key nuances of soccer, such as balance distribution, passing weight and control, heads-up awareness when turning, and distributing to create assists? Every aspect of the game, from technical skills to tactical awareness, is equally important for both individual and team success, regardless of the outcome.