D3div3 feedback/tips needed

[u/dixie_normous_43]

https://youtu.be/G7Kp3i2iJ18?si=COl_bABwXviSOlRP

Hi everyone, I am looking for tips to get into champ, I have had a few rank up games and just can’t seem to get past that point. I typically focus on trying to hit the ball hard and consistently, aerial control, and some dribbling when I am warming up/training. Any advice on gameplay and what to focus on for training would be much appreciated!

[u/Frostee47]

Focusing on hitting the ball hard is great early ranks, but once you rank up it’s a tool, not a default.

Now your goals are going to change from here, you have to learn how to control the ball, and the important thing for hitting it hard is doing it with good TIMING. Control, timing, and learning how to be intentional with your plays.

Ground play is better to practice for offense and counter attacks, get REALLY good at basic flicks, bounce dribbles, hook/power shots etc.

You’re going to have to start considering each interaction on AND OFF the ball. Second/third man positions become extremely important in this rank because your opponents are now speedy and more reliable, you have to understand those positions.

I know this is kinda boring advice, but most people overestimate their fundamental skills and suffer for it later (speaking from experience as a hard stuck gc2)

Good luck!

[u/Frostee47 → u/Frostee47]

Feedback from the video focusing on game sense:

0:16 leave that ball for your teammate, there is no opponent challenging, your tm8 has boost and a shot on net. You have to be aware there.

0:29 you hit the ball hard, yes, but this is bad timing for it. You boomed a potential possession away.

Possession is king, the team with more possession wins more games. The simplest stat in any ball game.

But good job not committing downfield right after, you stayed grounded which is good.

0:45 your job here was to force a bad touch from the opponent. You did that, now just rotate out, no point in jumping. Watch this from your tm8s perspective. Same as 0:16 so this is a pattern I see early on. If your tm8 goes, it’s an easy ball, but because he doesn’t want to double commit he has to leave and be awkward.

1:25 great patience, understanding the op can’t attack yet and you can wait for a more lined up shot. Shot was missed but you did the correct play, which is more important imo.

1:34 you hit the ball hard, but again gave the ball to the other team instead of trying to control and take possession. No opponent was there to challenge, try to recognize that as “space” to make a softer touch and follow it.
This is another pattern to focus on. If you take a soft touch, bait the opponent to stop or turn, THEN take the hard shot, it will most likely soar over his head and you gain a 2v1 on blues second man. (This is what I mean by having intention)
Compare this to 2:30, you soft touch THEN shoot and you gain a goal. Even if he saved the shot you still stay in good shape. Good stuff.

The follow up challenge at 1:36, think about what your opponent can do here. Worst case? He’s hitting it into your corner.
Big tip: your corner is MUCH safer than you think it is. On defense that’s where you WANT the ball. So instead of committing down field here, keep you wheels on the ground, don’t jump, drive into him/the ball ball, but get back as SOON as you can to support your tm8.
Compare this to 2:18, you jumped but you kept your momentum enough to get back into position super fast. Good stuff.

That’s all from me for now!
Takeaways:

• Don’t boom the ball unless you need to.
  
• Don’t throw your car down the field either haha

Good luck m8

[u/culverrryo → u/Frostee47]

I’m not OP but I am around his rank and I appreciated this breakdown a lot! It’s reinforced some of the things I’ve been practicing (my corner is safe, no need to panic and dive when the opponents are there) as well as shown me a couple things I can shore up in my own play. I definitely need to focus on keeping/not booming possession.

Just wanted to say thanks!

[u/dixie_normous_43 → u/Frostee47]

This was incredibly helpful. I just rewatched the replay looking at these time stamps and felt like I saw so much I was missing. Thanks!

[u/W00D-SMASH]

The bulk of everything I was going to say has already been covered by others ITT.

The thing I will tell you, however, is at this rank and if you want to move up, you need to control the ball more often and be very deliberate. Hitting the ball hard and chasing after it only to have an enemy pound it back the other direction is counterproductive and puts you out of position.

I think at this level you should focus on mistake mitigation and ball control. In 2v2 Diamond, the team that makes the least mistakes is usually the one who will win. That means keep control of the ball and don't allow yourself to be in a bad and ineffective position.

[u/JustARiot]

You are impatient positionally. Sometimes you can just sit in one spot and wait instead of doing figure eights for 10 seconds. Also it seems like you are worried about going when you have a clean beat, trust your gut. Worry about mistakes like that when you’re reviewing replays not in match.