Staying Active in the Off-Season: How Players Can Keep Developing Their Game
Jul. 12, 2025
Staying Active in the Off-Season: How Players Can Keep Developing Their Game
The final whistle might have blown on the outdoor season, but that doesn’t mean player development stops. In fact, the off-season is one of the most valuable opportunities for young athletes to improve their game — not through pressure or high performance, but through fun, movement, and well-rounded growth.
At BCSA, we believe development is a year-round journey, and the off-season can be a time of powerful progress when approached with the right mindset. Here are a few ways players of all ages can stay active, healthy, and growing when the fields go quiet:
1. Touch the Ball - Every Day If You Can
Whether it’s juggling in the basement, toe touches in the garage, or dribbling in the hallway, regular ball contact builds confidence and control. Set a fun weekly challenge:
“How many touches can I get in 5 minutes?”
“Can I beat my juggling record by 3 this week?”
Remember: repetition builds mastery. Even 10 minutes a day matters.
2. Train the Brain
Soccer is a thinking game. Watching professional matches, highlight reels, or old BCSA game clips that parents have taken of games helps players:
See movement off the ball
Learn from decisions
Understand positioning and team shape
Tip: Mute the game and talk through what you see with your player. It builds awareness and curiosity.
3. Stay Moving with Multi-Sport or Free Play
Don’t underestimate the power of multi-sport activities or free, unstructured play. Skating, basketball, skiing, gymnastics, martial arts, or even tag in the yard improves:
Balance
Coordination
Agility
Spatial awareness
These all translate directly to the soccer field.
4. Play With Friends - Pick-Up Style
Organize small, casual scrimmages at a gym, in the backyard, or at a local indoor facility. No pressure. No drills. Just play. This builds creativity, resilience, and a love for the game.
Some of the world’s best players started their journey in the streets, not the stadiums.
5. Rest and Reset
Don’t forget: development includes rest. Let the body and mind recharge. Make space for reflection and goal setting.
Ask your player:
“What did you love most this season?”
“What’s one skill you’d love to improve before next season?”
Growth starts with awareness.
Final Thought
At BCSA, we believe in the long-term development of the whole player. The off-season is not about intense training — it’s about creating positive habits, confidence, and joy in the game.
Even when the uniforms are packed away, the journey continues.
