Mental toughness. It's important. It gets you through training. It gets you through hard work. It's often the difference between a good player and a great player - for both toughness during the game and in training which helps you just get better.

Be tough. Work hard. Push through. Practice - every day - even if it's for only 20 minutes, kick a ball around. In practice, listen to your coach. Make everything, even a small drill, a game.

Be determined and consistent.

Forwards have big opportunity to impact a game. No, not just because of goals, but because they are the first line of defense.

If your forwards to can have a sense of urgency and attack the opposing backs when appropriate, you'll have a lot less pressure against you. Often, forwards will not get down and dirty and really make an effort to stop an outside back from playing a longer ball or challenging on a ball from the center-back to the outside-back. Even if the forward can just slide in front of the upcoming pass and knock it out for a throw-in, you've delayed the opponents attack.

Forwards running around like crazy is not the goal. But, timely challenges and pressure is.

Pressure you forwards to pressure.

Be sure that with any move involving a shot fake, you sell the fake. For example, on a shot fake and push with the outside of the foot, make sure the move is done in two parts. Sell the shot and then quickly touch out with the outside of the foot. If you get too close to continous motion, the shot fake doesn't look as real and the defender won't bite on it.

Sell the fake.

Come on into the store and we'll show you exactly what we mean. Try on some shoes and jump into the cage.

There is an old story that in Brazil, they don't have a word for "shooting." It's only "passing" — but into the net. Often you will see players hit the ball 100 miles-per-hour over the goal, to the keeper, off a post and more. But, all they really needed was to "pass" the ball into the corner of the goal.

If you're having trouble scoring and hitting your spot, take some power off it. Even when you are shooting w/ your laces, start with slower shots and build that accuracy. It will help in the long run.

Swing by the store. Try on a pair of shoes and practice in the cage!