Individualized soccer training is the best way to learn the game, to refine new techniques that are difficult to learn in a game setting, to build confidence, and to overcome individual issues around techniques.

Trace iD is a powerful tool that coaches can use to do more individualized coaching. While every coach spots areas of improvement for the entire team, the best coaches help each player with personalized feedback. Trace makes that type of feedback simple and easy.

The Trace system is designed around personalization. Every player receives their own moments after each game so they can quickly review and improve.

Players can easily add moments to their Trace iD, their own profile for organizing, storing and sharing moments. If a player has Trace iD+, he or she can also create an unlimited number of custom playlists.

Now coaches can also use their own Trace iD+ profiles to keep a vault of training videos.

Trace iD is widely known to college coaches and competitive clubs as a tool for college recruiting, but the best players utilize Trace iD even at the earliest stages of their development as a way to record progress, spot areas of improvement, or share their favorite moments with family. 

How to Use Game Video for Individualized Training: 

1. Start small.
   Players are typically already overwhelmed with academic homework, so adding complex instructions for reviewing game film is a recipe for disaster. Give players one simple assignment to get them started with using Trace iD.  
2. Make it about the team/bigger picture.
   Pair video assignments with team/game objectives, and ask players to pull out a couple of moments that represent it. (If you’ve been working on being compact defensively, find a moment when the team transitioned effectively into a tight defensive shape). Then, follow up with a moment or two that you feel best embodies the team’s successes in achieving those objectives. 
3. De-emphasize the self.
   Build an environment where players are learning from their teammates. Have them select a teammate’s moment that showcases a particularly positive behavior, or something they’re trying to work on. 
4. Encourage celebration and camaraderie.
   Encourage players/parents team messaging platform to share their favorite moments from the game. “Play of the week” idea — even make it a poll? And then those moments could be saved to immortalize the season’s best moments (or to make a blooper reel) 
5. Encourage players to take ownership of their own development.
   A big part of improving is resiliency, and learning how to accept, embrace and eventually learn from mistakes.

Sample Trace iD Video Homework Assignments

1. Have players find their best moment (or moments) after each game.
   The longer the time after finishing a game, the less likely that players will take time to review and reflect on their game film. It is important to give players this assignment between the time a game ends and the start of the next practice sessions. Finding 1 moment after each game they are proud of should be easy. This not only keeps players motivated, but it reinforces lessons and allows them to see their progress over the season. 
2. Have players add 1 moment where they spot areas of improvement.
   The best way to improve is to look back on what you actually did during the game in an objective way. Often, players will realize their biggest mistake even before stepping off the field. By adding it to their Trace iD and discussing it with their coach, players can turn a distressing mistake into a positive learning experience.  
3. Have players add one moment reviewing set pieces.
   Encourage players to find one clip showing strong set pieces and one showing weak plays run off of throw-ins, indirect and direct free kicks, and corner kicks. 
4. Have defensive players add key moments
   Defensive players need to have a variety of skills. Coaches can encourage players to add 1 moment each week to their Trace iD showcasing how they regained possession, how they read the game, how they shielded, or different methods of tackling. 
5. Send out a top play of the week.
   After encouraging players to add their best moments to their Trace iDs, you can make things even more interesting by choosing one moment each week to feature in a newsletter. Players will be thrilled to be featured, and parents will have an added incentive to read your emails each week. 
6. Close the feedback loop.
   After assigning video homework so that players can view and analyze their own performance, it is important for coaches to listen to how players interpret their successes and mistakes, and then to offer their own knowledge or experience on the video. This proves to players that you care about their development, and it gives them motivation to incorporate the feedback into their next game.

Through video homework, coaches (or parents) can encourage players to reflect on their game and control their emotions in a more constructive way. Video, when used correctly, can be a superpower for soccer coaches.

The one caveat of all the advice above is that coaches should never let video run their lives. Video should save time for coaches, not create more work. Trace, for instance, delivers personalized moments for every player and tactical playlists of the full game. Coaches and players can easily find any moment with the click of a button. To learn more about how your team can benefit by using Trace, set up a call with someone from our team here.