3 Reasons Team Training Is Holding You Back
Team training is where you apply what you know. But it’s rarely where you actually improve. If you’ve been putting in the time at practice and still feel like something’s missing, you’re not imagining it.
Here are three reasons team training has limits — and what players at every level do to fill the gap.
Book a free first session at TOCA →
1. You’re Not Getting Enough Touches on the Ball
What do the best players in the world have in common? They’ve had more touches on the ball than everyone else.
In team training, a significant amount of time goes to strategy sessions, transitioning between drills, waiting in line, and team-wide instruction. All of that has value — but it comes at the expense of time with the ball at your feet. The repetitions that build muscle memory and real confidence just aren’t there in the volume you need.
Training by yourself can help but has its limits. Off the wall works for some things but not others. Training with a friend requires coordinating schedules and sustained commitment from both people.
TOCA’s private training was designed specifically to solve this problem. In a single 50-minute session, players average hundreds of quality touches on the Touch Trainer — far more than a typical team practice delivers. The model is built on the same high-repetition, small-ball approach TOCA founder Eddie Lewis used to go from the bottom of the squad to playing professionally.
2. You’re Not Getting Enough Individual Attention
In a team setting, a coach is managing 15 or 20 players at once. Even the best youth coaches can only give so much individual feedback in a shared session. That’s not a criticism of team training — it’s just math.
At TOCA, every element of the session is designed around one player: you. There’s no splitting attention, no waiting for others, no generic instruction. Your trainer watches every touch, identifies what needs work, and adjusts the session in real time. That kind of focused feedback is a fast-track for improvement that team training simply can’t replicate.
It’s the difference between practicing and actually developing.
3. Team Politics Are Getting in Your Head
This one doesn’t get talked about enough. Whether you’re a player or a soccer parent, you’ve probably felt it: the quiet pressure around starting spots, playing time, and where you fit in the pecking order. None of that pressure makes you better on the ball — it just adds noise.
When you train at TOCA, none of that follows you in. It’s your session, in your space, with a trainer who is fully focused on your development. No politics, no external judgment, no pressure to prove yourself to teammates or a coach managing a full roster.
Just you, the ball, and focused reps in an environment built for improvement. Players who put in consistent work at TOCA tend to notice something else happening too — they walk back into team training with more confidence. When you know your skills are sharp, the politics matter less.
Ready to See What Individual Training Can Do?
TOCA offers a free first training session so you can experience the difference firsthand. No commitment, no pressure — just a session built entirely around your game.
Book your free first session at TOCA →
About TOCA Soccer: TOCA serves local communities throughout the United States and Canada, welcoming players and families to find their best through classes, training sessions, camps, leagues, and more. Soccer classes for ages 1–13 are engaging and educational, while individual or group training sessions for ages 7+ offer progressive levels of development for players looking to challenge themselves and have fun.
