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[quote=Anonymous]The OP asked for "the most important skills...for an athletically gifted player". So let's accept that they are athletically gifted--that is important and not that teachable, and does imply speed to some degree.

The short answer is "touch"--make the ball do what you want. Receiving, first touch, dribbling, passing, short/long, left/right, inside/outside. That is what tells a coach (or any savvy viewer) that someone is a legit player in the first few minutes of watching them. And the best part is this is the easiest thing to practice. You can do it on your own (juggling, wall, rebounder, dribbling cones, etc.) or with a non-player (like a parent) who can feed to balls to receive and do something with. Almost any kid who is obsessive about this kind of practice early enough in their soccer can become a very good player.

Obviously, you need to combine this with some tactical acumen, vision, workrate, defense, etc. And, all things equal, size, speed and athleticism are better.

But the idea on here that an "athletically gifted player" should work on their "speed" is misinformed. Yes, you can improve speed on the margin, and you should try to do so. But the fastest guys out there don't spend any time on their speed, specifically. "You can't teach speed" is a maxim not because it is 100% true, but because it is mostly true.

Have your player spend every available minute working on their touch, and the earlier the better.[/quote]

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