Because I've got no pace I'm always second to the ball. Do you have any tips for improving speed?
Ashley Burns, via email
Frank Lampard says:
“When I was younger my dad told me I wasn’t the quickest and that I had to work hard on it, so ever since then I have done a lot of speed work.
You can’t turn yourself into a speed machine, but you can make small differences by being a step ahead in your mind.
For example, I do five 10-yard sprints from a standing start to work on my speed off the mark.
I’ve played with many players that are quick, but not quite so clever. I think if you’re one step ahead mentally you can have the edge.
Try to read the game: watch your opponents and team-mates so you can anticipate their next move. When you haven’t got the ball, look around you – know what you’re going to do with it before it arrives.”
For more football tips see:
Beat your man to the ball
Soup up your sprint speed
Be quicker off the mark
Change direction in a flash
Get rapid-fire footwork
Be first to the through ball
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