Yael Averbuch is a Professional soccer player who has represented the USWNT as well as playing club soccer in the U.S. and across Europe. Averbuch is a keen proponent of 1 on 1 training and has recently launched the Techne Futbol app, that takes players through a weekly technical training session that can be completed individually, with minimal equipment.
WHAT HELPED YOU TO DEVELOP WHILST GROWING UP AS A YOUTH PLAYER?
I was very fortunate as a young player to have wonderful coaches and mentors who helped me find teams to play with that would challenge me (like playing on a boys team or with older girls) and also showed me things I could do with the ball on my own to continue to get better. The time I spent training outside of my team training sessions was by far the thing that has had the most impact on my career.
DID YOU TAKE PART IN ANY 1 ON 1 SESSIONS AS A YOUTH PLAYER?
All the time! I had several coaches who would work with me individually on different aspects of the game. I still love doing 1 on 1 sessions now!
WHAT KEY DIFFERENCES DID YOU NOTICE IN THE WOMEN’S GAME FROM PLAYING PROFESSIONALLY IN THE US AND EUROPE?
In Europe the game is not as athletic or fast-paced. There’s more of an emphasis on tactics and technique and working as a team. In the U.S. the game is very individual and players who can win individual battles often succeed. I think the women’s game is constantly evolving and improving very rapidly. I see huge progress in the quality of play all over the world.
WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR PLAYING CAREER TO DATE?
That’s tough! Certainly winning the 2008 NCAA championship with the University of North Carolina was one of them. It was my last college game so to finish my career there as a champion meant a lot to me. If I’m going to be very honest, I enjoy the smaller moments of playing pickup or winning a game of soccer tennis just as much as some of the big moments. For sure suiting up to represent the U.S. National Team is a major highlight, though, and nothing compares to that!
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO LAUNCH THE TECHNE FUTBOL APP?
I’ve gathered a whole library of ideas of ways to creatively train and improve on my own with minimal space and equipment. It’s been an entire lifetime of learning, observing, making things up, and watching others train. I wanted to find a way to share that library of knowledge with players and allow them to experience the feeling of working to master the ball that I have been obsessed with ever since I was a young player. There’s something very empowering about not needing anyone else to help you do it and that’s what I aim to share with the Techne Futbol App.
WHAT DOES THE TECHNE FUTBOL APP PROVIDE TO THE SUBSCRIBER?
A subscriber first, and most importantly, gets a weekly technical session laid out for them. There are 10 juggling exercises, 10 dribbling, and 10 wall work. Each exercise has a video and written description and then the app uses audio to prompt you to put down your phone and it times you to work for 1 minute on each skill. It then tracks for you how much time you’ve spent training and allows you to record and track your progress on various time trials. The app also includes a weekly lesson on the process of mastery that is motivating and helps to put the work into perspective. Lastly, subscribing to the app connects you to a community of people who are doing the same training and are passionate about the same process.
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUTH PLAYERS GET SUFFICIENT TIME WITH THE BALL AWAY FROM THEIR STRUCTURED TEAM PRACTICES/GAMES?
Absolutely not. Team training is the time to use and show the skills that you’ve mastered away from the group. There is no way to get enough repetitions of first touch, striking the ball, etc. if it’s only with a group. To be truly elite, the time spent perfecting techniques away from the team is absolutely vital.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A YOUTH PLAYER LOOKING TO ADVANCE IN THE GAME?
I would say to spend as much time with the ball as possible. You can never be too good or too clean on the ball, with both feet. Those are the tools necessary to execute your vision on the field. But it’s important to remember that technique is only part of the puzzle. You must use that technique in smart ways and understand the game (tactics) and take care of your body (physical) and also be confident and relaxed (mental). Being an elite player is about taking control of all the areas that you can, and making sure you are constantly sharpening them and improving.
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