Let me share something I've learned from years of coaching - sometimes the most dramatic improvements happen when you're forced to watch from the sidelines. I remember working with a professional player who was temporarily barred from sitting on the bench and watching games from the venue due to league regulations. What seemed like a setback became his greatest opportunity for growth. He started focusing intensely on indoor soccer drills during practice sessions, and within just 30 days, his game transformed completely. That experience taught me that targeted indoor training can create breakthroughs that regular match play often can't provide.

The foundation of any great indoor soccer transformation begins with mastering ball control in confined spaces. I've personally witnessed players improve their first touch success rate from about 60% to nearly 85% within weeks using wall-pass drills. Find any solid wall and practice passing the ball against it at varying intensities, focusing on controlling the rebound with different parts of both feet. Start with 50 repetitions per foot daily, gradually increasing to 200 as your control improves. What most players don't realize is that indoor surfaces provide consistent ball behavior that outdoor pitches rarely offer, allowing for more precise technical development. The bounce is predictable, the surface even - these conditions are perfect for building muscle memory.

Now let's talk about something I'm particularly passionate about - small-sided games. I always recommend setting up 3v3 matches in half the regular indoor court space. This forces quicker decision-making and tighter ball control. When that player I mentioned earlier was sidelined from official games, we had him play 45 minutes of compressed 3v3 daily. The results were astonishing - his passes completed in tight spaces jumped from 70% to 92% within the month. There's something about the constant pressure and reduced reaction time that sharpens instincts like nothing else. You'll hate it at first - the constant pressure feels overwhelming - but trust me, when you return to regular-sized pitches, everything feels slow-motion by comparison.

Shooting accuracy is another area where indoor drills create outsized improvements. Set up targets in all four corners of the goal and practice hitting them from various angles within the penalty area. I typically have players take 100 shots daily, alternating between power and placement. One of my clients increased his shooting accuracy from 40% to 75% using this method over 30 days. The confined space teaches you to generate power from technique rather than run-up, which translates beautifully to outdoor games where time and space are limited.

What many coaches overlook is the psychological component of being away from competitive venues. Like that benched player discovered, sometimes physical separation from the game environment allows for deeper focus on fundamental skills. He later told me that those 30 days of intensive indoor training felt like a soccer meditation retreat - no pressure of immediate competition, just pure skill development. This mental reset combined with targeted drills created what he called his "most significant career breakthrough."

The beautiful thing about indoor soccer training is its accessibility. You don't need perfect weather or a full-sized pitch - just some space and dedication. I've seen weekend warriors transform into competent league players within a month using these methods. The key is consistency and pushing beyond comfort zones. Those 30 days of focused indoor work might just be the catalyst your game needs. Remember, sometimes being forced to step back from the venue - like that benched professional - creates the space needed to leap forward in skill and confidence.

LIGHTING, LIGHTING, AND MORE LIGHTING
People are typically drawn to bars solely based on their atmosphere. The best way to knock your next commercial bar design out of the park is using the perfect amount and type of lighting. Use standout light fixtures as their very own statement piece, track lighting for adjustable ambiance, hanging pendant lights over tables, and ambient backlighting to display the alcohol. Bartenders need to serve and customers need to order, so make sure it’s just functional as it is attractive. 

CHOOSING YOUR BARTOP
What may seem so obvious, is often so overlooked in commercial bar design- the material of your actual bartop itself. While we realize stone and marble are as classy and elegant-looking as can be, the reality is that they just aren’t your best option for a durable and long lasting bartop. They crack, have no grip, and break way too many glasses. Opt for a high-quality wood bar instead. Oaks, maples, mahoganies, and ashes are sturdy and provide your customers with a firm grip for their glasses. 

THEME 
In a sea of millions upon millions of bars, how can you make your commercial bar design stand apart from the rest? The answer is to pick a unique, centralized theme and run with it. Whether it’s your next sit-down restaurant bar design, or remodeling the small, locally-favorite gem, you have to find out what your clientele wants. Survey the neighborhood of your establishment and find out what the demographics are there. Maybe a gritty, western bar would be a hit. Or maybe a more modern, sleek design is what’s missing in the area. Whatever theme you decide upon, hit it out of the park with the perfect lighting, wall art, music, and furniture. It’s all in the details. 

THE GUIDE TO YOUR NEXT RESTOBAR 
You’ve got the food, you’ve got the restaurant, you’ve got the customers, now all you need is a beautifully designed bar to top it all off.  Small bar designs for restaurants have a tendency to be a little thrown together and incohesive with the rest of the establishment. Stay on brand- create consistency with tying in the same color scheme, furniture, art, and overall ambiance of the pre-existing restaurant. Make sure the placement of your bar makes sense as well, have it in a place where it’s visible and easy to navigate but not in the way of servers and other guests. If the bar is going to serve food, be sure to consider the location of the kitchen to not obstruct traffic flow. Consider all of these small tips as you work through your next restaurant bar design. 

SPACE CONSTRAINT 
It’s no secret that bars have the reputation of being a little cramped, and in some cases- way too cramped. Consider all of the space constraints while designing your next commercial bar design and we can change that bad rap that bars have been holding for far too long. First and foremost, be sure to measure your bar, barstool, cabinet, and equipment height. Generally, a bar is 42” in height while a stool is 30” in height. Also be sure to allow at least 3’ of space between the bar and the alcohol for the bartender’s functionality and efficiency. Consider multiple register and drink-making stations for bartenders as well. Allowing 2’ between patrons is going to give them enough space to eat and drink, and most importantly, simply be comfortable. All of these considerations are especially helpful if it is a restaurant bar design, where the space is even more valuable.