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1. Unit 27
Task 2 – Performance Strengths and
Areas for Improvement

2. Strength 1/4
• Excellence Trait: Timing of Runs
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: This how well Conor times where he move
quickly on pitch for a purpose. This could apply in an attacking or defensive
context, either making a run beyond a defender to receive the ball or running
backwards to aid the defense and midfield. If it was late on in a game and his team
were defending a lead, he may want to run back to aid the team, or if his team
were chasing a game he would make frequent runs passed the defense to score. If
Conor was not making appropriate runs or making them at the wrong times all
together, it may frustrate the other players or the manager, which could lead to
him being substituted or being dropped. For example if he were to put in a
defensive run in order to regain the ball, the team would have no outlet up the top
of the pitch, so they would be likely to lose the ball, so its essential that he gets the
timing of his runs correct. Frequent mistimed runs backwards can leave the team
frustrated as they are unable to retain the ball, this may force the manager into a
change as the team arent retaining the ball. So he may have to introduce a striker
or another midfielder to retain the ball better when it isn't necessary. As that’s
sacrificing a position that doesn’t need to be, when all conor has to do is time his
runs more efficiently. If Conors manager begins to notice this, his place in the first
team could be given to someone else who could seize the opportunity.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

3. Strength 2/4
• Excellence Trait: Finishing with both feet.
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: Finishing with both feet is Conors ability to
finish the ball, with his stronger foot and his weaker foot. This isn’t necessarily
essential but its often preferred by managers and by the athlete themselves, its
often worked on after training and individually by the performer. If Conor wasn’t
able to finish with both feet this could become an issue because everytime the ball
is given to Conor on his right foot in a shooting position, he is not likely to score or
possibly even hit the target. Which leads to his goal scoring tally not increasing and
his team mates, manager and the crowd questioning his abilities, which could
knock his confidence. Also if Conor doesn’t take opportunities on his right foot,
being his weak foot and his strong foot his left, the team could become
disheartened because they aren’t scoring and lose motivation to win the game.
This could also affect Conors confidence levels because he isnt scoring so it wont
motivate him to do better, as he will simply think he isnt good enough. Goals win
football matches and if Conor isn’t taking these chances then the team wont be
winning games, losing them points, meaning they could slide down the table and
become relegated. So its essential Conor can handle this pressure and finish his
chances with both feet.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

4. Strength 3/4
• Excellence Trait: Balance.
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: Not neccesarily an essential trait,
Conor gets his good balance from being a small height at just 5-5. This
enables him to have a low centre of gravity, also linking in with the fact
that he is very agile. As he is likely to receive the ball in the air, along the
ground or in the chest region, he will need to move his body, possibly
jump to control the ball. When landing its key he lands on his feet with the
ball, in a good position to drive forwards and when shifiting its key he
doesn’t fall over, conceding possession. Balance is key to a striker,
especially one of small stature like Conor, who is going to be up against
large opposition in the shape of centre backs. So if Conors balance isnt
good he Is going to be pushed off the ball frequently meaning they wont
retain possession and without possession the team can’t do anything
except defend. So with good balance Conor can hold the ball up, involve
other players. Which means the team are more fluent on the attack and
will see more of the ball, so are likely to score.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

5. Strength 4/4
• Excellence Trait: Agility.
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: This moves on from balance,
Conor is a very agile due to his height and weight, his good body
composition also helps him with this. He has also worked in the
gym very hard, improving core strength and improving his lower
body strength. Agility is key, when being marked by opposition so
you can turn off the players at pace to get through on goal. Its
essential in fact, when being a small player, so you are hard to mark
and even harder to catch. If Conor wasn’t agile he runs the risk of
often being tackled and not progressing up the pitch. Agility enables
Conor to turn at pace, meaning he can get onto lose balls and lose
his marker. Meaning again, Conor is likely to be able to get onto lose
balls as he’ll be faster off the mark than the centre back. This opens
up lost of avenues, because if he has the ball then he will have the
ball and make the correct decision, about crossing , passing or
possibly shooting.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

6. Development Area 1/4
• Excellence Trait:Strength
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse:Strength is how well a player is able to push
people off of the ball and remain up right, basically Conor’s ability to resist
pressure against a force. So it Conor was through on goal, with the ball and a
center back was shoulder to shoulder with him it would be his ability to resist the
pressure from the center back. Without this he may not be able to hold off players
and is likely to lose the ball a severe amount. Most centre backs are very strong
that Conor will come up against, so its key that he is of a good enough physical
stature to be able to defend against these players. For example if Conor is running
onto a loose ball and the defender is coming over to get the ball Conor will need to
be strong to defend against the defender and procede through on goal and
hopefully score. Also when Conor is being passed the ball with his back to goal, he
is likely to be hassled by the defender or defensive midfielder so its key that he is
strong enough to ward them off. So that he can flick the ball on to people, hold it
up and pass it off. If Conor is continuously pushed off the ball its not likely that the
team will retain the ball and be able to counter attack, finding it harder to score.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

7. Development Area 2/4
• Excellence Trait: Decision Making
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: This is Conors ability to make
correct decisions on a football field on his own doing. Not moving too far
into a certain part of the pitch, picking the correct time to shoot etc, these
all apply. For example if Conor was in front of goal when he received the
ball and had a good chance to shoot, but opted to pass the ball off to
another team mate behind him, that means his decision making in that
specific element would’ve been poor, consistent poor decisions would
mean his decision making in general is poor. Decision making for Conor,
playing so far up the field is always going to be vital for Conor. This is going
to consist of his timing of pass and shot etc. So if Conors decision making
is good he’s going to open up lots of opportunities for his team to score
and most likely score himself. So with good decision making comes goals
and chances being created for team mates to score. Which will lead to the
team scoring more goals and then the team will move up the table and
challenge for titles.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

8. Development Area 3/4
• Excellence Trait: Ball Retention
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: Ball retention is simply being able to
keep the ball when being pressured by one or more players, this link sin
with strength, it’s a lot about how the player uses it. For example if Conor
bought down a goal kick in the middle of the park, he would most likely be
pressured by 1 or 2 players. Ball retention would simply be how well he
can keep the ball and bring others into play whilst being pressured. If his
ball retention was poor then he would lose the ball, resulting in his team
having to defend. Ball retention is linked in with the all of the above, after
completting all of the skills and being strong, agile etc. Next comes being
able to keep the ball. For example b when having a player on your back
and being hassled from the front, using the ball correctly and making the
right body movements to be able to hold onto the ball is essential. If the
ball is being lost by Conor on a regular basis, then simply he wont stand
out and the team wont keep the ball. Leading to the manager becoming
frustrated as well as the rest of the team, knocking Conors confidence and
damaging his chances of getting in the first team.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages

9. Development Area 4/4
• Excellence Trait: Muscular Endurance.
• Describe / Explain / Critically Analyse: Muscular endurance is key at
all levels of sport when playing for an extended period of time. If
the muscles cant endure lots of exercise then they will tire and if
they begin to tire he wont be able to work as hard, not saving
energy for vital parts of the game such as sprinting through on goal.
If Conors muscular endurance isn’t good, then for running back
defending or making positive runs late on it’d be very hard for him.
Which means he would most likely to get substituted late on.
Having good muscular endurance makes all of the above strengths
and weaknesses a whole lot easier. Muscular endurance is Conors
ability to be able to save his muscles energy for the important parts
of the game, not using it on sprinting around aimlessly. For example
if it was early on in the game and Conor had been running back to
defend he wouldn’t be using his muscles very well. He should be
reserving it to look for the ball and to make runs onto the ball.
Describe: Give a detailed account of something
Explain: Give a detailed account to give the meaning of something with reasons. Include the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the topic of interest
Critically Analyse: Give your opinion of the subject of interest – consider all of the evidence and then write about both the advantages and
disadvantages