Okay, let me tell you about this thing I tried, the ‘Jamie French’ football approach. Wasn’t sure what to expect, just heard the name bounced around a bit, sounded kinda different, you know?
Getting Started with this ‘Jamie French’ Idea
So, first off, I had to figure out what this even was. Wasn’t like there was some official guide. I just watched some older clips, talked to a couple of guys who mentioned playing that way back when. Seemed like it was all about quick feet, keeping the ball super close, lots of little touches, and sharp, short passes. Not flashy, just efficient, almost like weaving through people.
Decided I’d give it a proper go. Couldn’t just jump into a game like that, would’ve looked daft. Needed to practice the basics of it first. So, I cleared some space in the yard, grabbed a ball, and just started.
The Actual Practice Sessions
My first sessions were just me and the ball. Really focused on the touch. Tap, tap, tap, keeping it right under my feet, using inside and outside of the boot. Felt weird at first, slower than my usual game where I’d knock it further ahead and run onto it.
Key things I drilled:
- Close Control: Just dribbling around cones, but keeping the ball ridiculously close. Like it was glued to my foot. Had to force myself not to push it too far.
- Short Passes: Found a wall. Spent ages just pinging short, crisp passes back and forth. Focusing on the first touch when the ball came back, getting it under control instantly to pass again.
- Body Movement: Tried to practice shifting my weight quickly, turning sharply with the ball still close. This was tougher than it looked. Felt a bit clumsy.
Did this for maybe a week or two, maybe 30 minutes each day after work. Just drilling those specific things. Then I tried to incorporate it into some light jogging, moving around while doing the close control stuff. It definitely used different muscles, or maybe used them differently. My ankles felt it.
Trying it Out (Sort Of)
Next step was trying it with a mate. We just did some one-on-one, but I consciously tried to play the ‘Jamie French’ way. Keep it close, use quick touches to get past him, look for the short pass if we were doing pairs later.
Honestly? It was hard to stick to. My instincts kept telling me to boot it or knock it further ahead. When I did manage the close control stuff, it sometimes worked well in tight spaces, helped me shield the ball better. But other times, I got tackled because I wasn’t moving it fast enough over distance.
What I Reckon Now
So, after spending some time trying to get the hang of this ‘Jamie French’ style, what’s the verdict? It’s interesting. It definitely improved my close control, no doubt about that. Made me think more about my first touch.
Did I completely change my game? Nah. It’s not really my natural style. I found it a bit too intricate for the rough and tumble of the games I usually play. But, I did pick up a few things. I definitely use more little touches now to keep the ball closer in tight spots, especially when under pressure near the sidelines.
It was a worthwhile experiment, though. Good to break out of your usual habits and try something different. Made me appreciate the skill involved in that kind of close-quarters play. Didn’t become Jamie French overnight, but I learned a bit, and that’s what practice is all about, right?
