The average time spent training for junior footballers with their clubs in Australia is around the 75-90 minute mark.

Two training sessions a week, plus a game on the weekend.

Compare this with the more elite programs overseas, and it isn't hard to see why Australian football struggles to produce world class players competing in the top 5 leagues in Europe.

A recent UEFA report showed that elite clubs in Europe train their academy juniors at least six hours a week between the ages of 10-14 and then 10 hours for players between 15-18.

Bayern Munich's juniors aged 16-19-year-olds train 12 hours a week and play 35 games per season.

At Ajax, players aged between 13 and 17, nine hours per week, while 18 and 19-year-olds train 12 hours per week.

The question so many young aspiring footballers need to ask themselves is simple.

Am I training enough?

For most, the simple answer is no.

Even with two training sessions with your club, the majority of these sessions are in a team situation, meaning your time on the ball is even further limited.

As a general guide, players between 13 and 18 who really want to improve their game should be trying to achieve 8-10 hours a week.

If you're reading this, you're probably not a part of Ajax or Bayern Munich's academy, and you'll be wondering, "how do I fit those extra hours in?"

You may play at school which can help, and train at home, but

A potential answer could be finding a one-on-one coach.

Why Do I Need More Sessions?

They say practice makes permanent and that's a mantra that has served some of the world's best players very well.

When you watch Cristiano Ronaldo score yet another Champions League goal, it's easy to think how easy he makes it look.

But the only reason it seems so easy for Ronaldo to score goal after goal after goal, is because he has practiced everything he does on a match day hundreds, if not thousands, of times.

His coach at Manchester United, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson, put it best:

“During my time at Manchester United I was lucky enough to have a lot of people who put in countless extra hours to get better.
"Gary Neville turned himself from an average footballer into a wonderful one because of his work ethic, as did David Beckham.
"But Ronaldo used to completely exhaust himself, and still does. He just wanted to be the best in the world.”

If you want to improve, you have to be willing to put in more hours than the rest.

What Should I Be Training For?

From technique to football fitness and positional work, all players with serious aspirations to improve should be looking to fit training in wherever possible in their schedules.

Club football should cater for five to eight hours of training and games a week, depending on your club and the level you're playing at.

Some clubs demand a third or fourth training session every week, which is a great start to getting those extra hours in.

Whether your club has two training sessions a week or three sessions a week, at least one extra session during the week is always a good idea.

But what should you train for? How do you train by yourself?

If you train three times a week with your club, an extra session can focus on areas that your team doesnt. Working on improving your finishing or your 1v1 defending can be a great supplement to your existing program.

If you train twice a week, private soccer training may be the better option. Find a soccer coach who can deliver one on one coaching sessions tailored to your needs.

Find A Football Coach

Thanks to Treiner, 1 on 1 coaching has never been simpler to find.

Treiner provides a platform which connects hungry, young footballers with a desire to improve with qualified, expert football coaches and support staff who can help take their game to the next level.

In a 60-minute one-on-one or small group session, the player will touch the ball and make more football actions in one session than they may in a whole week of club training.

These extra sessions can also help to identify their weaknesses or improve their strengths.

Whether you need soccer coaching in Melbourne or soccer coaching in Sydney, a qualified local coach or trainer is literally a few clicks away.

The short video below helps to explain how you can book a local coach for a specially customised session, developed for your needs.

Whether you're a striker or a goalkeeper or anywhere in between, your local soccer coach will meet you at a convenient location to conduct the session at the time of your choosing.

Treiner can even hook you up with a strength and conditioning specialist if fitness and power are what you're looking to add to your game.

To book now logon to treiner.com.au/booking/