Responsibility is learnt on an individual level and a team level. For example, to play good football, you must be fit enough to play at the level you want. Unless you specifically request your coach to give you fitness training, then fitness (as is the case with many amateur clubs) is the responsibility of the individual.

If you want to be the best that you can be, then you need to take on the responsibility of becoming better by yourself. No one else is going to do this for you.

If you want to be the player that takes the free kicks, then you need to practice free kicks more than anyone else in your team and improve above and beyond anyone else.

Once you have achieved one level, you need to take it to the next!

If you have set out your goals and worked out your route to success, you have a responsibility to yourself to work towards these goals.

Being a football player now requires that you take on another level of responsibility for yourself. It is no longer enough to sheepishly admit to your coach that you are not fully ready for training, and that you have not made any investment in your own development besides the formal training time set aside with your coach.

To ensure that you are ready to play football at training in any situation, players should bring with them :

* An inflated ball.
* Their own cool water (cool water is absorbed faster).
* Shin guards.
* Cleats and indoor shoes (be prepared for the weather).
* Tape.
* Extra shoe laces.
* Emergency phone #’s.
* A complete change of clothes (especially socks).
* Keepers, bring your gloves, shirt and long pants in case the field is poor.

In short, you should be ready for anything! Put these items in your bag the night before your session so that you do not have to hunt them down and thus be late for training the next morning! Be at practice 10 – 15 minutes early, in time to get your gear on so that you are ready to start on time.

When practicing outside of formal training, the best thing that you can do is get your friends together, set up a field, choose sides and play. Sometimes, invite players that are older than you, and better. The most important thing is that you play, whether it is 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 4 v 4, or even 2 v 3, it doesn’t matter, just play. If you can not get others to join you, spend as much time with the ball as you can.

Find a wall to kick against, invent juggling games for yourself, try to chip a ball into a garbage can from various distances, be creative, have fun. Above all, realize that it is not up to your coach or your parents in order for you to get better. You have to claim responsibility for your own development. Once you realize how much fun it is to play the game with skill, you may never want to stop!

If your goals are team based and you have chosen your football team to reflect the similar goals that you want to achieve, then you not only have the responsibility for yourself, but for your team mates too.

THE STAR IS THE TEAM

As long as THE STAR IS THE TEAM you have a responsibility to respect and earn the respect of your team and all it’s members, this always starts with positive communication.

Here is a good example of players responsibilities as laid out by the Coventry City Ladies Football Club : :

• If you are injured or unfit to play or train you must inform the Coaching Staff (and parents if you are a COE player). No matter how much you want play do not hide injuries. The injury will only take longer to heal.
• Punctually attend all coaching sessions and matches for which you are selected. If you cannot, you must inform a Coach or Team Manager (persistent non-attendance at training will cause you not to be selected for your team).
• Never argue with match officials.
• Never use foul, abusive or insulting language.
• Always adopt a good standard of behaviour at the Club’s social functions. The social events are usually attended by Club members of all ages and all Members should act appropriately, particularly in relation to the consumption of alcohol and other substances.
• Always show appropriate respect for your opposition players, officials, supporters and the match officials.
• Never chew gum, consume fizzy drinks (see below) or wear jewellery during games or coaching sessions. Immovable jewellery must be covered by tape.
• Do not disrupt coaching sessions. Time is limited and others are there to learn.
• Do not form or encourage cliques within the Squad. The Squad working as one will be far more successful.
• You must wear shin pads during all games and training sessions.
• Never forget your boots. Be responsible for your kit and look after Club kit. Do not rely on other people to remember them for you.
• Always clean your boots after matches. It is a well-known football fact that footballers play better in clean boots!
• Always play to the rules of Association Football. Never cheat – you will let yourself down and your team.
• Listen only to your Coach or Team Manager on matters of Club Football. Your family’s and friends’ may not be aware of the team’s strategy for that particular match.
• Always encourage your team-mates, even if mistakes are made.
• Try your best and be positive when playing football. Do not be afraid to use your skills.
• Retire to bed early the night before a match – not in the early hours of the morning!
• Above all ENJOY playing the beautiful game.
• If you decide to leave the Club, please send a letter to the Club Secretary informing him of your decision and return any of the Club’s property (e.g. playing kit) that you may still have.

Among other things, every person in a team has a responsibility to:

• Improve quality
• Instil pride of workmanship
• Increase output
• Find better ways of working and make continuous improvements
• Remove the causes of failure
• Provide training
• Help others do a better job with less effort
• Make it possible for everyone to do a better job with greater satisfaction

Football is a team game and once that game starts, you will have a responsibility on the field of play that is dependent upon your position and whether or not your team has the ball or not (as set out in the principles of play.)

In a football team, individual players will be stronger at one thing or another, which often leads them to become specialized in their positions. You would therefore have (for example) one person being responsible for scoring goals (attackers) and another for stopping goals being scored against you (defenders).