Learn Soccer Tricks, Moves, and Soccer Freestyle!

Learn Soccer Freestyle - Check out these cool Soccer Trick Videos!

2009-11-03T17:32:00.000-08:00

Check out these Soccer Freestylers. If you go through the tutorials here you can learn all these tricks.

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Soccer Bicycle Kick

2009-10-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

In this tutorial you'll learn how to do a Bicycle Kick. A Bicycle Kick is a great skill to have during a game if you can perform it correctly. You'll see many Famous soccer players like Ronaldinho, Pele and adebayor perform the bicycle kick.

Step 1: Usually you’ll want to kick the Soccer Ball towards the opponents goal or in the goal, when performing a Bicycle Kick. So make sure you face the opposite way of the Goal when attempting

Step 2: "Now for practice" Make your friend throw the ball straight up in the air, while the ball is in midair start to jump

Step 3: While you are in the air start to lean back. Then whenever your body is about to face towards the sky, kick the ball with your foot!

Step 4: Once you've kicked the ball you’re going to want to land on your back. "Make sure you brace yourself for the landing" It usually hurts the first couple tries then you get used to it. Don't break your neck

Step 5: The Bicycle Kick takes awhile to learn. Never give up. If you have a friend that knows how to do this kick, then get him or her to help you if you're having trouble. Good luck and have fun with doing the Bicycle Kick.

Now watch Ronaldinho Bicycle Kick

Tags: soccer bicycle kicks, soccer bicycle kick, how to do a bicycle kick, how to do the bicycle kick

Best Soccer Tricks

2009-10-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

Best soccer tricks video on Youtube. Check it out.

Soccer Practice Drills - 250 Award Winning Soccer Drills Software

2009-09-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

If your a soccer coach and need Soccer Practice Drills; then I would recommend going to a site called soccer tutor. Click Here to check out the website. Basically It has
» 250 PDF Soccer Drills - Step by Step Instruction
» Drills, Skills & Techniques - All Ages & Skill Levels
» 25 Skill Tests - Who's The Most Skillful Player?
» 3D Fitness Drills - Speed, Agility, & Interval Training...
» Exclusive Pro Section (UEFA 'B') - Set Plays...
» Easy Drill Search Software - Find Drills Quickly
» Quickly Print Drills - Ready To Take To Practice
» Full Support - Get Full Support From SoccerTutor

Soccertutor is a great resource for a coach, and I personally use it for my sons team. It has great drills for passing drills, shooting drills, defense drills, soccer conditioning drills, and much more. So if you interested at all I recommend checking it out. Click Here All the soccer drills are for all ages too.

Soccer Freestyle - Leg Catch (Heel)

2009-07-31T18:48:00.000-07:00

In this freestyle soccer tutorial you'll learn how to do a Leg Catch

Soccer Freestyle - Crossover Tutorial

2009-07-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

In this Soccer Freestyle tutorial you'll learn how to do the Crossover trick

Explained more!
Description:
Here is a short yet helpful tutorial on how to do the crossover freestyle trick. Remember that reading this is not enough! You need to go out and practice!

Explanation:

With this trick you hit the ball while you jump with your legs crossed. The main key of this trick is the timing. You don’t need to jump high at all if your timing is correct. Try to jump as the ball is at knee-height. When you hit the ball, your other leg should already be over the ball. If the ball goes forward, try to jump slightly backwards so the ball comes straight up. Some freestylers do this trick with their good leg swinging over the ball, while others prefer to swing with their weaker leg. This depends on your own preference so try both ways and see what feels more comfortable for you.

Remember, reading this is not good enough. Go out and practice until you get the trick down. Good luck and feel free to leave a comment or post on our freestyle forum for further help.

Freestyle Soccer - Head Stall

2009-07-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

In this soccer freestyle tutorial you'll learn how to do the head stall.

Tips: You need to find the "right" spot on your head (near hairline)

Soccer tricks - Chest Stall

2009-06-29T17:14:00.000-07:00

In this freestyle soccer tutorial you'll learn how to do the Chest Stall.
Tips: More bend to your back, the better

Learn Soccer Freestyle, Soccer Tricks, and Soccer Moves

2009-06-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

All of these post are in order for your convenience. Start with "How to Juggle" and end with the "Head Stall".

How to Juggle

Around the World

Hop the World Tutorial

Crossover Tutorial

Matw Tutorial

AMATW Tutorial

Double Around the World

Head Stall

Learn Soccer Moves - Example video of C. Ronaldo

2009-06-20T05:07:00.000-07:00

Amazing soccer moves from C. Ronaldo

Soccer Freestyle - Flick ups

2009-06-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

In this freestyle soccer tutorial you''ll learn how to do a flick up

Freestyle Soccer - Hocus Pocus

2009-06-13T05:32:00.000-07:00

In this freestyle soccer tutorial you'll learn how to do the Hocus Pocus

Freestyle Soccer - Chest Stall Tutorial

2009-06-11T17:41:00.000-07:00

In this soccer freestyle or football freestyle tutorial you'll learn how to do the chest stall. Enjoy

Freestyle Soccer

2009-06-10T14:48:00.001-07:00

What is Freestyle Soccer, Soccer Freestyle, Soccer tricks? First of all, let's start with a simple question, what is freestyle soccer? Freestyle soccer is simply the style and ability to combine various soccer tricks in juggling and ground moves. It's a new trend in soccer along with other types like five a side futsal and beach soccer. In a soccer context, freestyle is perceived as less significance to the modern game. However, freestyle soccer does improve a footballer's ability to control the ball.

The ball control is what I perceived as the most important element in soccer before other attributes like fitness and tactics. There's a saying that if you can control the ball you can control the game. In fact, I stumbled one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's, an Inter Milan player, quotes saying that as long as you have the ball, you'll have the advantage. Yet majority of footballers still ignore the importance of freestyle soccer. There are reasons behind it and one of them is that the soccer tricks are difficult to execute and only brings less to the modern game. True enough, but let's not forget the concept of ball control. Learning freestyle allows a player to enhance his touches especially the first touch. A great first touch buys you thousands of mili seconds to give you an edge over the opposition.

Those seconds could change the game in an instant especially in the modern game where it demands fast and furious soccer. As a result of those reasons, they don't even bother in the first place. On the other side, the ones who love freestyle soccer perceived it as something that they can express their creativity and improve on ball control and touches to a greater heights. But I'm more concern to those who are ignorant and may not have the slightest interest on freestyle soccer. The problem is, they may not know where to begin especially after watching a series of freestyle videos on streaming sites like YouTube. I'm assuming that they only watched the difficult tricks and instead forget the basics of freestyle soccer. I believe that freestyle soccer should begin with the basics like juggling and planting before moving on to the more advanced soccer tricks like the around the world, crossover, flip flap and others. It's important since juggling is the principle of all types of ball control along with dribbling. In this case, I shall focus on juggling since it's related to freestyle soccer.

Juggling the ball

Simply done by doing kick ups without letting the ball fall on to the ground and expanded to different parts of the body from foot, thigh, shoulder and head. The aim is to be able to link your juggling skills from one part to the other. For example, transfer your juggling from foot to your thigh. You can start with a simple transfer and improve to more advanced transfers like juggling from foot to thigh and then head. Once you've mastered juggling, you can start planting or stalling a soccer ball.

Planting the ball

The ability to balance the ball on a specific part of your body like balancing the ball on your foot. You can start by placing the ball on your foot and once you've mastered, you can plant the ball during your juggling. For example, juggle with your foot which is then transferred to your thigh and then balance it with your foot i.e. foot plant. Focus on these two abilities will help build confidence for you to start on learning some of the basic freestyle soccer tricks. Improving your juggling and planting skills increases your coordination abilities especially when you practice your transferring or linking skills. For this one, I'd recommend the around the world trick because it's the principle of all soccer tricks. Once you've mastered this trick, you have a great chance of doing other tough soccer tricks like the MATW, TATW, crossover etc. The trick is simply to rotate your foot around the ball after either juggling or footplant and kick it as you finish the rotation to complete the process.

These are a couple of basics that you'd need to constantly bear in mind. Similar to soccer, the techniques are very important and I highly encourage you to practice these tricks with a lot of dedication and once mastered, you'll begin to appreciate the beauty of freestyle soccer.

How to do the Henry Backheel Flick Tutorial

2009-06-06T03:56:00.000-07:00

In this tutorial you'll learn how to do the Henry Backheel Flick Tutorial!

What soccer cleats are the best for me? - Best Soccer Moves

2009-05-23T15:24:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what cleats are the best. Well Soccer cleats have come a long way over the years. For a while, while other athletic shoes were coming out with all kinds of new innovations, designs and looks, soccer cleats pretty much stayed true to their roots with just a basic black boot made of one of a handful of different materials; usually cow or kangaroo leather, or some kind of synthetic material. This is no longer the case as you can find anything from orange soccer cleats to high-tech compound materials including rubberized fins on the surface of the shoe designed to influence the way the ball is kicked.

Still, despite all the variations that have arisen, there is still one main issue you need to consider when purchasing your soccer cleats that will make them fall into one of 3 categories; what kind of field surface will you be playing on? Will it be soft ground, firm ground or hard ground?

Soft ground refers to natural turf fields that are either very wet and muddy or which have very long grass (or both). Firm ground refers to most 'average' natural playing surfaces where the ground has some natural 'give' to it, but not an excessive amount. Finally hard ground refers to very hard natural surfaces, or more likely, hard artificial turf that is almost like carpet (or actually *is* carpet).

If you are going to be playing on very soft ground, you should be using cleats that are designed with this in mind. These soccer cleats typically have fewer teeth on the bottom so mud is less likely to clog up the spaces between them. They also are often removable, allowing you to adjust the actual length of the stud you play with. The softer the ground, the longer the stud you will want to use to give you better traction.

At the other extreme, if you were to be playing on very hard ground or even artificial turf (such as indoor soccer), having long studs like this would be a terrible idea. Instead, you want a much flatter sole on your shoe. In fact, indoor soccer shoes look much like tennis shoes on the bottom; flat with just a good tread design. Still, if you're going to be playing indoor soccer, you will be better off with real indoor soccer shoes as opposed to just tennis shoes or sneakers.

Turf shoes have a bit more tread than indoor shoes and can be used on both hard artificial surfaces such as indoor carpet, or very hard outdoor surfaces. These kinds of shoes typically have many small nubs or teeth to help you get traction, but they're still not really 'cleats'.

Finally, when it comes to playing on most natural surfaces, it will be considered 'firm' ground. The best kind of soccer cleat for this is the molded soccer cleat. The teeth or cleats themselves can vary in number and shape, but the basic idea is the same; the cleats are molded to the bottom of the shoe and work well on a wide range of natural surfaces. If you play outdoor soccer and the ground is not extremely soft and slippery, or unusually hard, this is the soccer cleat that will work the best for you.

Making the decision of what kind of 'cleat' to get on your soccer cleats is probably the easy part. At least you should be able to knock out two thirds of the choices when you know the purpose behind the purchase and what kind of field they'll be used on. However, you still have a difficult choice to make as there are as many looks and colors to soccer cleats today as there are colors in the rainbow.

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A Manager is Not Exactly a Soccer Coach

2009-05-08T21:52:00.001-07:00

Although it is always tempting to use the sports coach as an example for the role of a manager, but one should realize immediately that the manager is not a coach.

The main differences reside in three topics: career, team and culture.

The career of a sport-professional is hardly to compare with that of a business professional. We often compare these, and metaphors of the mountain-climbing expedition can help to show some similarities, but both careers are two different things.

A professional career is focused on offering a productive solution in a business. Some careers have a stand-alone or autonomic characteristic, but most are performed within a team and an organizational setting. The diversity of a professional career -- whatever the area of expertise -- requires a complete different management approach. This becomes visible in the personal performance indicator. The sportsman main performance indicator is attributable to the score of the team and his stake in this (giving the right pass, scoring, defense, etc...) The personal performance indicator of a professional is first of all determined by the business environment the expert is working in.

The role of the coach versus manager in either team is different too. The coach has a professional (career) background in the sports, but he is not actually playing in the game. The manager on the other hand is. In fact his position can better be compared with that of "the setter" in a volleyball game who is somehow orchestrating the game. The manager is a setter too in delegating tasks to the different team members.

The team characteristics of a one in sport and on the other side one in business is also hardly the same. One team sport or the other requires similar professionals. In business however a sale steam, production team or one focused on training and education in human resources, a remotely similar. In this sense, in some cases it is possible that a manager look similar to that of a coach (for example in a sales environment where scoring a close is similar to scoring a goal), but in others it is not; in an educational environment where a trainer is presenting a course. Managing a group of trainers is not the same as managing a sport steam of players.

Than the organizational culture. This is the last part where sports and business each have their unique features. The culture of soccer is an international culture, where players are transferred over teams. Basketball is different than soccer, but both have a similar culture. Than the LA Lakers may have a unique style to another club.

In business however there are also cultural differences, but they are more complex as in one organization, there are teams that play soccer, basket and handball as if it was the same business game. This is much more complex than the culture of a sports club.

That's way sports can give an example of the features of management, but business management is much more complicated. That's why the next chapter will start with a new biography, of which you can think of that of your own business curriculum. When reading it, think about your own career, the teams you have participated in and the cultures you have experienced on your path...

How to Learn Soccer Freestyle

2009-03-22T03:32:00.000-07:00

Step 1
Learn to balance the ball on your foot. If you can balance the ball on your foot for about 30 seconds then your good to go. You can practice in the house with this trick. Be careful though!

Step 2
The first trick you really want to master is juggling. To start learning soccer freestyle you need to know how to juggle a soccer ball! This is one of the biggest steps in all of soccer freestyle! If you don't know how to juggle then you won't get far. If you can do at least 50 juggles you should be good.

Step 3
Learn to balance the ball on your foot. If you can balance the ball on your foot for about 30 seconds then your good to go. You can practice in the house with this trick. Be careful though!

Step 4
Learn the neck stall. You'll need to know how to balance the ball on your foot for this trick.

Step 5
Learn The Around the World, also known as the Atw

Step 6
Learn the Hop the world

Step 7
Learn the Crossover Soccer trick

Step 8
Learn the AMATW

Step 9
Learn the Double around the world also known as the Latw.

Step 10
Learn the Tawt

Step 11
Learn the Atatw

Step 12
Learn the AATW

Step 13
Learn the Matw

Step 14
Learn the HTATW

Step 15
Once you learn all these tricks then you should be an amazing freestyler! Links at the bottom of the page for tutorials!

Amazing Freestyle soccer tricks

2009-03-01T16:25:00.001-08:00

I don't know about you guys; but every time I see this soccer freestyle video it just makes me want to go outside and play. Tell me what you think!

Samuel Eto'o

2009-02-19T08:30:00.001-08:00

Samuel Eto'o, although he seems to have been playing at the top level for such a long time, was, in fact, born in March 1981 in Nkon, Cameroon. Seemingly followed by controversy, Eto'o signed for Real Madrid as a 16 year old and had, to put it mildly, a strange relationship with the club from then on.

Firstly, upon his arrival at Madrid airport, young Samuel was famously forgotten about - a young black African with no Spanish hanging around an airport; an inauspicious beginning. After uneventful loan spells at Leganés and Espanyol, the coltish-looking Eto'o found himself loaned out to Mallorca, where he really began to show off his credentials.

Scoring 54 goals, Eto'o became the islanders' highest league goal scorer and developed a real affinity with the supporters there - and he famously scored a spectacular individual goal against Madrid in the Bernabeu! Eto'o enjoyed his relationship with Mallorca so much that, when they reached the Copa del Rey final in 2003, he paid out €30,000 on a meal for them!

At the end of his loan spell, the Real Madrid supporters were almost unanimous in their desire for Samuel to return to the capital and compete for the forward positions with Raul and Ronaldo. What followed was a summer of continuous speculation and argument and eventually, for €24 million, the player signed for Barcelona - something that still annoys many Real Madrid fans.

Since then, Eto'o has scored goals galore for the Catalan giants. In his first, championship-winning season, Eto'o scored 25 league goals, including the title-clinching strike at Levante. He reached 50 goals in just 67 matches - a club record.

In addition to wining African Footballer of the year a record three times in succession from 2003, Samuel was part of the Cameroon side that won the African Cup in 2000 and 2002 and was runner-up in 2008. Previously, he had been the youngest player, at 17 years and 3 months, in the 1998 World Cup. He was the pichichi, top goal scorer, in La Liga in 2005/06, when, of course, he scored an equalising goal in the Champions' League final against Arsenal.

Controversy has never been far away, however. After winning the league in 2005, Eto'o made the mistake of singing an abusive song about Madrid during the on-pitch celebrations. He has also been famously outspoken in his denouncements of racial abuse chanted in grounds - even threatening to walk off during one league game at Zaragova. Furthermore, there were times during 2007/08 season when Samuel Eto'o seemed a very forlorn figure, when his relationship with some of the other players was not at its best. At the end of the season, it seemed that the club were determined to transfer Ronaldinho, Deco and Eto'o, the perceived bad influences at the club. Eto'o, though, with typical determination, was adamant that his future was still with Barcelona - and he has proved to be absolutely correct.

Samuel Eto'o is fast, two-footed, brave and a totally committed team player and arguably the best centre forward in modern football.

David Beckham - What's all the fuss about?

2009-01-11T13:13:00.001-08:00

To watch David Beckham playing is to watch a master craftsman at work, perhaps even an artist! As European soccer mourns, The States awaits his arrival with many wondering why.

As soccer continues to grow in America the MLS have taken steps to give it a major boost with the introduction of Beckham. Even arm chair sports fans who do not follow soccer are taking an interest and wondering what makes him special.

It was the Manchester United fans who first fell in love with him. Followed by England and Real Madrid soccer fans and to understand the Beckham phenomena you have to understand why they adored him so much. It wasn't his ball skills, his hair style, his choice of bride etc.

The reason his fans love him and even supporters of rival teams admire him so much is because the guy just never gives up. His team can be 2 goals down with a few minutes left on the clock but Beckham will be running and chasing to win the ball. It is this will to win and belief in himself that will win over America's arm chair sports fans. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and always has done.

He is of course the worlds greatest crosser of a soccer ball which helps win the fans over and his free kicks still rank him along side the worlds best dead ball specialists. But even these skills are acredited to his never give in spirit and his will to succeed. David was never a great natural player, someone born with a gift like a George Best or a Maradona. His skills were learnt as a necessity because as a young player trying to break into the first team at the great Manchester United the young David Beckham had a problem - He could not get past a defender!

It became clear to Beckham that if he were to make the grade and catch the eye of the coach, Sir Alex Ferguson, he had to do something. He started staying behind after official practice had ended and would spend hours practising his crosses until he could play them with pinpoint accuracy. He also learnt the art of making the ball bend in the air and he practised this skill until their was none better in the world. Now he didn't have to beat the defenders, now he would face the defense but instead of trying to run past them with the ball he would kick it around them and send it into the danger area landing it on the head or at the foot of a team mate.

Learning to bend the ball so much meant he quickly established himself as Manchester Uniteds free kick specialist and later England's. Both his peers and fans around the world regard David Beckham one of the greatest free kick takers their is.

As David Beckham sets off on a new adventure both the L.A. Galaxy and arm chair fans will soon come to understand why we loved him so much and why we miss him already.

A new social Network!

2009-01-03T15:20:00.000-08:00

There's a new social network that you guys should check out! Click Here Its a great place to advertise, talk, and discover new videos. Just have fun with it.

Soccer Shin Guards For Kids

2008-12-29T15:33:00.000-08:00

Have gone shopping for soccer shin guards for your young player lately? It is incredible when you see the scope and depth of your options. There are numerous manufacturers claiming their shin guards offer the best protection and are the most affordable. And there are others who market the aesthetics of their products, mostly appealing to our kids-because as parents we know the sex appeal of shin guards is paramount when gauging its ability to protect our kids' legs! Right!!

Remember soccer shin guards are made to protect the front of the lower leg from errant kicks and are regulation wear in all levels of the sport. With player safety of maximum importance in all levels of soccer, the shin guard has now become a necessity in competitive soccer-at all ages.

New coaches don't forget, referees will not allow you to play without shin guards. If you don't want your kids to incur serious leg injuries then carefully selected shin guards are your kids' both best friend and most loyal protector.

There are many styles and sizes to choose based on your age and style of play. Here are some important points to consider when selecting soccer shin guards:
• When sizing shin guards, the best way to measure the leg for shin guards is to take the length of the leg from ankle to knee and take off an inch. Soccer shin guards should offer protection for legs without obstructing movement.
• Measure the shin from below where the knee bends to 1 inch above the shoe top--this is the proper length of soccer shin guards.
• High school players should look for NOCSAE Approved shin guards
• Shin guards should cover most of the area from the ankle to your knee

Look for protective shin guards that are strong and durable. On my Girls U13 team, we have selected Vizari Milanos to protect our girls-they are NOCSAE approved and affordable. Remember, they will get kicked in the shins, so choose your soccer shin guards wisely. Make sure they cover the leg from the ankle to the bottom of the knee. Do your shin guards fit comfortably? Can you run, jump, and kick easily with the shin guards on?

The True Meaning of Christmas

2008-12-21T19:08:00.001-08:00

A lovely article on Christmas! Hope you like it

OK, so what does Christmas mean? Well, I suppose, first and foremost it depends on whom you are asking. Is it the British, US & European secular lobby or the Christian religious lobby, or even the heathen religious lobby, 'cos here in the UK we have Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Buddhists and even some Muslims keeping Christmas - you name 'em and they keep it? So what's going on? Perhaps the answer to this question is tied up in why I, as a Christian, do not keep Christmas and haven't done so for many years. Now, before I get labelled Ebenezer Scrooge 2008 I will quickly explain that it's for Spiritual reasons that I don't keep Christmas, not for financial reasons. That being said, this year I reckon I will save more than a £1,000.00 or in excess of $1,500.00. The projected national Christmas spend here in the UK, for last year, was expected to be £17 billion or $25 billion US. This equates to nearly £400 or $600.00 for every man woman and child in Britain!! As it turned out the national spend for last year was £21 billion!! This is awesome big business - nativity or no nativity.

This year, though, all the financial talk is of 'recession', 'the down turn', 'the credit crunch' and numerous other condescending, devious, negative slogans put out by the bankster controlled corrupt media in order to fool the people that the financial crisis is all their own fault. Needless-to-say, nothing could be further from the truth and I won't go into that subject now as it would need a hundred articles to explain what's going on, but in general terms you need to know that the current crisis is being caused deliberately by the top gangster banksters who are taking their money out of circulation in order to cause this crisis on purpose - a thing they have done many times before. The thing is, will it stop people overspending on this wretched 'holiday'? Sadly, I very much doubt it. Here in the UK, as I write, thousands of people are losing their homes, some having already lost their homes this year. What kind of Christmas will they be looking forward to, and if they decide to keep it what lasting pleasure or relief from their sorrows will it bring them? Not much I'm afraid. Nonetheless, we can be fairly sure that those who can 'afford' to keep it will be out there spending like fury with what little credit they have left and as if there is no tomorrow.

Moreover, whether there is a recession or not, from a Spiritual and Holy Scriptural perspective, where is the Father God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ in all this frantic commercialised frenzy? How can God play anypart in such a festival where Mammon is king? Mammon rules, OK!? God does not. With that in mind, I can hear some of you saying: "Yes, but there is a Spiritual dimension to Christmas - it's all about one's perspectives, priorities and focus." True, there can be a Spiritual side to the 25th December and if you want to keep the 25th of December "Holy to the Lord" that's your business and I'm not against you doing so, nor am I going to speak against it. In turn, I trust you are not going to speak against me, whilst I choose not to keep it. In turn, perhaps you might like to know why, I, as a Christian, do not keep it. As Christians we all need to know the truth about Christmas to enable us to come to an informed decision, as to whether we should continue keeping it, i.e. once we know the truth about it. So, if after reading my article on Christmas you still want to carry on with it, OK, as I said - that's your business and make the most of it for one day it will be gone forever - never to be observed again.

OK, apart from the commercial negativity of Christmas, what are the supposed Spiritual aspects and benefits of Christmas? Is it, for instance, something that was or is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ, let's face it; it is His birthday after all, isn't it? Well no, actually it isn't, there is no known date for His birth nor did He leave us with any command to keep it. Now why do you think that is? We know the date of His death and resurrection, but not His birth, why? To me, this means we are not meant to keep it, if we were, He would have left us a date, at least, surely!? So why do so many Christians keep it? Why is it called Christmas or Christ's Mass? Where did this nonsensical term come from? Why is the word 'mass' not found anywhere in the Holy Scriptures? When did Christians start holding a 'mass' for His birth? Indeed, where in The Holy Scriptures are we commanded to hold a 'mass' for anything, let alone the Lord Jesus Christ's birth?

All the answers to these questions lie in the origins of Christmas, which are steeped in heathen, pagan and man made religious traditions - the traditions of men, and there are no Biblical foundations for these traditions at all, not one. The 25th of December is actually the culmination of the Feast of Saturnalia, a heathen festival kept by the Romans. This feast began on the 17th December and ended a week later on the 24th culminating in the festival of Sol Invictus or Unconquered Sun on the 25th December. This feasting was just a pagan celebration of bestial fertility rites and the winter solstice, nothing else. This pagan festival has no connection with the birth of Jesus Christ at all - not one part of it. Furthermore, all the Biblical evidence, such as there is, points to another time of the year altogether for the Lord Jesus Christ's birth.

So let us start our search for The Truth in the Gospel of Luke:

Luke 2:8 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

Here we read of the shepherds watching over their flocks at night, but this didn't happen in December in Judea, it was far too cold and wet for that. All the animals were taken indoors before the winter season arrived, so just from this evidence alone a very big question mark appears over the 25th December as the birth date of Jesus Christ. This event most certainly took place at a warmer time of the year, when shepherds would have been out in the fields watching their flocks.

Here is another piece of evidence: In September the Israelites used to keep (and the Jews still do) a festival known as the Feast of Trumpets:

Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, (The seventh month of the Hebrew Calendar and the ninth month of Julian Calendar) in the first day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an Holy Convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Brackets Mine)

This feast was symbolic of the coming of The Lord Jesus Christ, in both his physical coming in the first century and His Spiritual coming in the future to rule this earth. When The Lord Jesus Christ returns a Trumpet will sound prior to His arrival. First we have Joel in the Old Testament prophesying the first coming and then The Lord Himself prophesying His second coming. The Feast of Trumpets always takes place in September.

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Here is more Biblical proof: The birth of John the Baptist took place six months before the Lord Jesus Christ was born and we know this from Luke:

Luke 1:36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. Now if we can roughly prove when John was born we will know that the Lord Jesus Christ was born six months later:

Luke 1:5, 8 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course.

Holy Scripture tells us that Elizabeth became pregnant just after her husband Zacharias, who was a priest, had finished his stint of service at the temple; called "the course of Abijah" This was six months before Mary was miraculously found with child - The Lord Jesus Christ. In Old Testament times during the reign of King David, the priestly course was separated into 24 sessions of duty and we can read the proof of it in 1 Chr 24:7-19. These sessions of service began in the first month of the Hebrew year - Abib or Nisan or March/April in the western secular calendar. Again, read 1 Chr 27:2.

Each of these priestly sessions or shifts of duty, to use a modern term, lasted a week. The first course was the first week and the second course the second week until the 24th course and 24th week and then they were repeated or rotated all over again. An additional four weeks were also served at the time of their annual feasts to complete the fifty two week annual cycle. Now Zacharias' term of duty or course of Abijah was the eighth session or week counting from the beginning of the Hebrew New Year - Abib/Nisan or March/April, taking us to early June. If it had been the second rotation of service it would then have been in December. So Elisabeth conceived either in June or December. In the first instance this would mean that John the Baptist was born in March and the Lord Jesus Christ six months later in September. In the second instance John the Baptist would have been born in September and Jesus Christ six months later in March. Either way, we certainly don't have a December birth date for the Lord Jesus Christ - it never happened in December. It's all conjured up by man and it is all lies of the tricksters within the Christian Religion.

Having shown this proof and evidence of either a March or September birth date for the Lord, we can now see that this ties in nicely with shepherds being in the fields with their flocks at night, for it would have been dry and warmer. Furthermore, with the Feast of Trumpets proof thrown in as well, we can now be very sure that the Lord Jesus Christ was born in September and not in March. Of one thing we can be 100% certain - it wasn't the 25th December!!

Basic Tips on Being a Great Soccer Goalie!

2008-12-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

This should help a lot of people! Very Basic and From a professional!

Goalie Gloves

2008-12-09T15:48:00.000-08:00

Goalie gloves are not required for a soccer game, but they are a good thing for a goalie to have. When a goal-keeper throws a ball to his teammate, or when she’s going to block a ball from going into her territory, he or she wants to do anything that they can to keep the ball from slipping and heading towards exactly where the team doesn’t want it to.

Goalie gloves can help prevent this. Goalie gloves provide goalies with a better grip on the ball. They also help cushion the goalie’s hands from impact with the ball. Some of those balls are shot at awesome speeds that could really injure a goal-keeper hands if he or she tried to block it. Goalie gloves cushion and protect the goalie’s palms, joints, and fingers, lessening the chance of injury.

Before buying goalie gloves, first make sure that they comply with team and league rules. Beginning goalies may just want to share a pair of gloves with teammates (to avoid high costs), but for anyone who wants to purchase his or her own, he or she should look for gloves with thicker palms for added grip and protection. For younger children (until about 11 or 12), lower-end gloves are just fine.

It may also be a good idea to buy different goalie gloves for different weather. Some gloves perform better in wet weather than others. Just check the tags of the goalie gloves to see which sort of weather they work best in.

A player may also want separate sets of gloves for practice and games. Another reason for buying multiple pairs of gloves during a season is that higher-end players may actually wear out multiple pairs during a single season.

Also, the technology of goalie gloves is still developing. Newer, more recent goalie gloves may be better at preventing hand injuries by allowing the fingers to bend forward but keeping them from bending backward.

For added comfort and to absorb moisture, sprinkle baby powder on your hands before putting on your goalie gloves. When your gloves get dirty, you should wash them by hand – don’t stick them in a washing machine. Don’t use soap, and don’t dry using a machine or radiator.

Besides throw-ins, field players never really get to handle the soccer ball. Goal-keepers, on the other hand, handle the ball at any opportunity they get. That is why goal-keepers should wear goalie gloves.

Train Your Goalie with Mini Soccer Balls

2008-12-09T15:44:00.000-08:00

Soccer balls do not come in just one size. Size 5 balls are used for players aged 13 years and up. This is also the size that is use in all Major League Soccer games. Size 4 balls are for players from age 8 to 12 years. Children under 8 years old use size 3 balls. These are the only sizes of balls that are used in competitive play, but there are also two other sizes of balls. There are size 2 and size 1 mini balls that usually have the circumferences of 20” and 18” inches respectively (compare this to the 27-28” circumference of a size 5 ball).

The players that usually get the most and best training from these “mini balls” are soccer goalkeepers. It is a lot harder to block a mini ball than a regular sized one – it requires much more precision. The primary goalkeeping skill that is gained from using the mini ball training is the adjustment of the catching unit, or the contour catch. To catch a mini ball, the goalkeeper must adjust his hand position to a smaller, more precise catching position. It is not just his hands that he must adjust – the goalkeeper’s upper body is important, too. Goalkeepers need to prepare their bodies so that their hands, head, and chest are in alignment with the ball.

Goalkeepers don’t just learn the contour catch while training with a mini ball. Goalkeepers also experience an increase in their physical and visual reaction speed. A smaller ball has a very rapid flight that requires a goalkeeper to have to prepare his feet much faster if he wants to protect his goal. The goalkeeper's visual speed will be improved, too – he has to watch the kicker kick the ball and then time when he will have to respond (well, he really ought to respond immediately...)

When training goalkeepers, you may incorporate the mini ball into a number of shot handling and/or deflecting exercises. A coach must be creative in her exercises, constantly changing the starting position or angle of the goalkeeper. When using the mini balls to train the goalkeeper’s deflecting techniques, it forces the goalkeeper to concentrate on striking the center of the mini ball, which has smaller surface area than a regulation ball. The mini ball training will expose a weakness in the goalkeeper’s saving technique if he cannot read the flight of the ball correctly or make solid contact when deflecting.

Mini balls are a great and interesting way to improve your goalkeeper’s game (hey, and while your goalie is still learning to block the ball, your other players can boosts their confidences while enjoying the fun of being able to make a shot more easily). The use of mini balls is just one of many innovative training methods which can maximize your goalkeeper’s mental capacity while expanding his physical limitations.

Soccer Goalies

2008-12-09T15:41:00.001-08:00

The soccer goalies are the heroes of the team in the sport of soccer. They are the last line of defense and usually get the hardest bumps from opponents wanting to get past the defense for the goal. Goalies will do whatever it takes to keep away the ball from the goals; they dive even with the hardest ground just to defend the goal.

Soccer is not all about scoring goals but must also posses a good goalie in order to have greater chance of winning. Good goalies must have a strong leadership and confidence in order to encourage other team members to cooperate accordingly.

Goalies must be keen in analyzing and anticipating any attempts from the opponent. Another factor that can contribute to being an effective goalie is the ability to react in split seconds which is very crucial because a skilled striker can attack in the very least time unexpectedly.

A goalie should also have the proper stance or position ready to jump anytime the ball is shot for the goal. A powerful shot can be difficult to catch but with the proper technique it would be very easy for the goalie. The most common technique in catching is the "W" technique. This technique involves shaping the thumbs and fingers in a diamond like shape so as to provide the best support and helps in preventing the ball from slipping.

The soccer goalies are usually the best players in a team. They are fearless, tough and well respected because of the great importance of their role in the game.

3 Soccer Goalie Tips

2008-12-06T12:49:00.000-08:00

A skillful soccer goalie in your team can make a huge difference in winning or losing games. The position of the goalie is the dichotomy of the team. It can be both fun and exciting. Unlike the rest of the players, the ultimate goal of the goalie is to stop scores.

Therefore, an expert coach knows that it becomes sometime necessary to offer some consolation and praise to the goalie to retain his self-esteem. Here go some valuable tips.
# Pulling The Ball Tightly Into The Body

Train the goalie in a way that he should pull the ball tightly into the body when catching the ball. If you are coaching the team of younger players, it is always a great idea to teach them to cuddle the ball on the ground and keep their body in front of the ball.

This way, the shins, knees and feet will also help stop the ball. This method carries bucketful of advantages. For example, the number of injured hands and fingers by over ambitious opponents will be significantly reduced.
# Handling The Ball Effectively

When it comes to handling the ball effectively, you should teach the young goalie to use two hand positions, the W and the Heart. Keep your watchful eyes open and observe the activities the goalie. If they are trying to trap the ball between their hands like catching a fly, rather than having the ball meet their hands, stop them from doing so and tell them the right way.
# W Is Best Used For The Youngest Goalies

If the goalie is very young, the W is the best for him. This does not allow their hands to become as big as possible but at the same time, it also keeps them from doing the flytrap. Teach them to form the W by placing the tip of their thumbs together, with their palms toward the ball and fingers pointing upwards.

What is more, one of the required skills for each and every soccer goalie is their ability to move quickly side-to-side and general quickness.

Soccer Training Tips

2008-12-04T16:58:00.001-08:00

In this article I will present 7 free soccer training tips that you should print out and read before every practice. Many of the things mentioned here are pretty obvious. However, be honest and ask yourself how many times you actually follow all the things mentioned here.

1. Always show up in time to your practice. If you are late call your coach or send him a message through one of your teammates. Believe me, coaches' hate when players are late.

2. Keep yourself focused during the drills and avoid discussing off topics with your teammates. Don't either impeach your coach may see this as a sign on arrogance. Instead, try to perform the drills with maximum focus and don't hesitate to ask your coach if there is something with the drill that you don't understand.

3. Put maximum effort in your practices as it will affect your games. This is pretty important because every session is just like a regular game. This means that if you don't put enough effort in your training session you will not either do this during your regular games.

4. Never argue with the coach whether his decisions or critic during the practice is justified. Instead, realize that critic is a part of the game and if you want to become successful in soccer you will need to learn how to handle it. I know by experience that keeping your mouth closed while someone is criticizing you is hard, but believe me, once you do it few times or so it will not be a problem anymore.

5. Help your coach with moving the goal, collecting cones, filling the water bottles and so on. Many players don't realize how much time it takes to coach a soccer team. As a player you need to take your responsibility and help your coach. Also, tell your teammates that they should help the coach too because if you help each other it will be much funnier to practice.

6. Treat your teammates with respect and encourage them when they make mistakes. Don't either blame your mistakes on the others because you will only make your teammates upset.

7. Make a quick resume of every practice and analyze what you've done wrong and try to correct it during the upcoming training session. Identifying your weak sides can be though as you may are not even aware of them. However, you could always ask your coach or your teammates what you need to improve and then work on that particular skill in the upcoming training sessions.

Tags: soccer training tips, best soccer training, private soccer training, best soccer training, personal soccer training, soccer training manual, soccer training systems, soccer training dvd, soccer training for kids

6 Soccer Tips That Will Change Your Game

2008-12-03T12:35:00.001-08:00

1. Fun- Most people play Soccer because it's a good way to stay fit and active. Whether you're a professional or an amateur make sure that you are having fun. When you're enjoying your soccer experience this will inevitable create a platform that will allow you to learn the fundamentals of the game.

2. Practice makes perfect- The more you train the better you will become. Through continuous repetition you will be able to master the game. This will allow you to become confident in your own ability and develop a high self esteem amongst your team mates.

3. Ensure that you always wear the correct gear- Your soccer boots need to be comfortable and be the right size. The clothing worn should always be dictated by the weather and always make an effort to wear a smile.

4. Nutrition- overlooked by many players but is crucial if you want to perform at your optimum levels. A balanced, nutritious diet is paramount in maintaining high energy levels during training and match day. Good nutrition also aids in recovery and helps reduce the event of a soft tissue injury.

5. Goals- try and workout your goals and ambitions. Why are you playing the game of Soccer? Once you've answered this question you can train and learn accordingly.

6. Find a suitable Team/Club- If you're purely looking to have fun and stay fit, do not join a club that is looking to compete at the highest level and win championships. For starters you will not have fun due to high levels of pressure and you will also have limited game time if any.

If you follow the above Soccer Tips, your soccer experience and enjoyment will increase ten-fold. So start enjoying the world game and don't complicate things. The game of Soccer caters for everyone and doesn't need to be complicated.

Tags: beginner soccer tips, Soccer tips, soccer tips for forwards, goalie soccer tips, soccer tips and tricks, soccer tips and drills

Thanksgiving

2008-11-29T13:55:00.001-08:00

Just got back from my parents thanksgiving party! So I'll update this website later I'm really tired! However Happy thanksgiving (;

Facts About Soccer Fields

2008-11-22T03:46:00.001-08:00

Since soccer is probably the most popular team ball game in the world, some one would think that all the rules and regulations for this sport would have been formed and know from the beginning, or at least that there would be some definite rules, universally accepted and applied. This is partially true, since when it comes to terms like out, goal kick, foul, etc, we all understand the same exact thing. However there is an interesting detail when it comes to the length and size of the field.

The size of the field, when soccer was first introduced, was not defined and even the layout could be different even within the same country, which practically meant that someone could play in a field of 80yards and someone else in a 100yards. This fact was not only weird but also unfair for the players, so the first Association of Soccer, founded by the British in the 19th century, introduced the first guidelines for the appropriate length, and years later FIFA established the rules and exist currently.

Even now though the existing rules permit some kind of variation when it comes to size : the field has to be rectangular ( this rule cannot change and does not underlie to any kind of variation ), the length cannot be less than 100 yards (90 m), and no bigger than 130 (120 m) and its breadth cannot be less than 50 (45 m), and no more than 100 yards (90 m) . For international games this is a little more limited: length cannot be more than 120 yards (110 m) nor less than 110 yards (100 m), and the breadth not more than 80 yards (75 m)nor less than 70 yards (64 m).

In any case though, the length must always exceed the breadth. In modern soccer though rarely can someone see that big variations, so more or less all fields have approximately the same size without reaching the maximum suggested and allowed. The size though has to be reduced when it comes to women soccer or to fields allocated for players under the age of 16 or those with disabilities.

Except for the outer lines size there are rules that apply to the inner lines of the soccer field as well. According to those, the field is separated by a central line, which has the exact same distance from the each of the width end. There is always a circle, located at the middle of this line and its diameter has to be 10 yards.

Goal posts are placed at the middle of each pitch width and have to be 24 feet wide and 8 feet high and they are surrounded by two rectangular boxes: the bigger one, called penalty box since every foul in this area leads to penalty kick, is 18 yards wide and 44 long.

The small box, called protection area, is 6 yards wide and long. One more interesting rule about the size of the interior lines of the field is that around the corner ends there is a flag set in a circle of 1 yard (.914m) diameter - this is where the corner kick takes place.

There are many researches and analysis about the soccer field length; most of them converge at the point that larger fields are more suitable for players with better stamina and those speedy ones who tend to kick the ball forward and run, making it hard for defenders, while the smaller ones are and allow more touches and bigger fun (that is why recreational and not professional ones are usually smaller).

In a larger field players have to run more which can affect their game play since they can be easily worn out and end up playing with long kicks and make the game boring and degenerated. Longer and bigger fields demand a better coordination and coverage between the lines from the teams, otherwise the opponents have better chance to organize their game and reach the goalposts becoming dangerous.

Play Well As a Soccer Defender

2008-11-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Becoming a good defender in soccer is something that takes time and you need to be aware of that. In fact, to become good at any soccer position you need to practice a lot. However, your practice doesn't always need to involve physical effort. You may also study professional players by bringing a note block and try to answer following questions:

- What is the professional player doing in order to mark his opponent? - Does he clear the ball directly in dangerous situations? - Is he following up in offense attacks or does he prefer to stay on his own side of the field.

It is important to study these players properly and try to mimic their way of playing. However, you should not try to copy their personality as it will not help you on the field.

While playing as defender you need to pose good speed, domination in the air (more about this later) and good ball handling skills. There are of course many other things that are equally important like understanding different formations or tactics.

Being able to dominate the game in the air is probably the most important skill you need to master as defender. The reason for this is that you will often find yourself in heading battles with one or two opponents.

If you already have good heading abilities then you should try to work on improving them even more. Perfection does not exist in soccer. You need to always work hard in order to improve but also maintain your current skills.

I always like to explain things with real world examples and this article is not different. Let's assume that you are playing a cup final. During the game you have been put in 20 heading duels and won all of them. However, the result is still 1-1 and your team is going for a winning goal.

But, during one contra attack the ball is crossed inside your penalty kick area. While the ball is flying toward your 18 yard box (penalty kick area) you are completely sure that you will win the heading duel.

However, you fail with stopping your opponent to get a touch on the ball and he scores. The game is over and everybody is watching at you (even if your teammates don't blame you, the anger in their faces will tell you how they feel).

So, what do I actually want to tell you with this example? Well, as you realize, you were performing pretty well until you made the jumping too late mistake. Always keep in mind that a game is not over before the referee blows his whistle. It is therefore important to keep your focus through the whole game and always be on your toes.

Professional Soccer Player Salaries-The Rise

2008-11-14T16:34:00.000-08:00

Soccer has come a long way in the last twenty years. There was a time when players reminded us of the fact that professional soccer was a short career lasting only around 10 to 15 years and less than that for some players. Clubs would sometimes help out their old players by granting a testimonial match with attendance revenue being given to the player in question.

In those days, it was hard not to feel some sympathy for players who had fallen on hard times for a variety of reasons. But today professional soccer player salaries are astronomical and continue to rise. Many players are now earning more in a week than the fans who pay to watch them earn in a year. This sometimes leads to an uneasy relationship between the players and the fans that are ultimately funding these salaries. If the fans think a particular player is not trying hard enough, they will voice their opinions vociferously.

The top earners have now broken the six figure barrier pocketing over £100,000 per week which is an extraordinary amount of money for anyone to earn in a 7 day period. This has led to calls for the introduction of a salary cap to try slowing down the spiralling cost of player wages which critics claim is out of control.

The argument against introducing a salary cap is that it may prove to be illegal under the current European law. Another way to curb spending would be limiting the number of foreign players each club is able to field at any one time although there is a case both for and against this kind of measure.

The problem with a constant increase in salaries is that a climate of competition is created with players on the lower end of the scale wanting their contract to be brought more into line with their team mates. Money talks and this can also dictate transfer activity with players often choosing one club over another for financial reasons rather than football ones.

C Ronaldo's Soccer Dribbling skills

2008-11-10T17:37:00.001-08:00

Players dribble to either move into open space, create goal scoring opportunities and to maintain possession of the ball. As a player it's important during you all soccer training sessions that you are continually learning and maintaining your dribbling skills. Ensuring that you have the ability to execute moves with both feet.

Developing the ability to be able to perform dummies and tricks with both feet gives the dribbler the gift of being unpredictable, a player that is able to use both feet has the potential to beat a defender to either the left or the right. Being able to dribble and execute moves using both feet allows the attacker to dictate to the defender. Using both feet makes it hard for the defender to predict which way the attacker may go.

To succeed as an attacker against the defender 1V1, you must ensure that you approach the defender correctly. To beat a defender you must either put the defender off balance or make the defender over commit allowing you to go past the defender. It's important when dribbling at defenders that use your pace to your advantage, as the defender is often running backwards which makes it easier to you to change direction faster. It's important when dribbling at defenders that you create little angles that give you the advantage as the dribbler.

They are many tricks and dummies and attacker can use to either make the defender over commit or put the defender off balance. Such as the 360. To execute the 360, first, push the ball forward stop it with the sole of one foot while stepping past it, turn and drag the ball with the sole of the other foot continue turning all the way around and take the ball away from the defender. This move is extremely effective when the attackers touch is a little to be in a defender over commit thinking that he can win the ball before the attacker can. As you see the defender over commit perform the 360 allowing you to maintain possession of the ball and take that defender out of the game.

another move that allows an attacker to either keep the ball or beat a defender is the cut back (Cruyff turn). To perform the cut back either fake to shoot pass or cross the ball and in the one motion bring the ball back with the inside of the foot under the body. This move is extremely effective to making defenders over commit which allows you to dribble past the opposition. The move if performed correctly give the attacking player the necessary time and space to be able to pick out a team mate in a better position.

The secret to being a successful dribbler is consistently working hard to improve your technique and having the confidence in your own ability that you can beat any defender that you are confronted by. It's important when starting to learn new tricks and dummies that you take it slow and slowly build up the speed in which you perform the particular skill. The biggest letdown in most players when dribbling is a do not have enough confidence in their own ability that they will be the defender, they will often let the defender dictate the play and the dribbler will then slow down giving the advantage to the defender. When dribbling at a defender you must dribble at pace where it is comfortable to you to perform dummies but not to slow where it is not putting the defender back on his heels. Lastly it is important that you work hard in your soccer training to further enhance your skills.

All Time Greatest Soccer Players

2008-11-07T15:13:00.001-08:00

The sport of soccer, known as football to most of the world, has produced some great soccer players over the past years. Perhaps the most famous of all is Pelé, who amazed the world with his incredible ability to maneuver the ball in a way it hadn’t been done before. Pelé retired more than twenty five years ago but he is still a household name on the lips of soccer players and fans around the world. His story of rising from poverty in Brazil to soccer superstar is a source of inspiration for young soccer players everywhere.

Another soccer great is Pavel Nedved. Pavel is well known both in his homeland of the Czech Republic and around the world as one of the youngest soccer players of all time to make a lasting impression. Pavel played for Sparta in the 1990’s and scored many goals for the team from 1992 to 1995.

The world has seen many players who have been the focus of extreme soccer skills, but none so well known as Zinedine Zidane. Zidane was born in Algeria in 1972 and after struggling in school for several years he decided that soccer was his main interest. He was spotted at the age of sixteen by a soccer scout and very quickly found himself in Cannes. Shortly after that Zidane was playing for the French Division, scoring goal after goal and becoming the star of the team.

Today one of the most popular soccer players is David Beckham, who is the star of Great Britain when it comes to the game. At sixteen Beckham was playing for Manchester United team and was already attracting the attention of soccer scouts around the world. Beckham’s incredible talent found him on England’s World Cup Team in 1997. His handsome looks and boyish attitude make him one of Britain’s favorite celebrities.

The world of soccer continues to give us up and coming stars, but none can ever rival the status that the above players have earned.

Speed Running - Eight Steps to Developing Blazing Speed - Power Training

2008-11-03T05:11:00.000-08:00

Speed Running
Maximum power is trained when the athlete works in a range of between 95-100% of their maximum intensity. All too often athletes perform these power training drills at a low intensity thus defeating the purpose of overloading the muscles and maximizing you time spent training. Plyometrics has become the standard for power development with many trainers.

Power is simply the combination of speed and strength. In recent years many athletes and coaches have thought of power training as plyometric training due to the popularity of the term. However, plyometric training is just one form of power training. Plyometric training refers to an athlete developing explosive movements through a concentric contraction (shortening of muscle) following an eccentric contraction (lengthening of muscle).

It is during this eccentric contraction that the maximum force generated by the muscle is attained. The amount of force generated by the muscles following an eccentric contraction is greater. How does this apply to making you faster? Well it is not only specific to the various movements involved in your sport but it allows you to develop a more explosive start which will help you to get to your destination more quickly.

It is the stored energy from an eccentric contraction when a muscle is stretched that is available during the following explosive concentric contraction. It is this stretching of the muscles prior to the explosive muscle contraction that is often referred to as the “loading phase”. The key point here to know is that the greater the load and the faster the load will result in a more powerful contraction.

One key aspect for athletes to know is that the concentric contraction must be immediate after the eccentric contraction otherwise a lot of this energy will be lost. For example if you want to increase your vertical jump you will bend down and then immediately explode upwards. However, you are unlikely to achieve such a height if you bend down, wait a few seconds and then jump upwards. Therefore an athlete must try to jump as soon as they can following the eccentric contraction. This process is often referred to the stretch-shortening cycle and is what plyometrics is built around.

Now transfer this over to how it can make you faster. It could make you faster in getting to a ball if you can time your jump rather than just waiting in a crouched position. It could allow you to be faster if you learn to take off following this phase rather that trying to take off from a crouched position. In tennis you could become faster if you hit the ball, land and recover and then learn to time your explosive start immediately from this position rather than a full upright or fully crouched position.

I found this to be true for the tennis players that I have trained. When waiting in the already crouched position on a return; I found out that they were slower to get off the mark compared to when they were able to time their forward movement. This is where learning the split-step the correct way will make you faster in getting to the ball.

Power is the ability of an athlete to produce high levels of work over a short distance.

Power = Strength x Speed

Strength

Strength refers to the force applied. The effects on the body from this strength training can result in both neural and physiological adaptations that will directly enhance performance.

Neural Adaptations or changes

Increased recruitment of motor units
Increase in intra-muscular coordination
Increased firing rate of motor neurons

Physiological adaptations or changes

Increase in density of connective tissue
Increase in muscles size (hypertrophy)
Increase in bone density

Speed

There are various factors that contribute to speed and movement:

The athlete’s skill through training
Muscle fibre type
Muscle insertion points
Elastic energy

Power training must be specific to the skill or movement that is being performed by the athlete. It is also important that when conducting power training that the load placed upon the body does not affect the actual specific sporting skill or movement. For example; you could where a weighted vest and try to perform a series of vertical jumps but if your specific movement patterns are effected then you are inhibiting the transferring benefit.

This is why when conducting plyometric exercises it is important to choose sport specific exercises with appropriate loading as there will be greater transference across in terms of physiological and learned adaptations.

I have already done this by choosing the appropriate exercises for your sport of tennis. As a result of this explanation you will see how these exercises that I have chosen will apply specifically to the movements that you are required to perform when executing that skill. To just perform any plyometric exercise to increase power is not the way to go. There are thousands of exercises out there but selection is very important. refer to GSC fitness eBooks for more in-depth explanations of each exercise.

Key Plyometric Exercises that Help to Improve Speed:

Single leg hops
Single leg bounding
Pistol squats
Double leg tuck jumps
Double leg hops
Alternate leg bounding
Incline two leg bounding
Zigzag hops or one legged lateral bounding
Lateral jumps
Squat jumps and Split jumps
Plyo-box exercises:

Depth jumps
Alternating step ups
Double leg jumps
Single leg box squats

Additional plyo-metric training methods:

Ladder exercises
Stair training
Medicine ball exercises
Kettle ball exercises
Bounding over cones
Bounding over mini-hurdles
Jump/skipping rope
Stadium hops

Favorite Exercise:

Running sand dunes! This is a killer workout and a great way to add extra resistance and variety to your training programs. I guarantee that if you are looking for a fun new way to train your players then take them down to the beach where there are some sand dunes. You can also include some sprint sessions along the beach followed by some swimming.

Your players will be ready to sleep for hours after this work out. It is also fun for them to be outside on the beach. Just be sure to include a proper warm-up and warm-down into your session.

Areas of Concern When Plyometric Training

After spending many years with coaches from a variety of sports in developing and designing their fitness and conditioning programs; it was quite apparent that many coaches did not know how to properly implement a plyometric program.

They Key Areas of Concern Were:

Many coaches were not completely educated on how to teach and instruct each plyometric exercises.
The equipment used was of the wrong shape, size and weight for the athlete.
The surface that they were performing the exercises on were poor and dangerous.
The athletes didn’t understand what they were working on or how it applied to their sport.
Athletes did not perform a proper warm-up prior to commencing a plyometric program.
Injuries were not reviewed prior to starting a plyometric training program.
Plyometrics were used at the wrong time of the season such as introducing new plyometric exercises during the competitive season.
A strength base was not established first.
Some of the athletes were too young for plyometric training.
Not knowing how many sets and repetitions to use.

Progression of Exercises to Develop Speed

Developing vertical drive – conducting plyometric exercises using cones and mini-hurdles will help to develop the vertical drive in athletes.
Developing explosive hip power – one of my favorite modes of exercises for developing power, in particular hip power, is stair hops. The key with these exercises is to take away the use of the arms. One way to do this is to place your hands behind your head as you hop with two feet together up the steps.
Developing explosive starts – this is where the various bounding exercises assist the athlete in developing speed by improving their explosive starts. Two of my favourite exercises are the single-leg and double-leg bounding followed by an immediate sprint. These exercises assist the athlete in pushing off the ground followed by a subsequent burst of speed over 10 metres.
Three main points in order to gain positive results from plyometric training:

Develop a sound base of flexibility
Develop a sound base of strength
Reduce the risk of injury by performing the proper technique for each exercise

Specifics to Designing a Plyometric Program for Speed Training

Step 1:

The following need to be identified and considered prior to an athlete commencing a plyometric training program:

Age of the athlete
Current or potential injuries
Medical history
Muscle imbalances
Current strength of athlete
Current speed of athlete
The athlete’s weight
The athlete’s experience and knowledge with power training
The surface that the exercises will be performed on

Step 2:

The key points need to be considered with plyometric training:

Frequency of sessions
Rest and recovery between sessions
Overload
Progression with intensity levels
Progression with volume
What season the athlete is in (pre or post season)
Duration of the program or session
The specific demands of the sport
Implementation of a thorough warm-up
Your tournament schedule

Role in Tennis

The development of power in the game of tennis is most important to players at the higher levels. It is important to understand both components of power, which are the strength and speed aspects and how each relates to power development.

Power is also involved in all strokes and areas of the game of tennis. Power is particularly important in the explosive movement during the service motion, thus adding more “speed” to the serve. A faster serve will obviously be more effective and can help the player to develop the serve into a weapon.

Power is also extremely important to developing speed as it contributes to improved explosive starts and speed over short distances. Power development is one of the most neglected areas when training tennis players due to the lack of knowledge and understanding by coaches in how to train for “power”.

We have included power drills that involve the use of some equipment such as a medicine ball, as well as some drills using ones’ own body weight for those programs that do not have access to the required equipment.

Injury Concerns

It is extremely important to demonstrate proper technique in all power drills in order to prevent injuries. The development of power involves many “explosive” or “ballistic” movements and if performed incorrectly can often lead to injury. It is therefore important for the coach to fully understand how to demonstrate the skill, what they are trying to achieve, each player’s physical ability, and how to include power training into their fitness and conditioning programs. It is important, as with all fitness drills, that the coach follows any specific directions given by a player’s physician.

Player Level

Power development is primarily directed towards the more advanced competitive tennis player.

When coaching younger players still in the developmental stages (both technically and physically) it is more important to use the time available to develop stroke technique, court positioning, scoring, and overall understanding of the game of tennis.

How to Train

There are a wide variety of power drills included in this section and it is up to the coach to understand the individual that they are training and accordingly implement the appropriate drill.

Also, certain drills involve equipment such as medicine balls, plyo-boxes and various other weight resistance devices.Therefore it is important to choose the drills that fit into your training session taking into account the factors of time, equipment, skill involved, age and level of player, costs, and the time in setting up and demonstrating each skill.

Power training needs to be specific to the movement involved. All of the major power movements have been identified and the following drills have been developed specifically for power development in tennis players.

Summary:

Plyometrics is a form of power training
Plyometric exercises require a fast loading phase
Plyometrics is a neuromuscular event
The athlete must perform exercises at maximum intensity to bring about maximum gains
The concentric contraction must be immediate after the eccentric contraction otherwise energy is lost
Take all factors into account when designing a power training program
Choose exercises that simulate movements in your sport
Balance and stability plays a significant role in power training. This is why one of the steps to success is devoted to developing the core.
Plyometric training can bring about overuse injuries if performed incorrectly. However, if the proper technique is followed then plyometric training has many benefits when it comes to developing speed.
Rest should be at least 3-5 minutes between sets.
Conduct power training twice a week in conjunction with your strength training program.

Below You Will Find Some Great Power Training Exercises for Tennis Players

Squat Jumps
Single leg-hops
Single – leg lateral jumps
Lateral two-feet jumps over cone
Box jumps
Depth jumps
Medicine ball (Backwards throw)
Medicine (wall bounce)
Medicine ball (Chest pass)
Medicine ball (side-throw)
Medicine ball (overhead throw)
Vertical jump
Plyo-grid
Medicine ball (frog bounding and hop)

How to Take-off and Land Correctly

(when performing these plyometric drills during training)

Goal

Our goal in teaching you how to land correctly is to help reduce injuries with your players and also to help them with performance. Poor technique can lead to injuries particularly with the knees (jumpers’ knee) and hips which will ultimately hinder performance levels and durability.

Instructions

In order to reduce the stress placed on the knees, it is recommended that you encourage the player to use more of their hips during the take-off phase.

An injury common to sports that involves a lot of jumping is “patellar tendonitis” which is often due to the increased knee flexion and stress placed on the quadriceps muscles.

During the take-off phase, instruct the athlete to keep their head up, back straight (not slumping forward), and balance themselves on the balls of their feet (not flat footed).

As with performing the “squat”, try to lower the hips as if you are about to sit down, thus including your hips more into the action and less focus just on the knees.

When squatting, you want to concentrate on total leg and hip explosion in an upwards and forward direction.

Although focus is on the lower body, a strong midsection is extremely important.

To develop the “core” please refer to our section specifically devoted to “strengthening the core”.

After performing the correct technique in the “take phase”, our focus now shifts to learning how to land correctly after this explosive movement.

Upon landing, the knees and hips should be in a “flexed” position with the head up and arms in a relaxed position. The arms will assist in balance upon landing.

Teach the athlete to land on their toes and then their heels. That is a toe to heel landing.

Upon landing the player should be in a similar position as when they took off, this is relevant to many of the drills included in this section that involve an immediate and follow-up jump (e.g. depth jumps).

Balance is also important in executing proper technique. You will find various equipment in your gym such as balance balls or balance boards that assist you in improving your balance.

Sample Pre-season Plyometric Training Program for Tennis Players

Pre-season

Month 1:

(1) Bounding - two feet 4 x 10-12 reps

(2) Squat jumps 3 x 10 reps

(3) Single - leg jumps 3 x 10 reps

(4) Split-step (serve and volley pattern) 10 minutes

Month 2:

(1) Depth jumps 3 x 10 reps

(2) Lateral single-leg jumps 3 x 10 reps (each leg)

(3) Split-step (explosive jumps) 3 x 10-12 reps (each leg)

(4) Box to box jumps 3 x 10 reps

(5) Plyometric grid/Ladder 5 minutes

Month 3:

(1) Bounding (cones) 5 x 10-12 reps

(2) Lateral box jumps (side to side) 5 x 10-12 reps

(3) Medicine ball jumps 3 x 10 reps

(4) In/Out squats (jump on middle squat) 5 x 6-8 reps

(5) Plyometric grid/Ladder 5 minutes

*you can substitute exercises if you do not have access to plyo-boxes

*for advanced athletes only who have established a good strength base.

Power Training Procedures

When using some of these power training drills as a way to test the athlete, it is important that you perform each follow-up test under the exact same conditions in order to obtain accurate, valid and reliable results.

For example:

Perform the test at the same time of the day.
Before a strenuous tennis session.
On the same surface.
Under similar weather conditions.
Use the same weight if using a medicine ball.
Use the same directions and procedures.
Test every 6-8 weeks
Confidence of the player will increase when they are able to perform each skill correctly.

Be sure to complete a needs analysis for each athlete identifying any possible injuries of concern.
To minimize the risk of injury, it is important to conduct an aerobic warm-up and extensive stretching routine prior to performing these power training drills.
Weights are used not only to develop absolute strength, but also strength-speed.

For example: the more absolute strength the player develops, the more force that the

player can generate during the “push off” phase such as in a sudden change of

direction.

The simple jump exercises (such as single leg hops, two feet bounding, jumps for
height or distance) are useful in developing the eccentric component of the forced stretch - contract phase. Perform these simple jump exercises prior to starting the more advanced exercises.

The training sessions should be progressive with each phase developing the player’s body sufficiently so that they can move onto the next phase of training. The ultimate goal is to be peaking for their competitive phase, so be sure to prevent stagnation by understanding what phase of training they are in. Include a variety of drills.

As we porgress with each phase of improving our speed for tennis we will continue to enter more in-depth areas. As you will see when it comes to speed training there is a definate process and you cannot afford to leave any of these key elements out.

by:
David Horne

Achieving Your Ultimate Performance Zone is the Key to Success as an Athlete

2008-11-03T05:09:00.000-08:00

Achieving Your Ultimate Performance Zone is the Key to Success as an Athlete

Every athlete strives to attain their "Ultimate Performance Zone." But what really is this Ultimate Performance Zone (UPZ) and how can an athlete achieve this state on a more consistent basis? I have called it the UPZ because this state varies for each individual and it is up to each athlete to identify their own UPZ through self - education.

As a professional athlete, I was aware of when I was in my Ultimate Performace Zone but being so young I didn't realise how I could control it and what the cues were that triggered these feelings. If an athlete could achieve their UPZ more often then their results would obviously improve.

As an athlete I always felt a notably different mental state when winning compared to when I was losing. I was also the only one who could alter this state. I knew that it could take only one "trigger" to send it in either direction. Consistency, maintaining routines and knowing the triggers for you are the keys to achieving your Ultimate Performance Zone.

It is the feeling of being on a roller coaster ride, experiencing the ups and downs in performance, which can be the most frustrating to an athlete. Just when you think that you are on your way to more consistent and successful results you have a let down. The great athletes learn how to limit their "downs" and keep their "ups" going.

When I was in my "UPZ" I experienced the following feelings and emotions:
I found that playing was effortless and that every thing just seemed to flow freely.
I had ample time to play my shots and the ball seemed to be moving more slowly even if it really wasn't.
It was all automatic and I didn't "overanalyse" the situation, I just let it happen!
I was having fun and really enjoyed the moment.
I was physically relaxed but also energised. I had the right balance of both.
I wasn't anxious and I didn't worry about the outcome and what would happen. Even though I needed every cent to survive at that stage of my career, it didn't cause me any concern.
I was calm and in control of every thing I did and said.
I was confident and my body language showed it!
Negative thoughts never entered my mind.
I loved performing for the people watching and felt a great sense of respect from all.
I was tuned in to the tactical ploys that were going on and was able to counter any new tactic thrown at me.
I was optimistic about my performance and the outcome of the match.
I never felt rushed and I played the match at my own pace. I was in control!

Knowing the feelings I experienced when in my Ultimate Performance Zone; the next key step for me was trying to attain these feelings every time I stepped onto the tennis court. I had to learn how to be in control of all of the components that made up my tennis game.

To Be in My UPZ I had to Take Care of all of the Following Six Areas:

Technical issues
I took care of the technical issues on the practice court by training with a coach or performing many drills that would work on that specific skill. If I walked onto the court not feeling 100% percent confident in all of my shots then I knew that I would always have something to worry about. Practice is for perfecting the skills required and competition is for allowing those skills to be executed automatically!

Physical
I had to be physically fit and injury free. I trained all of the specific fitness components required for my sport of tennis. I completed many hours working on agility, speed, endurance, flexibility, power, strength and my footwork involved in each stroke.
I had to be faster, stronger and fitter than my opponent. "To finish first, I had to first finish!"

Tactical
I always had a game plan for each opponent. This required scouting my opponent in a match or having a coach or fellow team mate do that for me. From here I was able to go into the match with a game plan and therefore not be surprised by anything that was thrown at me. I also trained to excel in all areas of tennis and knew that I could serve and volley or play from the baseline if needed. I had many weapons to pull out in order to find out which one worked for me.

Mental
My pre-game routines helped me to mentally prepare for the match. Following these routines helped to deal with adverse crowds, adverse weather conditions, cheating opponents, and any other challenges.

Game Preparation and Management
This may be new for some to consider as one of the six factors in achieving the UPZ. However, it can often be the first step to being successful. Following pre-game routines, checking that all of your equipment is ready, eating well, knowing your match time and opponent, scheduling a practice court, knowing how long it takes to get to the tournament and so on all help to create that first step to achieving the UPZ for an athlete.

As a coach, furthering your education will only help your player or players get to be the best that they can be! You will find great satisfaction in knowing that you did everything you could in helping your athletes to get to the top and reach their full potential.

Off Court Personal Issues
This is one of the most neglected areas when it comes to maintaining consistency in your performances and results. If you are having personal problems off the playing field then you will not be able to achieve your Ultimate Performance Zone. An athlete's welfare is a major contributing factor towards being successful in the sporting world.

Identify Your Feelings and Emotions in Competition
After speaking to many athletes over the years I have found out that one of the best ways to achieve your Ultimate Performance Zone on a more consistent basis is to first remember how you felt and what your feelings were during your performances when you were in your UPZ.

When you identify these feelings and emotions you can begin to construct your own checklist and design routines and programs that will help you to achieve this playing state.

Common feelings and emotions from athletes when they were playing great: Playing felt automatic and instinctive, they had fun, were confident, in control of the game, were alert, energetic but in control, found that executing their sports skills seemed effortless, they felt strong, they were relaxed, focused on the task at hand, they were not distracted by personal life problems and they had low anxiety levels.

Common feelings and emotions from athletes when they were not playing well: They lacked confidence, they did not feel physically well, were easily distracted by other issues and events in their life, felt very anxious and uncomfortable, were slow in their reactions, no matter what they tried it never seemed to work, their opponents were in control, they felt physically overwhelmed in all areas, they became negative with self-talk and body language, it was not fun!

The first goal is to improve your sport specific skills by understanding how to achieve your UPZ, setting realistic goals for each match or game, learning how to best execute your skills when in a competitive situation, being in the best shape physically that you can be, being mentally in tune with what your body is telling you, plan ahead and be prepared for anything that may arise in competition, practise how you would play in competition, seek help and continuing education to improve your game, eliminating any negative or distracting factors that may hinder your performance.

One of the major keys to success is to not "over-analyse" what is wrong or what is right! When you are in your Ultimate Performance Zone you are on automatic and things just happen effortlessly. So sometimes thinking too much can affect you mentally and take you away from really being focused on your performance.

Every coach should know what the triggers are that help an athlete to achieve their Ultimate Performance Zone and what negative responses will hinder that athlete.

Top 3 Soccer Players Salaries

2008-11-03T05:04:00.000-08:00

The question as to whether or not athletes in general and soccer players in particular, should be earning the kind of money they’re earning is more vibrant then ever these days, with clubs paying their players incredible amounts of money each year.

The comparison to other sports is also very relative. A gymnast will train all his life, miss out on a lot of his younger years only to be able to handle a world class performance, but he will still not win as much in his lifetime as one of the highest earning soccer players makes in a year. But that’s the market’s call and there’s no “fair” in sales share.

Getting back to our topic, it’s somewhat difficult to judge exactly how much a player makes simply from his club salary, because many wage details are private, due to obvious reasons. As a club manager, you want to create complete harmony in your team and with all of them knowing that player gets paid twice as much as the rest, won’t help you out with that.

The highest earning soccer players can also be affected by having their salaries publicly available, because at every less than bright performance, they’ll be confronted with a “My God! He really should have played better for the kind of money he’s making” type of exclamation from fans, media and fellow players.

A soccer player’s income also comes from several other sources than simply his wage. For example, the best ever soccer players always made more money from endorsements and ads than their wages; take a look at David Beckham if you don’t believe me.

Other contractual bonuses will also earn them a fair amount. For example, many strikers that are confident in their ability to play regularly and score will have contract bonuses for each goal, assist or for a total number of goals at the end of the season, while agreeing for a lower wage cutout.

However, considering all of the above, it would be logical to say that the highest earning soccer players are also the ones with the highest wages. A club will want to keep a player that brings in incredible amounts of money through endorsements and merchandise sale, so they will offer him a high salary. According to Forbes Magazine, here are the top 3 earners:

Ronaldinho ($29.5 million, salary + endorsement deals) - one of the most famous and nonconformist personas in soccer, Ronaldinho has become the trademark of playing soccer as a game, not as a business. His constant smile while playing and his tricks made him one of the most popular figures today, despite the fact that he’s not as handsome and clean-cut as Beckham or Kaka. Ronaldinho is also widely considered one of the best ever soccer players, despite the fact that he still has many years to play for FC Barcelona, or his future clubs.

David Beckham ($29.1 million, salary + endorsement deals) – no presentation required, Beckham is more than just a soccer players for close to a decade now. His recent move to LA Galaxy from Real Madrid for an impressive transfer fee was well worth it, since American finance analysts agreed that the transfer would soon turn to profit, as Beckham shirt sales and other endorsements would soon earn the club their money back.

Ronaldo ($23.4 million, salary + endorsement deals) – the ex-phenomenon, the chunky Brazilian who impressed the World with his speed and goal-hungry attitude is not at the peak of his game anymore, although his move to Milan seems to have revived him somewhat. Despite his declining form, Ronaldo remains one of the central figures in today’s soccer, as he has an established name and image for over a decade.

Some Tips on Soccer Betting Odds

2008-11-02T17:55:00.001-08:00

There is no shortage of people who would like to establish a regular income from betting on soccer but one aspect of this recreational activity that many people have difficulty with is understanding soccer betting odds.

Being able to understand soccer betting odds is crucial and can sometimes make the difference between turning a profit and taking a loss. There are several different types of odds used in different parts of the world.

Fractional odds are hugely popular in the United Kingdom especially among the traditional high street bookmaker and followers of the horse racing betting scene. Despite this popularity, there are many novices who struggle to grasp fractional odds.

Decimal odds were for a long time only used in European countries however the birth of the betting exchanges changed all that as decimal odds became the preferred choice for most betting exchange users. Decimal odds are much easier for a newcomer to understand and these days most online bookmakers offer odds in decimal as well as fractional format.

Moneyline odds are favoured by American bookmakers so are not widely used in the United Kingdom or Europe. Moneyline odds offer just two possibilities which are either positive or negative.

Regardless of which type of soccer betting odds you are using there are many free resources which can assist in the conversion of odds. Using these conversion tools can explain just how much money you stand to win or lose from a particular bet by taking into account your stake size and the odds concerned.

When you have developed a better understanding of soccer betting odds you can then concentrate on using these skills alongside your knowledge of soccer to create a source of additional income.

Argentina soccer

2008-10-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

Argentina soccer is well loved sport for young people. To be able to play soccer, young people would clean fields from rocks and use stones in marking the goals. These children come from poor families so they cannot afford to buy soccer balls. They improvised and use old stockings wrapped in circle to form a ball.

Young people of Argentina learn soccer at the very young age. They learn to play just for the love of the game and no other reasons.

Soccer started as a sport played by elite people in Argentina but later on played also by peasants until it became a way of life by Argentines. In Argentina, racism has been in the game but still many players play for the love of the game.

Diego Maradona is on of the soccer players who played for the love of the game. He was considered the greatest Argentine player. Fans of soccer in Argentina contribute a lot in with the success of the game. However, much violence has been reported during soccer tournaments in this country.

It is believed that the causes of this violence are because of Argentina's economic crisis.
Economic analyst states that the crisis is caused by corrupt politicians and businessmen which caused the nation's bankruptcy. The soccer crisis is caused by greedy soccer managers.

Even with the condition of the soccer in Argentina, the Argentina Soccer Team managed to win a 2 time world champion in the 2006 World Cup held in Germany.

Many believe that soccer related violence will be resolve soon as the government will intervene and help in the issues concerning racism.

Small Sided Games Are a Great Way to Improve Skills

2008-10-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

What are small sided games and why use them in training? I have used small sided games in training sessions with kids to reinforce the skills that they have been practicing during the training session. A small sided game might by 3 vs. 3 or 4 vs. 4 in a small area field. You can modify the number of players on each team and the area of the field to change the intensity of the game. These games allow the players more touches on the ball, help with player development of both attacking and defending roles, and as a coach I find it easier to observe the respective skills of each individual player. The role of the coach during these games is to ensure that the players are putting the skills into practice from the soccer drills that you have been using at training. Depending on the number of players at training you may have 2 games going at once, or you may rotate teams in and out at a set time limit.

The key to improving young soccer players is to get them touching the ball more often. Playing 11 vs. 11 at training is going to limit the number of touches for each player. And the better players will naturally get more touches. So the players who need the help most will touch the ball less, and will get bored and feel like they do not belong. This will be particularly evident if you have a team with widely differing abilities. Your goal during training as a coach with your soccer drills should be to maximize the number of quality ball touches for each member of your team. Small sided games will help you to do that. If you still have one or two players taking over these games, limit the number of touches before they have to pass or reorganize the teams.

Small sided games help with player development as players get to spend more time in both an attacking and defending role. In an 11 vs. 11 game how much time does each player actually spend involved in the game. In reducing the field size and the number of players, players will spend more time involved in the game, and they will have to transition more often from an attacking role to a defending role. As a coach you should encourage them to remain involved in the small sided game at all times. Moving into space after passing the ball, switching to a defending role after the ball is lost, talking to their teammates, and effective passing and dribbling skills all should be emphasized.

Encourage your players to make better decisions on the field. Small sided games at training help players make better decisions on the field by making the decisions easier and less complicated. On a big field with 22 players, players have a huge number of options from which to choose when making a decision. This can make the process overwhelming and will lead to a loss of confidence. Reducing the field size and number of players helps players to make better decisions by giving them fewer options to choose from. Applaud them when they make the right decisions and correct them when they make the wrong decisions.

Small sided games also give the coach a better opportunity to observe each individual player. Observing the respective skills of 6 players in a small environment is a much easier task than 11 players on a big field. What are players doing off the ball? Do they run into space? Are they standing around waiting for the ball to come back? With 11 players on the field most observation takes place where the ball is. So it is hard to observe what the other players are doing. Fewer players in a smaller area make it easier to observe everything that is going on. If you have 2 games going at once with your manager or parent running the other game, you as the coach should periodically swap so you can observe all players.

Small sided games at training are a great way to reinforce the skills practiced during the soccer drills you perform at training. They are also physically demanding so can be a great way to conduct fun fitness sessions. More ball touches for each player, better decision making, more involvement in all aspects of the game will help all your players improve at a more rapid rate. Small sided games are a great training drill.

Soccer Equipment - The Perfect Tools to Improve Your Game

2008-10-30T18:19:00.001-07:00

"Leave Your Opponents in a Spin"

When you have good soccer equipment nothing can keep you, or your squad, from improving. Unless you don't use it. After all, where would a great artist be without his paints, brush, and canvas?

Results!

When you pair the right soccer equipment with excellent soccer drills you can make great improvement of your talents, or the skills of your team. More talent, better results, Yes?

So let's check out...

What's out there?

When it comes to soccer training equipment there are many advanced tools to get the most out of any soccer player, and improve the level of skill.
# Soccer Balls!

The game of soccer revolves around that perfectly round soccer ball. Soccer balls have different sizes based on the age level of the players that use them. They also differ in color scheme and design.
We all know we need to increase our endurance to play soccer, but without ball skills you are just a runner.
# Soccer Bags!

An easy to carry bag for all those soccer balls is a good investment. Who likes having all those balls flying around in your vehicle?

And what about...

Carrying all of your soccer gear. Just find a great design and a bag that will set you apart, or show your support for your favorite soccer club. It's okay to be an individual while being a strong piece of your soccer team puzzle.
# Improve Your Agility!

You can improve this part of your game with agility ladders that lay flat on the ground, or agility poles that stick in the ground. They are great for slalom practice. Or you can use cones on the ground, but when using poles it is more realistic. It shows that there is really an opponent in your way. Banana Steps and hurdles are 2 other tools that will improve your agility.

Soccer Goals

Soccer goals come in a variety of different sizes for different purposes.

The full size goal is available for regulation sized soccer fields. However, there are a variety of sizes available for practicing small-sided games and for youth soccer. These include portable soccer goals and indoor soccer goals of various sizes that depend on the size of the indoor site. Soccer goals will usually come complete with a soccer net so make sure that you check that out .
# Other Choices!

There are many other soccer equipment items available for soccer training. These choices can include but are not limited to:

* Training Chutes
* Kicking Trainers
* Soccer Corner Flags
* Medicine Balls
* Soccer Tennis Nets
* Soccer Mannequins
* Soccer Rebounders

Each one has its place in your training program.

Remember that the best piece of equipment that you can have is your mind. Staying focused on improving your game will provide faster and more effective benefits than all the soccer equipment you can buy.

Soccer Juggling Skills

2008-10-30T14:06:00.002-07:00

There are So many good footballers out there, in the best clubs of today it doesn't really matter if your star is getting injured, there is always a replacement on the bench who doesn't want anything more then show that he's worthy a spot in the team. Every day that passes by there are new talents and new guys are achieving their dreams. In this football mania there is a little group of guys who posses insane juggling tricks, tricks that most people have not seen. My experience is that people who love football, they also love soccer juggling tricks. This kind of juggling is also known as "football freestyle"

The focus that is on soccer is so big that the freestylers doesn't get their proper attention, but all the time the freestylers are struggling to make the art more and more famous. What the best freestylers can do is pure madness, if you see one of the best you will really be impressed.

Some freestylers have reached some individual success but what they really want is to put the art of football freestyle in the spotlight. Make it recognized all over the world everywhere. I believe that freestyle will be big... with the right marketing and attention etc.

If you put a random guy against a soccer pro you will see that some people actually have a chance against them, but if you put a random guy against a freestyle pro, they will not have a chance. My point is, that what these guys can do is so unique and so amazing that they deserve more respect.

Hopefully football freestyle will grow with football, people will connect football freestyle and regular soccer in a way they don't do today. I also want to mention that freestyle and soccer is two completely different things. Just because you're a good freestyler it doesn't mean you can play soccer and vice versa!

Italy Soccer - The Passion For Soccer

2008-10-30T14:06:00.001-07:00

Italy Soccer is the most passion sport in Italy. Italians really love the game more than any sport. They love soccer as much as they love wine. People of Italy are very loyal to their soccer teams.

One of the top leagues in Italy soccer is the Serie A which is called "calcio" in Italian language. It was then officially named Serie A TIM as it was sponsored by an Italian telecom company with initials as TIM. The league is composed of 20 teams. Teams can either be called Serie A and Serie B in which A means that they are the topped rank and B is the least rank. The Inter Milan has consistently maintained its Serie A rank for many years.

In Italy, soccer games are scheduled from the month of August to May. During the soccer season, millions of Italians fans gather around the stadiums to cheer their favorite teams. Almost all TV networks are covering the live telecast of the tournament.

One of the national teams of Italy is the "Azzurri Blues" wearing blue as their uniform. The team have won during the 2006 World Cup which was held in Germany. With the up coming 2010 World Cup to be held in Africa, the team will be defending their title.

So if you happen to be in Italy and watch soccer tournaments, make sure to be with the Italian fan's side and experience the trills. Italians are dammed serious with supporting their teams and you don't want to anger their fans.

Soccer Moms

2008-10-28T17:16:00.001-07:00

Amateur soccer moms are the number one diehard fans of the fast growing sport of amateur soccer. They are supporters of the amateur soccer. These moms are the new group of fans and they changed the way we watch sports.

These moms are opposite of men when it comes to being a supporter of soccer. They have their own way of supporting unlike men who use violence at times. As supporters, they demonstrate it in different manner.

During a game of soccer, they usually arrive in the soccer field in two groups. Some of these moms come in fleet of minivans. Whichever way, they came to the soccer field to support their kids in the battle for victory.

They usually park their vehicles on top of the hills which is overlooking the soccer field. They start unloading their food, water and walk in groups going to the field and sit together with other moms of the team.

These moms are now ready to cheer their kids. Soon as the game starts, screaming and chants start to burst in the battlefield. As they watch their kids in the game, you can hear them shout for excitements as their kid aim for the goal.

Basic understanding of soccer game is not important for soccer moms. For them, it is victory which is important and they insist their kids to aim for victory. Though their children only want to have fun, but soccer mom really is after victory. For them, victory must be achieved at all cost.

Go Soccer moms (; thanks for making the game so Much more Fun!

Hey Subscribe

2008-10-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

Hey I have some Youtube videos and it would mean a lot if you would all Subscribe to me! Click Here to go to my Channel! I have at this moment about 4600 subscribers, so hopefully you can help me get to 5000 then 6000 (; ...Tell all your friends and Family

Ps: must be logged into Youtube to subscribe!
However, Once you go to my Youtube channel click on the subscribe button(Top Left Hand side of the page; its gold) Thanks

Why Soccer is Good For Kids

2008-10-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

The sport of soccer continues to grow in the US as evidenced by the increasing number of kids getting involved in the game and the attendance numbers at MLS soccer games throughout the country. This is a good thing because it provides a great opportunity for all kids, no matter how tall, short, skinny, plump, shy, smart, or whatever, to gain the benefits of being part of a team where anyone can be a super star on any given day.

All sports provide physical and other benefits for those involved in them. But soccer offers much more to help youths develop, interact with others, and just plain enjoy themselves, something kids should do, after all.

One of the greatest things about soccer is that any kid can kick a soccer ball and learn to do it well within a short period of time. There are no special talents required. If a boy or girl can run, he or she can do so with a soccer ball at his or her feet. Any kid can gain basic skills in dribbling, passing, and shooting a soccer ball with minimal time and effort expended. This means that any child that wants to play soccer can do so and be at a level of most of the players on the field.

Kids don’t need to be 7 foot tall leaping gazelles or refrigerator-sized brutes or multi-talented athletes to play on a soccer team and perform at least as well as most of the teammates. Soccer is a pure team sport. No one player, no matter how talented, can win a game on his or her own. Winning a soccer game requires the participation of every one of his teammates out on the pitch. This allows every kid on the team to touch the ball often and contribute to making plays, no matter what his or her skill level is.

This really helps build a child’s self-esteem, which can be seen in the confidence displayed on the field. Something as simple as a good pass or stopping the ball from getting to an opponent can make a kid feel good about him or herself and that makes them perform even better. And they have lots of chances to do this. One good play washes away any and all misses.

I have seen timid boys and girls blossom into assertive soccer players in just a few weeks. All because they got to touch the ball and contribute to the team. And when they win, every kid feels part of that win. And when they lose, they feel proud of having played as well as they could and look forward to the next game when it starts all over. Every kid knows that in the next game he or she will be right out there in the middle of things helping her team win and maybe even score the winning goal or make a winning save.

There is also something about the parents at soccer games. Only the sport of soccer has a “Mom”, a Soccer Mom. These wonderful ladies, who shuttle their kids back and forth to soccer games every weekend, are the soul of youth soccer in America. Soccer moms have played a big part in the popularity of youth soccer and their involvement in the sport has helped many a youngster enjoy being part of a team.

There are many resources on the web about other benefits of youth soccer including physical conditioning and injury prevention. One of my favorite soccer websites is http://www.SoccerCountry.com where you will also find all kinds of stuff about soccer, like soccer news, stats, and soccer game schedules. In addition to those highlighted in this article, soccer provides other benefits for youngsters. Think about all that running and stopping and turning. Great for the lungs, muscles, and the mind. And there are so many more.

If your child is not playing soccer, what are you waiting for? It’s going to be the number one sport in the US eventually, just like it is in every other country in the world. Get your son and daughter out on the soccer field as early as possible. It keeps them out of trouble, builds their confidence, keeps them healthy, and helps them grow the right way. I know. I raised four soccer kids that started playing at five years of age and I saw the development provided by soccer through their teen years as the coach of their soccer teams.

Every town and county probably has a youth soccer association. It won’t be hard to find a team for your son and daughter. You never know, one of your kids could be the next David Beckham. And, if you are a mother, maybe you will be Soccer Mom of the Year.

How a Soccer Conditioning Program Can Improve Your Game

2008-10-21T03:03:00.000-07:00

In order to excel in the soccer world, you should actively pursue a soccer conditioning program to get you in the best physical shape possible. When you put this to action, you can improve your fitness soccer training level, and be a great asset to any team.

When entering soccer training programs you are really doing yourself a huge favor when it comes to stepping up your game. These programs can really allow you to get in the best possible shape for playing soccer.

They may offer soccer training for speed, and this is another component, you'll need a lot of, when it comes to getting in soccer shape. It's imperative that are able to move very quickly as a soccer player. This sport demands that you can move quickly and be able to sprint as well.

If you've ever been in football training, then you should make an excellent soccer player also. Much of what is required of a football player may also be a requirement of a soccer player. These are both very demanding sports that require speed as well as strength in order to be successful at either or both.

When beginning a soccer conditioning program, you first should visit your doctor to have a psychical to make certain you are in good health. You want to make certain you check out okay, prior to entering any intense speed training that may be included in this.

As part of this program, you can expect to do a lot of sprints. This is a great way to build you agility as well as increase you speed and makes you a better overall player. You also can expect to do some strength training as you need this to make you stronger, and it's a great way to improve your health overall.

Strength training simply involves weight lifting and can be one of the best ways to enable you build the endurance and strength that is required to actively participate in this sport, as well as allow you to be part of a winning team.

You will need to improve all areas of your physical fitness to actually allow you to become a better soccer player. By doing this you'll be soccer shape, and thus you'll be more capable of playing and lasting through a grueling game and come out victorious as well.

By completing a soccer conditioning program, successfully, you can rest assure that you will be in the best psychical shape of your life, which is imperative if you wish to win at soccer. So, not only will you be a great asset to your team, but you'll be in the best shape of your life as well. By committing to a soccer conditioning program, you can make certain you are in the best shape you can be to aid you and your team.

To discover the best programs, drills, exercises and more for soccer whether you are a player, coach or even parent of an up an coming young star click below to find out more!

Make LearnSoccerFreestyle Your HomePage

2008-10-17T13:18:00.000-07:00

Make LearnsoccerFreestyle Your Homepage! Why would you do this, well it would be the same thing as having Google as your homepage because I've got a Google search bar on my website.(Top right side of the page) Also you will find new videos and articles about soccer! It just makes my site look better if you set this website as your homepage! Thanks

How to Set your homepage!

Netscape 4.0-6.0

1. Select "Preferences" from the "Edit" menu.
2. Click on "Navigator."
3. In the "Navigator Starts with" section, select "Home page."
4. In the "Home page" section, type "http://www.learnsoccerfreestyle.blogspot.com/" in the text box.
5. Click "OK."

Internet Explorer

1. Select "Internet Options" from the "Tools" menu.
2. Click on the "General" tab.
3. In the "Home page" section, type "http://www.learnsoccerfreestyle.blogspot.com/" in the text box.
4. Click "OK."

FireFox:

1. Select "Options" from the "Tools" menu
2. Click On the "Main" tab
3. In the "Home page" selection, type "http://www.learnsoccerfreestyle.blogspot.com/" in the text box.
4. Click "OK."

I update my site regularly so that is the best way to keep up to date with all my new articles and videos!

Football vs Soccer

2008-10-16T19:08:00.001-07:00

Two of the most beloved sports Football and Soccer have much in common. Lately, many are wondering why there is such an international pull for soccer while football remains an American sport. This articles intent is to bring out some of the similarities and differences between soccer and football based on: history, team size, and fan size.

History: Football vs. Soccer

Football is actually a relative from soccer. Though the date is unsure of when the sport was first known to be played, there were many professional teams starting to spring up in the late 1800s. It was not that much different from its closer cousin rugby, but was showing some far different plays from soccer already.

Here is an interesting fact. Soccer or "football" as is as known in most European and South American Countries is actually the founder of both rugby and football. The major disconnections occurred when the rules for soccer changed to a "no hands" rule. At this point rugby was born. Later as rugby split into two different kinds of play: traditional rugby which allows drop kick goals and more footwork, and American football which has kickoffs and field goals (reminiscent of its soccer days) tackling and hand offs (similar to rugby) and forward passing, options, and other additions.

Soccer on the other hand has a long history, according to the Munich Ethnological Museum there is a Chinese text dated around 50 B.C. talking about "soccer" games in china. Though it is unsure how similar these games were to what we know as soccer today.

Team Size: Football vs. Soccer

There is a tremendous size difference between football and soccer. In football you not only have players that make up a team, but you have specific teams within your team. There are three major teams that consist of a football team: The offense, the defense, and special teams. Each one has a specific objective. The offense with a quarterback, receivers, and guards' objective are to score touchdowns, while the defensive team's job is to stop the opposing team from scoring by tackling the quarterback, runners, or blocking passes. Special teams deal with punts, field goals, and kickoffs. All in all there are anywhere from 30 - 60 players that combine to make a football team.

Soccer is a continuous sport. Meaning unlike football where you have set plays and an offensive and defensive team, in soccer the ball is always going. That being the case there are still offensive and defensive parts to the play of soccer. One can tell whether a team is on the offensive or defensive by where the ball is on the field. If the ball is on your side of the field then you are on defensive, if it is on your opponent's side then you are on the offensive.

Fan Size: Football vs. Soccer

Determining which sport has a greater or more loyal fan base is difficult. Here in the United States American football by far has the larger fan base. However, outside of the United States (and perhaps Canada) you do not hear much about football, only soccer. Entire cities have been known to shut down for the world cup, and yet the most watched event was last year's super bowl. One thing is a fact. Both soccer and football have loyal fans that are not going anywhere.

Conclusion

Soccer or Football? Well when it comes right down to it, you are choosing between two very popular sports that will continue to gain momentum in the years to come.

Some Facts About Ronaldinho

2008-10-12T15:17:00.001-07:00

Who is Ronaldinho?

Ronaldinho is arguably one of the best football players in the world, currently playing for FC Barcelona as a midfielder, where he has amazed everybody with his amazing footwork. He is the latest miracle from Brazil, scoring wonderful goals and “dancing the samba” while doing so. He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2004, the most prestigious award a player can receive, following his Brazilian team mates Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Romário.

Where did he come from?

Born in the southern city of Potro Alegre, Brazil, Ronaldinho worked his way out of the slums to become the worlds most recognized and coveted player. His love for football blossomed when his father, Joao da Silva Moreira, joined an amateur club. Roberto Moreira, Ronaldinho's brother, was a rising start in the Gremio Club, but when is knee shattered he was relegated to a substitute player.

The World Cup

Ronaldinho dazzled fans in the 2002 World Cup where he played so gracefully that he was almost unstoppable. Scoring 27 goals in 57 matches he helping Brazil become World Cup winners for the 5th time. He is considered to be one of the most inventive football players, treating the football like his lover, flirting and teasing it before taking control.

When asked if he had a girlfriend during a press conference, he took out a football and said, “This is her.”

His unquenchable thirst for football and his love for life will surely make him a player to be rivaled with for years to come. In fact, Ronaldinho said "I still have a video of my father, which I watch before every game I play for Brazil. It gives me strength, makes me determined."

Quick Statistics

Full Name: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira

Born: March 21 1980

Place of Birth: Vila Nova, Brazil

Club: Ac Milan

Height: 181cm

Weight: 80kg

Random Fact: Ronaldinho's name is Portuguese for “Little Ronaldo”.

Tag: youth soccer tournaments

Is David Beckham Getting Paid Too Much?

2008-10-12T15:15:00.000-07:00

This post is a sort of a continuation on my article about soccer's most valuable clubs. I thought it would be appropriate to showcase the most well paid sporting athlete in the world, David Beckham. (According to Si.com). In this article, I'll briefly comb through the details of his contract, expose the common misconception regarding his "record breaking" deal, and offer my 2 cents on whether or not he'll make as big of an impact as the MLS are banking on.

Beckham, the former England captain, has been given the responsibility of putting a foot in the door that leads to American soccer interest. Obviously, for anything to become popular in America, substantial amounts of money have to be involved. According to the past year's gossip on his astronomical salary, the question now becomes:

Is he getting paid too much?

The Answer: Absolutely not.

The Facts

A common misconception concerning the contract of David Beckham is exactly how much he receives. A Sports Illustrated writer Jen Chang breaks down the phrase, "$250 million in salary and commercial endorsements", here:

AP reported that the Galaxy, citing industry experts, said the Beckham deal "is worth more than $250 million in salary and commercial endorsements." The key phrase to note here are the words "commercial endorsements" and not the word "salary." It's actually more an estimate of what people think he could potentially earn as opposed to what he will receive annually in paychecks from MLS and the Galaxy.

Very clever business PR move. By stating potential monumental earnings, they create a buzz about it. This ultimately adds even more value to the Beckham profile.

He goes on to explain that the actual amount of salary dollars David receives is nothing compared to the colossal "$250 million" figure that people like to talk about.

Although the specifics of his salary aren't officially published, trusted sources say his salary is definitely in the single-digit millions.

So where does the rest of the hundreds of millions come from?

* Adidas is reportedly paying a few million for part of the jersey rights (which they manufacture).
* Beckham is said to be receiving half of the revenue from Galaxy jersey sales.
* Undisclosed percentage of ticket sales
* Endorsement clauses and legal mumbo-jumbo entitling him to the possibility of earning the $250 million difference.

My 2 Cents

Do I think Beckham is getting paid too much? No way. When you break it down and push aside the corporate interpretation of his contract, you'll notice his salary isn't that much different than a lot of other global soccer stars. He's the one responsible for the biggest increase in the value of Major League Soccer. I think he deserves a salary comparable to the work required for adding value to the pre-Beckham, struggling MLS.

Do I think Beckham can make as big of an impact as the MLS are hoping for? Absolutely. Being a Southern California resident, I've been able to witness the mass hysteria and obsession involved with the celebrity scene. It doesn't get much more celebrity than David Beckham. He's the spark that will ignite the footy-wildfire that will eventually spread from coast to coast. He already has made quite an impact. The year or so he's been here, ticket sales skyrocketed and jersey sales saw a huge boost.

Will it happen soon? Nope . Creating and molding the soccer brand in America will take some time. The economic room available for another major sport in the United States is limited, so the MLS will have a tough task creating elbow room. However, it's not impossible, by any means.

Beckham's arrival has been a huge step forward, but there is still much work to be done. The league still needs more high-profile players from overseas, and the ODP needs to crank out more youth talent to build the national team's reputation.

Freddy Adu

2008-10-12T15:14:00.001-07:00

Freddy Adu is one of the most famous young players in the world – it seems as though there is nobody who has not heard of the young DC United star. Since a young age he has been hyped up as the next ‘big thing’ in world football, but is he as good as all the hype that surrounds him? Or is he a prime example of the hyperbole that surrounds all things American?

Adu burst onto the scene at the tender age of 14 when he became the youngest professional athlete in the States. Commercial exposure soon followed - starring in adverts alongside the Brazilian legend Pele. Adu was linked with every major football club in Europe - he was to be the boy that would finally give ‘soccer’ a widespread appeal in the States.

Adu is in all senses the great American tale - a poor boy from Ghana who learned his skills barefooted on the streets before his mother won an immigration lottery and the chance of a new life for her family in America. With his ability and the story behind his meteoric rise, Adu is perfect for corporations to advertise their products - in short, it is a fairytale.

To understand how Adu got to where he is now you have to look at how he arrived at stardom in America.

American scouts were fully aware of his potential and he was given the chance in 2002 to join the U.S. U-17 residency programme in Bradenton, Florida. At the age of 13, Adu finished the season as one of the top scorers - netting 22 goals. This followed with Adu gaining U.S. citizenship in 2003 and he started to become one of the most talked about players in America.

His form during the U-17 residency programme prompted a call up to the U-17 national side. During the FIFA U-17 World Cup, he opened the tournament with a spectacular performance, scoring a hat trick in the teams 6-1 defeat of South Korea. In the next match he scored the winning goal in Americas 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone, taking the U.S. into the quarter finals (where they fell at the hands of Brazil).

His form for the U-17’s earned him promotion to the U-20 squad, who were about to travel to the United Arab Emirates, to take part in the FIFA World Youth Championships. Adu participated in all five matches and helped the U.S. to a fifth place finish.

Adu’s performances in youth tournaments for the U.S alerted the likes of Manchester United and Inernazionale to his undoubted potential. Due to employment legislation, which states a player can not sign a professional contract until the age of 17 (in countries like Britain), none of Europe’s heavy weights made a move.

On 16th January, 2004, D.C United selected Adu as their first player in the 2004 MLS draft. The stage was set for the new American ‘wonder boy’ to set the MLS alight. On 3rd April, Adu came on for United as a substitute against San Jose Earthquakes, making him the youngest ever player to appear in any United States professional sport since 1887 (at 14 years, 306 days). A short time later, on 17th April, he became the youngest player ever to score a goal in the MLS (at 14 years, 320 days), when he scored a 75th minutes goal in a 3-2 loss against Metrostars.

In his first full season, Adu went on to star in 30 league games for D.C, scoring 5 goals, creating three assists and being named in the commissioner's pick for the 2004 Sierra Mist All-Star Game.

Despite his early success as a professional, he came under criticism from many pundits. Some commentators suggested that he was too young to be playing professional football, and that he needed time to develop with the youth teams. He was also criticised for not scoring enough goals and not taking his form from the U-17 & U-20 teams into the MLS.

Rumours were also rife that the ‘wonder boy’ was in fact much older than his reported age on is birth certificate, and that is had been doctored.

In Adu’s second season he was moved into midfield. Questions were raised as to why he was moved into a new position. Some people have argued that Adu has been moved deeper to incorporate him in DC United’s side as he hasn’t produced enough goals when playing upfront.

Despite playing deeper in midfield, Adu has carried on showing flashes of brilliance, scoring three winning goals and also being named the Honda MLS Player of the Week on two different occasions. In 25 games (9 as substitute), he has scored four goals and provided six assists, from a deep midfield position.

Over the years a lot of young players have been hailed as the next ‘big thing’ in the football world, only to be snapped up by a big European club and disappear into obscurity. Freddy Adu is the next ‘big thing’ in world football and he has to be careful he does not suffer the same fate as others before him.

If you look at Adu’s record for America’s U-17 and U-20 international teams, then you will see that he made a good impression at an early age. People forget that when he played for the U-17’s he was only 14 (and he was the same age when he played for the U-20’s)! How many other teenagers (past and present) in world football can claim the same?

He also has two full seasons of MLS under his belt at the age of 16. How many other players (past and present) in world football can claim the same? People will argue that for a forward he has poor goals to game ratio in the MLS. You have to remember though that he is not an out and out forward, but more of a support striker, a player who links up play between midfield and attack. Is Wayne Rooney a poor player because he has poor goals to game ratio?

One thing that does not help Adu is all the hype that surrounds him, as this leads to people from outside America expecting great things from him on a weekly basis. Various corporations that have signed sponsorship deals with Adu, like Nike for $1 million, are promoting him around the world as a new ‘boy wonder’ and this will only add to the pressure that is already on his young shoulders.

It remains to be seen whether Adu will ever make it as a top player in Europe. He will no doubt continue to be promoted by his many sponsors, but big European sides will see beyond the hype - and decide whether he has the ability to make it as a World Class footballer or not. At the moment though, the jury is still out.

Heading Game

2008-10-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Just a drill if your a Coach
Set up two teams of 5v5 or 6v6; set a play area (half-court would be good) with a cone goal at each end. One person starts with the ball in her hands. She tosses it to a teammate who must head it. If another teammate catches it, she may NOT run, but must toss it for another teammate to head. The other team may intercept as follows: if the ball has just been tossed, the defending team may head it; if the ball has just been headed, the defending team may catch it. If the ball goes to the floor, it goes to the team that did NOT touch it last at the spot it touched the ground.

The object of the game can change to add variety: initially, just try for three heads in a row without being intercepted (= 1 pt); then score by heading successfully to a teammate over the other team's end line; then score by heading into the goal; then score by shooting a volley or half-volley into the goal.

You can add a variety of restrictions to spice it up as well. For instance, initially no one can challenge the person with the ball; later, they can guard with their hands. Start with the sequence being toss/head/catch; then go to toss/head/head/catch. Initially, the game is all heading; later, you can allow volleys or half-volleys to teammates, who may catch or head the ball. It may start slow. Soon, they will see that the only way to make progress is to move the ball FAST, which means running off the ball to be open. THAT is when it gets to be a lot of fun, a lot of exercise, and a great tool to learn running off the ball, supporting play, talking, etc.

The Worst Refereeing Decisions Ever

2008-10-07T05:23:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone what the hardest job in football is and you'll get a myriad of different answers. Maybe it's being a goalkeeper or a manager, perhaps the chairman is the hardest job? Well without doubt the hardest job is that of the referee. It has been said that the best referees will go unnoticed as the game is played, and there is certainly a grain of truth in that statement.

Do your job well and people will be talking about the match rather than about your performance. However if you make even one mistake then expect abuse, bad press and even punishments. It is a fine balancing act and without the advantage of slow motion replay and time to ponder a decision the referee must make the right call in the heat of the moment. While pundits have the opportunity to look over an incident in slow motion from a multitude of angles, the referee does not have this chance, making his job all that more difficult.

Given the fine line between making the right decision and making a bad one in football it comes as no surprise that sometimes the referee gets things hideously wrong. While there may be an excuse for a bad decision sometimes the one given by the referee just can't be explained. This article looks at some of the worst decisions ever made by football referees and should give some backing for calls of video replays being used during games to aid the officials.

Diego Maradona's second goal against England in the 1986 World Cup is often hailed as one of the greatest goals of all time. His first goal has become known as one of the most bizarre. As the ball was played high into the penalty area the diminutive Maradona managed to out-jump England keeper Peter Shilton and put the ball into the net.

Television replays clearly showed Maradona using his hand to beat the goalkeeper to the ball. The goal should never have stood and England were beaten 2-1 and knocked out of the World Cup with Argentina going on to win the tournament, showing just how much a bad refereeing decision can impact a team and a competition.

Generally regarded as a good referee, if a little prone to errors, Graham Poll committed one of the strangest refereeing mistakes in recent memory at the 2006 World Cup. During the match between Australia and Croatia Poll booked Josip Simunic twice without sending him off, eventually giving him his marching orders for a third yellow card at the end of the game. The mistake would see Poll sent home from the World Cup and his eventual retirement from tournament football, stating that this incident was his reason for stopping.

Standing out among all others as the strangest decision a football referee has made is the goal that Reading scored against Watford in 2008. The ball was hooked wide of the goal, but cleared away from the area. The linesman and the referee somehow gave a goal, despite the ball being a foot wide and never even touching the net.

The referee, Stuart Attwell, later claimed that it was an optical illusion that made it look like the ball was inside the goal. Illusion or not, it is one of the most bizarre goals ever awarded and will surely be remembered for many years.

Another goal mouth incident is next up and it's almost a direct opposite of the Reading incident. In 2005 while playing for Tottenham Pedro Mendes hooked the ball from the half-way line into the Manchester United goal. Goalkeeper Roy Carrol fumbled the ball before clawing it out from behind the line. The ball was over by about a foot but the officials said that it was not a goal.

Television replays confirmed that the goal should have been allowed and Spurs should have won 1-0 and taken three points from the game. The disallowed goal sparked a debate over whether replays should be used to aid decision-making and based on this game it certainly has a strong case.

These are some of the worst and the strangest decisions that I can remember, and they present a strong case for the addition of television replays to help officiating top-level matches. It must be remembered, however, that for the most part referees do an excellent job and games pass by with barely a mention of the man in the middle.

It is just an unfortunate situation that any error can so drastically change the course of a game, and even a season. Using replays to help the referee seems like a reasonable idea and in most cases wouldn't slow the game down much at all. Surely it's much better to get the right decision than save thirty seconds?

Scoring Goals, How To?

2008-10-07T05:19:00.001-07:00

When you’re a soccer player, you’ll know that scoring goals will make the difference between winning or losing. You just have to make sure your team scores at least 1 goal more than your opponent, it’s as simple as that.

But scoring goals isn’t that easy for most of us. So how can we try to improve this?

It all depends on the position you’re playing on the pitch.

Defenders won’t have much opportunity’s on scoring goals due to the fact that they’re the last defense line before the keeper. The most important job of a defender is to make sure the other team won’t get a chance of scoring a goal themselves and make your goalie’s job as simple as possible.

But being a defender doesn’t always mean that you’ll have to stay on your part of the pitch. No, you can also try to make a run forward. In fact it will get your opponent’s defense confused most of the times because they’re wondering where that extra guy is coming from.
The only thing you’ll have to keep in mind is that you’ll have to get back on to your own position as quick as possible whenever your team loses the ball. If not you’ll probably ending up with a goal against. So a scoring defender of this kind has to be in an excellent physical condition and will have to make some good appointments with his midfielders to switch places sometimes until you’ll get back on to your position.
Keep in mind that you can’t go forward with every ball, try to pick out the right moment, surprise your opponent.
If your physical condition isn’t good enough for making some runs forward, you can try scoring goals on free kicks, corners, throw-inn’s. Normally every defender is very good in heading, so why not use this ability on free kicks and corners?

Midfielders are normally the guys with the best stamina of the team, they have to run forward and back to either attack or defend. Some players will be everywhere on the pitch, as others will play on position very well. You’ll have to have a couple attacking midfielders and defending midfielders. The defending midfielders will be the best friends of your defenders to help them out everywhere they can.
Most of the times a goal has scored, the action before the will start somewhere on the midfield. So a midfielder will give lots of assists.
The trouble you’ll face if you want to get head-a-head with the opponent keeper is that you’ll have to dribble at least one defender, because you’re on the 2nd line in the attack. To achieve this, a midfielder will have to work on his creativity, technique and his flair. But keep in mind to always look ahead, instead of keeping your eyes on the ball. If you only see the ball, you can’t see your teammates. And for teammates it’s very frustrating to not get the ball. So dribble one opponent and pass to your colleagues, if that’s not possible you can try to dribble the 2nd opponent.

You can also try to work on your shooting ability from the 2nd line. If you aim well and shoot hard, you can surprise their keeper, or even let another teammate score on the rebound.
Make eye contact with your attackers, they probably will be playing with their back to the goal to see the ball leaving your foot. With making good eye contact and small hand gestures, you can try to make a one-two around a defender to pass him very easily. When succeeded, you probably will be facing the keeper and get a shot on target.
Practice your free kicks every time you can, it will help you during the game. Pick one or two guys in your team to take the free kicks. It will give them more confidence for every free kick they’ll take.
If you’re the free kick taker, stay calm, take a deep breath before you set your mark. Try to look at part of the goal you’re aiming to but without letting it know to your opponent.
My trick on a free kick is to place the ball over the wall in the shortest corner, but then you’ll need to place the ball very well and that’s where the practice can help you out.
If you aim for the far corner, place the ball low and hard, the goalie has more time to see this ball coming than in the shortest corner so the faster the ball travels the lesser time the keeper has.

An attacker will probably be the leader of the pack if it comes to scoring goals. He’s closest to the goal so doesn’t need much space to get through. The problem is to get in the right space on the right time.
Attackers need to be quick, agile and have to know where they have to be. As an attacker, you don’t have to wait and hope you’ll get the ball on the right place, you can also try and create your own chance. You can play a few meters further away from the goal, to support your midfielders and get an extra player in that area.
Always try to make sure you’re running in the visible sight of the teammate that has the ball. If he can’t see you, he probably will look for another solution or even worse ending up losing the ball.
Make little gestures or eye contact to let him know where you want the ball. Just don’t shout to hard, you’ll just ending up letting the defenders of the other team know where you are.

Another way of scoring goals is taking penalties. This only requires balls of steel, or at least a bit. In the team I’m playing, whenever there’s a penalty awarded to us, there’s no one who’ll be claiming the penalty except me.
Is it because they’re afraid missing or because they get some kind of blackout or so, I don’t know. I can only say that in my head I’m just thinking if I miss, I’ve missed and if I score, I’ve scored. A penalty is some kind of lottery, sometimes you’ll win, and sometimes you’ll lose. Nothing more, nothing less.

But I can give you a few tips about taking a penalty.
Never, never look at where you’re going to place the ball. The keeper will always see it, if not from your eyes, then from your body language.
Whenever I take a penalty, I’ve already chosen a side of the keeper to place the ball to. I always stick to my first decision. And most off the times I’m aiming very low and hard and as close to the post as you can get without hitting it. Also whenever you hit a penalty, run after the ball, you’ll never know if it will come back from the post or keeper, maybe you can still score on the rebound then.

Sticking to your first decision is also needed whenever you’re facing the keeper in a head-to-head situation. Doubts on the last moment will 99% end up in a miss. Do what your feeling or mind is telling you at the first time you’ll get into the position.

No matter what position you’re playing, it always comes down on working for it. A good condition is an absolute must as this will make it easier to work for it. If you’re lacking condition, check back soon or subscribe to my RSS Feed for some future posts about improving your condition.

This was a quick guide on how I experienced it myself to score more goals. In the youth categories, I didn’t score much. Later I made a switch in my playing style and this resulted in more goals.
Although I most of the time play as a left fielder I crowned myself to the top scorer of my team 4 times in the last 6 years. Last season I’ve scored 21 goals and this year I’m at the same level as one of our attackers.

But to me scoring goals isn’t everything, I also like to give assists and try to let others play better. Soccer is a team sport and that’s what’s it’s all about. I’d rather lose 12-0 and be sure everyone tried to do their best, than win 10-0 and knowing me and others played a bad game. If you fight together like a team, you’ll win more matches.

How about you, do you feel the same as me, have you got any other tips for my readers or what’s your way of playing, please let me know by leaving a comment.

The Best left Midfilders

2008-10-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

The left midfielder will traditionally be a left footed wide player with pace and skill to beat the opposition right back. Some of the greatest crowd-pleasing soccer players have been left midfielders including George Best, Rivelino and John Salako. Since I began watching the game, there have been enough decent left midfielders to fill every team in the football league.

The England national team has recently struggled to find a great left midfielder and have opted to move right and central midfielders to the left. This problem highlighted the importance of having a naturally left sided midfielder to give the team balance. A great left midfielder will have skill, passing accuracy and the ability to create goals as well as score them.

There have been some fantastic left midfielders that have not fulfilled their potential in the game. John Barnes burst on to the scene in the early 80s as a 17 year old for Second Division Watford. Barnes would go on to play for England as well as over 300 appearances for Liverpool. However, Barnes's club form rarely transferred to the international stage and he was considered an underachiever despite 11 goals in 79 England appearances.

Ryan Giggs has also not been able to translate his club abilities to the international stage, mainly due to him being Welsh. This has hindered his international career, despite him becoming the most decorated footballer in English soccer history. Ten Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two UEFA Champions Leagues and many other trophies are testament to Giggs's ability and commitment.

A dazzling winger in the style of George Best, Giggs first wowed United fans as a 17 year old in 1991. His pace and trickery earned him rave reviews and cemented his place in the first team despite his tender age. With the launch of the FA Premier League, Giggs became a soccer superstar and was rated as one of the hottest young stars in the game.

Sixteen years later and Giggs may have lost some of his pace, but his fitness and enthusiasm have enabled him to remain a regular in Alex Ferguson's squad. He appeared 30 times in both of United's recent league title wins, although he is approaching 35. This shows Giggs's abilities, ambition and self-belief in a United team that is regularly culled to make way for new blood.

Lionel Messi. The best left winger in the world today. This statement will be argued by some, as Messi often occupies the right wing or plays behind the strikers. However, Messi's skills, pace and amazing left-foot warrant him a place in any list of best left midfielders.

Still only 21 years old at time of writing, Lionel Messi has already won two La Liga titles, one UEFA Champions League, Summer Olympics and the FIFA Under 20 World Cup. His emergence enabled Barcelona to sell Ronaldinho, this is symbolic of how much they rate the young Argentinian.

Messi possesses devastatingly fast feet and can slalom through players with ease. His use of the ball rivals that of Cristiano Ronaldo, as the two fight to be the best player in the world. Messi relies heavily on pace, swerve and tricks and can leave a defender standing with just the drop of his shoulder.

With such a long career ahead of him, Messi can go on to win every honour that soccer has to offer. He will hope to replicate another former Barcelona and Argentina number 10, the great Diego Armando Maradona. With Messi's ability, there is every chance he too can lift the FIFA World Cup.

The History of Soccer

2008-10-07T05:08:00.000-07:00

While it is undisputed that the origins of modern soccer, or football, originated in Britain, there is a great deal of evidence that points to this beloved game as having an older history.

Where did the game of soccer really begin, and how old is it? To understand how many different varieties of "soccer" there are, you need to understand a bit about the older versions of the game and how they have evolved.

Below, you will find a list of the predominant cultures that had a variety of soccer, and learn how each one differs from what we play today. And no, they never used anything like Lotto shinguards back then either!

Chinese Soccer History
Japanese Soccer History
Egyptian Soccer History
Greek/Roman Soccer History
British Soccer History
Chinese Soccer History
To many, this is the oldest version of soccer to exist. However, there is quite a lot of controversy of whether or not this is the oldest, or Japan's version is the elder. The Chinese version of the game, originally named "Tsu Chu", involved players on a field that had to hit a leather ball stuffed with fur into a small hole. Like Soccer, no hands were permitted during the play of the game, and it was considered an honor to be a member of a team.

The Emperor of the Han Dynasty, when the game was developed, was an avid player and fan, and spread the popularity of this game all over China during his reign. This roughly dates back to 300 B.C., although there is controversy on the subject of dating, which could result in the origins of the game being as far back as 5000 B.C. Regardless, this version of Soccer is extremely old. Despite that, there is still a version of Tsu Chu played today. While the two games are similar, Tsu Chu has had no effect on the modern version of the game, as it was originally developed and created for play in Great Britain.

Japanese Soccer History
Kemari, the Japanese version of "Soccer", is perhaps one of the most different forms of the sport, in comparison to modern soccer. Kemari was a game of "Keep it up", much like modern hacky sacks, although used with a larger ball that was stuffed with saw dust. This version involves a "pitch", or the field, designated by the selection of four trees, the cherry, maple, pine and willow. Many great houses in Japan would grow trees to have a permanent pitch, or field, established.

Kemari was normally played with two to twelve players. Established in roughly 1004 B.C., it vies for position of the oldest game with China's Tsu Chu. In fact, China's Tsu Chu players and Japan's Kemari players were the first to have an "International" game of their versions of Soccer, which is dated to have occurred in roughly 50 B.C., although a definite date of 611 A.D. is known. Regardless, this game stands with China as a sister sport to Soccer, while it never affected the modern version of the game.

Egyptian Soccer History
While not much is known about Egyptian Soccer, or other ball games, it is thought there was a version of a type of ball game played by young women during the age of Baqet III. On his tomb, images of this sport were depicted, although no one is certain how the game was played or whether or not it truly affected the outcome of modern soccer. Recordings of this game date as far back as 2500 B.C., although not much more is known asides the fact that it was played with a ball. The lack of information on the sport and how it was played has eliminated it from runnings as the first evidence of a game similar to soccer.

Greek/Roman Soccer History
Perhaps the closest relative to modern soccer are the games that were formed by the Greeks during the prime of their culture. They had numerous varieties of football style games, some of which required hands, some of which forbade hands. In the end, after the Roman conquering of Greece, the game Harpastum is what modern soccer would be based from. This game, probably a modified version of the Greek's "Harpaston", which translates roughly to handball. While grossly misnamed, this game is what is considered to be one of the precursors to modern soccer.

British Soccer History
In Britain during the 8th century, soccer was created, not as a recreational sport, but as a war game. One of the stories of the original roots of the sport comes from when a Danish Prince was beheaded, and his head was used as a ball and was kicked around. Ever since this 'legendary' tale, villages and other communities would play a game where they would have to kick a ball to a specific goal. It was a violent game, where injury and death were not uncommon, but it was popular nevertheless. In fact, it was so violent, that in 1331, King Edward the III passed laws to try to stop the playing of the game. It did not work, however, and the sport continued on.

There are even stories of soccer games that involved hundreds upon hundreds of players. In these games, there were many deaths, some resulting in the hundreds. It wasn't until 1815 when Eton College set up a series of rules for the game that it became less violent and more of a true sport. At this time, other colleges and universities took up the banner and began to play under similar rules. Later, the rules were evaluated and judged, and the Cambridge rules were created as a result in 1848. In the Cambridge rules, shin-kicking, carrying the ball and tripping were all forbidden. Rugby rules allowed these aspects, and the two varieties of soccer, or football, split to form their own followings.

On October 26, 1863, London schools and sports club sent representatives to the Freemason's Tavern, where the Football Association was formed. Rugby supporters left this association to form the Rugby Association. This is where the birth of modern soccer began. In 1969, the Football Association finalized the modern game of soccer by forbidding the use of hands in the game.

The term "Soccer" was coined when someone was asked if he was a Rugger, which is a Rugby player. The -er signified that the person participated in a a particular sport. The individual, Charles Wreford Brown, replied with "Soccer!", taking the phrase from Association, SOC, and adding the -er. The term stuck. While British individuals still call the game Football, Americans and other countries call it Soccer, especially if they have heavy support in American Football present. Ever since the foundation of the Association, "Football" has risen in popularity, becoming one of the best love games in the history of Earth. Now, hundreds of thousands play the sport, although it lacks the initial violence present at its creation.

soccer motivation

2008-10-07T05:05:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION
In soccer, nothing can affect performance as dramatically as a sudden loss of motivation. Without the motivation to succeed a player cannot survive the challenges soccer can throw up. If the team or player is going through a bad patch then motivating your players becomes especially important. However, an overly motivated player may be nervous and take risks. This article attempts to look at motivation and suggest ways to help improve the motivational capacities of players.

THE MOTIVATIONAL PROCESS
In general we distinguish between, personal self-motivation (intrinsic) and motivation from the outside (extrinsic) by the coach, teammates, friends etc. By looking at the process of motivation, we can see how this influences performance. Human beings are motivated to do sport for several reasons;
A need to move & to play: To be active, expend excess energy & aggression, for self-fulfilment, to take risks, to satisfy curiosity, make use of the hunting and adventurous spirit...

Ambition & Recognition: Various motives are ambition (win competitions), outside recognition (from fans, family, teammates...), playing in front of an audience, sociability and social standing...

Overall, the motives and needs of players are guided by two basic factors, the hope of success and fear of failure with experience generally showing that the former plays the major role in motivating players.

Every player has a dream in soccer and some players pursue their dreams and expect to achieve them through renewed hard work and dedication. Obstacles are seen as a challenge and each setback as a call for more effort to improve and overcome these problems. This type of player is intrinsically self-motivated as their desire to succeed comes from within themselves.

However, many players, often technically and physically good enough to succeed, fall by the wayside due to a lack of self-belief to fulfill their dreams or the willingness to spend the necessary time on the pitch or in the gym.

Generally, it is easier to work with highly motivated players, as they only need decent objectives, the environment and ability to concentrate as well as good technical, tactical and physical coaching. However, these players still need to be looked after as they may become frustrated and bored if they do not meet their goals or keep their performances up to expected standards.

For children who are under motivated, the football coach needs firstly to convince and motivate these athletes to believe they can succeed and secondly that only hard work will lead to success.
MOTIVATING THE TEAM/PLAYER
There is no perfect method for motivating players as this changes from individual to individual and can depend on the current situation, such as the team's position in the league. The following points suggest various ways to help motivate and sustain motivation in your players:

Balanced & interesting training: A disorganized and unbalanced training session can de-motivate players from giving their best. Plan well ahead and cater for the individual group's and team's needs. Remember variety is the spice of life! Training should be both mentally and physically stimulating. For players who are often substitutes, keeping them motivated is difficult. Try for example to have a weekly game in which the head coach works solely with the substitutes and an assistant coach works with the first-team but don't at any time put distance between the players.

Setting objectives (Goal setting): Is useful as it allows players to have something to aim at through a pre-defined plan to compare their progress at different steps over a period of time. However, the effect of motivation depends on how attractive the goal is. Also, objectives that are too easy will lead to players being either overconfident or careless or if too difficult, players will approach them with low confidence and hesitancy. Try developing a goal setting plan with daily, medium and long-term goals.
Be enthusiastic, positive, honest and supportive: Your enthusiasm and positivity will rub off on players. Mention the positive actions rather than the negative actions as often as possible. Be honest about performance and be firm when making a point about areas that need improvement. Offer suggestions on how to improve. Do not embarrass your players but do tell them what you think!

Encouragement: Encourage fun and hard work in the training or competition. Always encourage players when they are successful and unsuccessful and avoid complacency.

Be supportive, confident and respective: Remind them that they win as a team and lose as a team. Always be ready to listen to your player's worries and questions. Accept them for who they are and for what they give to the team. Respect your players and they will respect you. Give credit where it is due focusing mainly on the team as a whole and accept some responsibility for a loss. Remind them that we all make mistakes and will learn from them.

Get to know your players and speak to them individually on a regular basis. Compliment them on aspects of their game and mentioning areas they need to work in can help to further motivate them.

Change of face: Players can get bored of the same old faces! Try bringing in new coaches with fresh and different ideas, perhaps even on a short-term basis.

Imagery & Motivation: Players can use imagery to mentally rehearse a variety of aspects, like focusing on overcoming a technical weakness or mentally preparing for a match. Relaxation helps, as players are more motivated when they realize that they can control stress and anxiety.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

During match preparation, the aim of the coach is to find the right motivational levels. This can be attained by watching the attitude of the players and providing a good pep talk. The coach can play up or play down the importance of a game in order to reduce or increase motivation. He can also take pressure off too keyed-up players by accepting responsibility for the result. The experience of the coach does often tell in these situations and will play a role in the resulting performance.

The position of the club in the league plays an important role in player motivation, as does the pre-match or half time team talk.

If your team is in the leading pack: The biggest problem can be over-confidence and complacency. The coach may use a short sharp shock to bring them back down to earth. Players can also show mental and physical staleness from the pressure of being at the top. Rest and recovery training work can help re-motivate the troops.

If your team is mid-table: A team facing neither the threat of relegation nor promotion has little incentive. Motivation may be low as is the sense of urgency and desire to win. Bringing in new players, changing playing systems or position roles may help.

If your team is low or in the relegation zone: Teams in the lower half can lose confidence and develop a negative attitude or a fear of losing. The coach must remove this fear by persuading players that if they keep doing what they are good at, things will come right. Concentrating on the simple things and not the results whilst giving precise instructions to individuals about their job will help along with much praise and encouragement.

As mentioned earlier, the pre-match and half time talk will play a role in determining motivational levels. The opposition like the league position of a team plays an important part in deciding the talk content. Playing a team lower than yourself can lead to overconfidence as the players automatically think they will win. Coaches must explain the importance of being serious and make sure that players are not complacent in their training and preparation, especially in Cup competitions against smaller clubs.

A highly motivated team can often prove the difference when playing against rivals of a similar calibre. Also, when meeting a more successful team coaches often play on the underdog, nothing to lose position. Although this may lead to a team feeling they have no chance. Several club managers in English football claim that teams when playing Manchester Utd just lie down and accept defeat. The coach must play on the weaknesses of the opposition (every team has them!) and motivate his players to believe they can take advantage of them.

The half time team talk will of course depend on the score and impressions of the coach. A team leading 2-0 will be instructed not to become complacent and concede an early goal whereas a tight goalless first-half may lead the coach to jolt his players and encourage them to try to break the deadlock through their ability.

CONCLUSION

Motivation is a key means to achieving success. It greatly depends on the coaches' personality, attitude and means of getting players interested in bettering themselves and accepting the means by which they can develop. Generally, the coach should try to understand what motivation is and the ways to turn under or extrinsically motivated players into intrinsically highly motivated successful players.
In the end, Bill Besick (sports psychologist for Manchester Utd) states that the strongest motivation must be because the player wants to win and in a team sport the motivation must be because the players want to win together.

Complete Strength Training Guide for Soccer!

2008-09-27T10:30:00.000-07:00

I. What is strength?
II. How does strength training help me in football
III. Designing a program
IV. Equipment
V. Programs
VI. Exercises (with pictures)
VII. Sources

Hope you guys after reading this will use it to better your footy careers

I.What is 'strength'?
Strength is the ability of a muscle to overcome resistance or the ability to resist force. The strength of the muscular contraction determines how strong the player is.
II.How does strength help me in football?
-Strength and speed. A football player must be strong to withstand the training that it takes to increase speed. Because training for speed is dynamic and aggressive, a player who lacks strength can become seriously injured.
-Strength and vertical jump. Players who jump high for headers or keeper saves have one thing in common: they have above-average leg strength. If you want to jump high or increase your vertical jump, becoming stronger is the first step.
-Strength and endurance. When player's legs become heavy from running far and fast during a match, the strength of their legs carries them that extra mile. Football games are often won or lost in the last five minutes of each half. Endurance can make the difference between winning and losing.
-Strength and agility. A player who changes direction by cutting left and then right would appear to be in slow motion if he lacked the strength to plant his foot and aggressively drive his body in the desired direction. Athletes who make quick and decisive movements ahve the strength to weave their way up field for the score.
-Strength and durability. Make no mistakes; the stronger you become, the less likely you are to be injured. Durability is directly linked to the body's ability to withstand stress. Strength gives the body that ability.
-Strength and upper-body football. Any player who has been caught in a group of opposing players in a contest for the ball knows how important upper-body strength is. Although football is a mostly lower-body sport, players must not ignore upper-body strength. Upper body strength is necessary for the complete football player.

III.Designing A Program

1. Determine the physiology of football. What energy sources are involved? Of the energy sources involved, what percentage of the game is dedicated to thsoe sources? Your training program should be designed based on the demands of the game and your need as a player, which will be determined by your style of play or your team philosophy. For example, a midfielder who relies on speed and physical style of play should devote the majority of his program to training for power and absolute strength. The team that builds from the back using a slower paced game plan should spend less time on speed and sprint training and more time on longer distance interval training.
2. What are the major mechanics of footbal? Obviously the football player depends on his lower body more than his upper body during a game. The bulk of the menu and the training emphasis should be on the lower body rather than the chest and shoulders
3. How many reps do I need? Generally, football players don’t want to become too bulky, because that will slow them down. For gaining muscle mass, 6-10 reps with lots of weight is best. But for football, ideally you want less weight and more repitions; around 12-15. This will give you more strength endurance, and better muscle tone.
4. Consider other duties How much time is available to you? Probably the biggest hurdles will be supervision, facility, and time. How many times will training occur per week? For how many weeks in a year? For how many minutes in a day? Unless you are a member of a gym, you have to take these things into consideration.

IV.Equipment

It can be a little intimidating to walk into a weight room and see so many different pieces of exercise equipment. Typically, it comes down to two basic modes of training-free weight and machines.

Machines
Machines offer the ability to isolate a specific muscle group without involving stabilizing musculature surrounding the area. The range of motion and adjustable weight stacks make the units safe and easy to operate. Unfortunately, the safety factor and the isolation feature come in exchange for some important developmental factors. Isolating specific muscles is a function of track resistance (restricted movement in one direction), which in turn does not require any balance or coordination of movement. Balance and coordiantion are key factors in the football world, and players must do anything they can to improve in those area. Football, like most sports, is a multiple-joint-movement activity. Machines cannot duplicate the movement of more than one joint at a time. Again, for a more beneficial carryover to football, you should perform exercises that involve more than one muscle group. A player does not move by the working of individual muscles. All muscle groups work together to perform movement.
Beginning players or players with poor strength base would also see positive results from using particular exercise machines at different times of the year.
Among the machines are plate-loaded machines, pneumatic (air-powered) machines, and pulley-cable systems. Cable systems are not completely track resistant and thus offer a little more freedom of movement. This type of machine is a necessity for some exercises.

Free Weights

Fundamentally, free-weight training offers a more complete training effect. Balance, coordination, and accommodation of body types are some of the basic training responses that occur with free-weight training. Scientific research points to other benefits that cannot be achieved by machines. You must teach your body to adjust to different environment on the field. A machine has a given dimension and movement pattern that cannot be altered, but a barbell or dumbbell will completely accommodate a player of any size.
Because of the need to coordinate free-weight movements, the lifter must use stabilizing muscles. Think of the muscles involved in a back squat other than the quadriceps and gluteus maximus (otherwise known as your butt). Abdominal, lower back, and hamstrings are not primary movers, but they provide balance and assistance just as they do in running.
Although both training modes have goods and bads, a complete weight-training program should include a mixture of free weights and machines.

V.Programs

Two day training
Training twice per week is the minimum frequency for a total program and the fewest number of training days that can produce a training effect.

Strengths
- TWo days of training allows time for work on other qualities, such as speed and conditioning.
-Good for beginning athletes
-Good in-season format
Weaknesses
-Minimum requirement for results
-Unable to emphasize a body part
-Limited Selection
Tips
-Schedule 48 hours between workouts
-Limit training time to keep intensity high

Sample

Monday Thursday
Clean pull Military press
Back squat Lat pulldown
Hyperextension Triceps pushdown
Leg curl Barbell curl
Bench press

Three day training
Training three times per week is a common design that allows for enough selection expansion and rest between workouts to permit good progress.

Strengths
-Preferable in-season design.
-Offers good rest between workouts.
-Good length of selection for variety
Weaknesses
-Some exercises receive only 48 hours of rest between bouts.
-The program might work the upper and lower body all three days.
Tips
-Try to keep length of training time equal for all three day.
-Keep in mind conditioning and other components when planning heavy weight-training days.

Sample

Monday Wednesday Friday
Bench press Bench press Dumbbell lateral raise
Incline dumbbell press Incline dumbbell press Front alternate raise
Dumbbell lateral raise Seated row Seated row
Front alternate raise Lat pulldown Lat pulldown
Lying triceps extension Lying triceps extension Dumbbell curls
Dumbbell curls Leg press Leg press
Lunges Lunges
Leg curls Leg curls

Four day training
Training four days per week usually uses a split, which finds one workout for Monday and Thursday and the other on Tuesday and Friday.

Strengths
-This format diveides workouts into two separate days. Upper body, lower body, pushing-pulling, power-strength.
-Allows 72 hours between workouts, an interval better suited for muscular growth and strength gains.
-Favorable off-season design. Difficult but not impossible in-season
Weaknesses
-Allows only one complete day off
Tips
-When lifting heavy, it might be necessary to lighten the second half of the week by up to 20 percent.
-Schedule conditioning around leg work.
-Try to use the off day for total rest

VI.Exercises

Lunge
What’s being worked: Quadriceps, hamstrings,
Place your feet apart about shoulder-width. Lunging on the left leg begins by moving the right leg behind and maintaining a straight back while bending at your waist and descending. When the knee-joint angle is 90 degrees, rise to the starting position.
Tip: Keep your knees from moving forward when descending into the lunge position.

Leg Press
Place your feet at about hip-width on the pressing surface. Lower the weight until the knee joint angle is 90 degrees and then press to the starting position.
Try to keep your feet flat on the surface throughout the entire movement.
[IMG]http://s293.photobucket.com/albums/mm62/Ribery91/?action=view¤t=SL45LegPress.gif[/IMG]

Squat
Place the bar along the top of your trapezius (that's the muscle, don't rest it on the bone). Foot placement should be about shoulder-width. With your back straight, descend until the knee-joint angle is 90 degrees and then rise to the starting position.
Tip: When starting to descend, try to keep your knees from moving forward. Keep your feet flat on the ground throughout the entire movement.

Clean Deadlift
Place your feet at hip-width. Grip the bar slightly wider than shoulder-width. The bar should almost be touching your shins. With your back straight and knees above 90 desgrees, begin rising with the bar using both your legs and your lower back. When you reach full extension, lower the bar to the ground following the same lifting path.
Note: DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITHOUT PROPER INSTRUCTION AND SUPERVISION
here is a video

Hyperextension
Adjust the apparatus so that the pad lies directly against your quadriceps. While focusing on your hamstrings and glutes, raise your upperbody until it is in alignment with your lower body. Slowly lower then repeat.
Tip: Keep the motion slow and deliberate in both directions.

Clean Pull
The starting position is the same as that used for the clean deadlift. After lifting the bar from the ground, move the bar at a controlled and constant rate until it is about midthigh. When you reach midthigh, aggressively extend your body vertically and continue to pull the bar to about chest height.
here is a video

Bench Press
Lying on a flat bench, grip the bar wider than shoulder width. Remove the bar from the uprights and start with the bar at straight arm’s length. Lower the bar to the chest area, touch, and press back to the starting position.

Incline Press
Sitting on a 45 degree incline bench, grip the bar wider than shoulder width. Remove the bar from the uprights and start with the bar at straight arm’s length. Lower the bar to your chest, touch, and press back to the starting position.

Dumbbell Lateral Raise
In a standing position, take two dumbbells and place them in front of your body on your thighs. Slightly bend your knees and bend at your waist while keeping your back straight. With your elbows slightly bent, raise the dumbbells until your elbows reach soulder height and keep your palms facing down. Return to the starting position and repeat.

Dumbbell Front Alternate Raise
Seated or standing, hold two dumbbells at the side of your thighs with your thumbs toward your body. Beginning with your right arm and your elbows slightly bent, raise the dumbbell to shoulder height. Lower and repeat with your left arm.

Military Press
Seated or standing, start with the bar resting on the front of your shoulders with a grip wider than shoulder width. Press the bar overhead to full arm extension and return to the starting position.
Tip: If you perform this movement standing, bend your knees slightly to relieve pressure from your lower back. Try not to lean back excessively when the movement becomes difficult.

Dumbbell Shrug
Standing, grip the bar wider than shoulder-width. Shrug your shoulders as high as possible without bending your elbows. Lower and repeat.
Tip: The focus should be on shrugging your shoulders, not on the weight you are holding

Lat Pulldown
Grip the bar slightly wider than shoulder width. Leaning slightly back, pull the bar toward your chest area. With the same tempo, return the bar along the same path to the starting position.
Tip: Start the pull by focusing on driving your elbows toward your body. You must not focus on the bar. Do not use excessive body movement while performing this exercise.

Seated Row
Grip the bar handles at shoulder width. With your chest out and back straight, begin leaning back and pull the bar to your midsection. Return the bar along the same path and repeat.

Barbell Curl
Grip the barbell with your palms up so that your hands are a little wider than your hips. Keeping your elbows at the side of your body, raise the weight to your shoulders, lower, then repeat.
Tip: Don’t use excessive body movement to start the bar moving or to finish the movement.

Triceps Pushdown
Stand far enough away from the bar that a slight bend at the waist is necessary to address the bar. With your elbows at your side, grip the bar at shoulder-width and press the bar down to full extension. Return to the starting position and repeat. Don’t let your chest and shoulders complete the movement.

Seated Calf Raise
With knees bent at 90 degrees, lower your heels as far as possible and, without pausing, lift your heels as high as possible to contract your soleus. Lower and repeat.

Leg extension
Comfortably place your feet so that the bottom part of your shin is in contact with the lever arm. Contract your quads and raise the lever arm until your legs are just short of full extension. Lower and repeat.
Tip: The starting position should not be less than 90 degrees. Don’t use the momentum of your whole body to swing the weight up and down.

Leg Curls
Place your feet under the lever arm so that the back of your leg, not any part of your foot, is in contact. Contract your hamstrings and raise the lever arm to your glutes. Lower and repeat.

Receiving - the foundation for success

2008-09-27T04:10:00.001-07:00

Receiving is such an important aspect of football, I think it needs a place on these forums. So here goes.

There's a lot more to receiving than just stopping the ball. The true skill of receiving involves anticipating what's about to happen on the field so that your first touch of the ball will prepare you optimally for the next action.

Ground Balls

You can receive balls on the ground with any of the 3 main surfaces of the foot: inside, outside, or instep. Wherever your opponents are and where the ball is coming from depends on which surface you will use. If a defender is pressuring you as you receive the ball with your back to the goal, it would be best to receive the ball with the outside of your foot to keep your body between the ball and the defender. The inside of the foot is very effective in receiving when your facing your attacking direction; you open your hips, receive the ball across your body, and have the greatest vision of the options for passing or dribbling. You could use the instep to receive a ball when your decision is to take the space on the dribble at speed.
Many people emphasizwe the need to cushion the ball, so that the ball remains close and a player can maintain possession. While this is true, the ultimate goal is to control the pace of the oncoming ball and redirect it in the desired direction. The essential element is that the first touch prepares the player for the next action to take place. When receiving it is important to look up and see where your opponents and teammates are positioned before you make contact with the ball.

Here is a guide to the three main techniques of receiving:

Inside of the Foot

The inside of the foot is probably the most often used to receive a ball. It's the best technique to use when you have time and space to receive the ball and when your facing your attacking direction.
When receiving, your ankle should be locked with your toes up to provide a large surface area. Your leg should be rotated so that the inside of the foot is perpendicular (T) to the direction youre going to play the ball. Your plant leg should be bent slightly to allow yourself to move with the ball, making the touch active.
The degree to which you cushion the ball on impact depends on the pace of the incoming pass and the desired length of the first touch. The point of contact on the ball should be just above the horizontal middle to ensure that the ball remains on the ground and is not popped up.

Checklist

1.Ankle locked with toes up and foot sideways with the inside of your foot facing forward.
2.Plant leg is bent slightly to allow yourself to adjust and move.
3.Contact just above the middle of the ball to keep it low.
4. Your weight should be forward in order to keep the ball low and make it easier for you to control.

Outside of the Foot

The same low and balanced stance used when receiving with the inside of the foot is used with the oustisde of the foot as well. The outside of the foot is an excellent option when receiving the ball under pressure because it allows you to keep a greater distance between the ball and the opponent. By positioning your body sideways on to the defender and receiving with the outside of the foot, you have the width of your body between the defender and the ball. Proper foot position normally has the toe slightly pointed downward and slightly inward. This should create a flat surface with the outside portion of the instep that contact the top half of the ball, again keeping it on the ground.

Checklist
1. Bend your planting foot slightly to allow yourself to move with the ball.
2. Use your upper body and arms as a shield and balance when under pressure.
3. Your toe is slightly pointed downward and slightly inward.
4. Your weight should be slightly forward in order to keep the ball low and make it easier for you to control.

Instep

The instep is used to create a more penetrating first touch. With the instep, the object is usually to penetrate forward into an open space. It allows you to contact the ball without breaking stride.

Checklist

1. Your ankle is locked downward.
2. Your weight is forward.
3. Use your upper body to keep you balanced.
4. Contact the middle of the ball or higher to keep it low.

Receiving Air Balls

Receiving with Chest

1. Your knees are bent and back is arched backward.
2. Your body relaxes at the moment of impact and ball rests momentarily on the chest.
3. A second touch settles the ball to the ground.

Receiving with the Thigh

1. Bring your thigh up parallel to the ground before contacting the ball.
2. absorb the momentum of the ball by moving you rhigh downward with the ball's momentum.

Receiving with the Instep

The instep is the most effective surface for taking a ball out of the air and preparing it to be played from the ground with the very next touch. When you receive with your instep, you must have room to allow the ball to drop to approximately knee height or below. A low and balanced body position is again critical here to allow you to adjust the free leg to the flight of the ball.

1. Standing in a balanced body position, lift a free foot up to the ball.
2. Initial contact is made high.
3. Your foot then moves with the path of the ball until it is set on the ground.

Inside of the Foot
Receiving air balls with the side of the foot can be used in many situations. Mostly it is used when you have a lot of space off of a cross. Make sure to be on your toes so you can adjust to the flight of the ball and maintain a balance position with the help of your arms.

1. Standing in a balanced body position, lift a free foot about up to your knees, this will give you enough space to pull your leg back upon impact.
2. Contact the middle of the ball with the middle of your foot.
3. Upon impact, your foot then moves with the path of the ball until it is set on the ground.

Outside of the Foot
The outside of the foot can be used as a decisive first touch to bring the ball into space under the pressure of an opponent. After the initial contact is made, explode in the direction the ball was sent.

1. Standing in a balanced body position as always, lift a free foot up roughly about a foot off of the ground, just below knee-height.
2. The second the ball bounces off the ground, your toes should be slightly inward, contact the upper half of the ball with the outside of the foot and lead in that direction with that foot. (eg. if you contact with your right foot, contact the upper left of the ball to make the ball go right and lead into that path)
3. This is also a great way to fake your opponent out right before you contact the ball, you can lead them left then at the last second receive and redirect it with the outside of your foot then explode to the right.

Soccer rules

2008-09-27T04:06:00.000-07:00

Field Surface
Matches may be played on natural or artifi cial surfaces, according to
the rules of the competition.
The colour of artifi cial surfaces must be green.
Where artifi cial surfaces are used in either competition matches
between representative teams of member associations affi liated to
FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet
the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Artifi cial Turf or
the International Artifi cial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation
is given by FIFA.
Field Markings
The field of play must be rectangular and marked with lines. These
lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries.
The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The two shorter
lines are called goal lines.
The fi eld of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line, which
joins the midpoints of the two touch lines.
The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line.
A circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) is marked around it.
Marks may be made off the fi eld of play, 9.15 m (10 yds) from the
corner arc and at right angles to the goal lines and the touch lines, to
ensure that defending players retreat this distance when a corner kick
is being taken.
Goals
A goal must be placed on the centre of each goal line.
A goal consists of two upright posts equidistant from the corner
fl agposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar. The goalposts
and crossbar must be made of wood, metal or other approved
material. They may be square, rectangular, round or elliptical in shape
and must not be dangerous to players.
The distance between the posts is 7.32 m (8 yds) and the distance
from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m (8 ft).
Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth,
which do not exceed 12 cm (5 ins). The goal lines must be of the same
width as the goalposts and the crossbar. Nets may be attached to the
goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly
supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper.
The goalposts and crossbars must be white.
Safety
Goals must be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goals may
only be used if they satisfy this requirement.
7.32 m (8 yds)
2.44 m
13
Qualities and Measurements
The ball is:
• spherical
• made of leather or other suitable material
• of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less
than 68 cm (27 ins)
• not more than 450 g (16 oz) and not less than 410 g
(14 oz) in weight at the start of the match
• of a pressure equal to 0.6 – 1.1 atmosphere (600 – 1,100 g/cm2)
at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in – 15.6 lbs/sq in)
Replacement of a Defective Ball
If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of a match:
• the match is stopped
• the match is restarted by dropping the replacement ball at the
place where the original ball became defective, unless play was
stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the
replacement ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at
the point nearest to where the original ball was located when play
was stopped
If the ball bursts or becomes defective whilst not in play at a kick-off,
goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or throw-in:
• the match is restarted accordingly
The ball may not be changed during the match without the authority
of the referee.
Decisions of the International F.A. Board
Decision 1
In addition to the requirements of Law 2, acceptance of a ball for
use in matches played in an offi cial competition organised under the
auspices of FIFA or the confederations is conditional upon the ball
bearing one of the following:
• the offi cial “FIFA APPROVED” logo
• the offi cial “FIFA INSPECTED” logo
• the “INTERNATIONAL MATCHBALL STANDARD” logo
Such a logo on a ball indicates that it has been tested offi cially and
found to be in compliance with specifi c technical requirements,
different for each logo and additional to the minimum specifi cations
stipulated in Law 2. The list of the additional requirements specifi c to
each of the respective logos must be approved by the International
F.A. Board. The institutes conducting the tests are subject to the
approval of FIFA.
Member association competitions may also require the use of balls
bearing any one of these three logos.
Decision 2
In matches played in an offi cial competition organised under the
auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations,
no form of commercial advertising on the ball is permitted, except
for the emblem of the competition, the competition organiser and
the authorised trademark of the manufacturer. The competition
regulations may restrict the size and number of such markings.
Players
A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than
eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start
if either team consists of fewer than seven players.
Offi cial Competitions
Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match
played in an offi cial competition organised under the auspices of FIFA,
the confederations or the member associations.
The rules of the competition must state how many substitutes may be
nominated, from three up to a maximum of seven.
Other Matches
In national A team matches, up to a maximum of six substitutes may
be used.
In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used
provided that:
• the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number
• the referee is informed before the match
If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the
match, no more than six substitutes are allowed.
All Matches
In all matches, the names of the substitutes must be given to the
referee prior to the start of the match. Any substitute whose name is
not given to the referee at this time may not take part in the match.
Substitution Procedure
To replace a player with a substitute, the following conditions must be
observed:
• the referee must be informed before any proposed substitution is
made
• the substitute only enters the fi eld of play after the player being
replaced has left and after receiving a signal from the referee
• the substitute only enters the fi eld of play at the halfway line and
during a stoppage in the match
• the substitution is completed when a substitute enters the fi eld of
play
• from that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player
he has replaced becomes a substituted player
• the substituted player takes no further part in the match
• all substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction
Changing the Goalkeeper
Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper,
provided that:
• the referee is informed before the change is made
• the change is made during a stoppage in the match
Infringements and Sanctions
If a substitute or substitituted player enters the fi eld of play without
the referee’s permission:
• the referee stops play (although not immediately if the substitute
or substituted player does not interfere with play)
• the referee cautions him for unsporting behaviour and orders him
to leave the fi eld of play
• if the referee has stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free
kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball at the time
of the stoppage (see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick)
If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee’s
permission before the change is made:
• the referee allows play to continue
• the referee cautions the players concerned when the ball is next
out of play
In the event of any other infringements of this Law:
• the players concerned are cautioned
• the match is restarted with an indirect free kick, to be taken by a
player of the opposing team from the position of the ball at the
time of the stoppage (see Law 13 – Position of Free Kick)
Players and Substitutes Sent Off
A player who has been sent off before the kick-off may be replaced
only by one of the named substitutes.
A named substitute who has been sent off, either before the kick-off
or after play has started, may not be replaced.

LAW 4 – THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT
Safety
A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous
to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).
Basic Equipment
The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following
separate items:
• a jersey or shirt with sleeves – if undergarments are worn, the
colour of the sleeve must be the same main colour as the sleeve
of the jersey or shirt.
• shorts – if undershorts are worn, they must be of the same main
colour as the shorts
• stockings
• shinguards
• footwear
Shinguards
• are covered entirely by the stockings
• are made of rubber, plastic or a similar suitable material
• provide a reasonable degree of protection
Colours
• The two teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each
other and also the referee and the assistant referees
• Each goalkeeper must wear colours that distinguish him from the
other players, the referee and the assistant referees

Infringements and Sanctions
In the event of any infringement of this Law:
• play need not be stopped
• the player at fault is instructed by the referee to leave the fi eld of
play to correct his equipment
• the player leaves the fi eld of play when the ball next ceases to be
in play, unless he has already corrected his equipment
• any player required to leave the fi eld of play to correct his equipment
must not re-enter without the referee’s permission
• the referee checks that the player’s equipment is correct before
allowing him to re-enter the fi eld of play
• the player is only allowed to re-enter the fi eld of play when the
ball is out of play
A player who has been required to leave the fi eld of play because of an
infringement of this Law and who re-enters the fi eld of play without
the referee’s permission must be cautioned.
Restart of Play
If play is stopped by the referee to administer a caution:
• the match is restarted by an indirect free kick taken by a player
of the opposing team, from the place where the ball was located
when the referee stopped the match (see Law 13 – Position of Free
Kick)

LAW 4 – THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT
Decisions of the International F.A. Board
Decision 1
Players must not reveal undergarments showing slogans or advertising.
The basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious
or personal statements.
A player removing his jersey or shirt to reveal slogans or advertising
will be sanctioned by the competition organiser. The team of a player
whose basic compulsory equipment has political, religious or personal
slogans or statements will be sanctioned by the competition organiser
or by FIFA.

The Authority of the Referee
Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce
the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has
been appointed.
Powers and Duties
The Referee:
• enforces the Laws of the Game
• controls the match in cooperation with the assistant referees and,
where applicable, with the fourth offi cial
• ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2
• ensures that the players’ equipment meets the requirements of
Law 4
• acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
• stops, suspends or abandons the match, at his discretion, for any
infringements of the Laws
• stops, suspends or abandons the match because of outside
interference of any kind
• stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and
ensures that he is removed from the fi eld of play. An injured player
may only return to the fi eld of play after the match has restarted
• allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in
his opinion, only slightly injured
• ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the fi eld
of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the
referee, who must be satisfi ed that the bleeding has stopped
• allows play to continue when the team against which an offence
has been committed will benefi t from such an advantage and
penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does
not ensue at that time
• punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more
than one offence at the same time
• takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable
and sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action
immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play
LAW 5 – THE REFEREE
• takes action against team offi cials who fail to conduct themselves
in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them
from the fi eld of play and its immediate surrounds
• acts on the advice of the assistant referees regarding incidents that
he has not seen
• ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the fi eld of play
• indicates the restart of the match after it has been stopped
• provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, which
includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players
and/or team offi cials and any other incidents that occurred before,
during or after the match
Decisions of the Referee
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play,
including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match,
are fi nal.
The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect
or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth
offi cial, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the
match.

All of them put togethor are here

Some Rules For soccer

2008-09-27T04:04:00.000-07:00

Players must remain on their feet at all times. Any player guilty of leaving their feet will be assessed either a Yellow or Red Card at the Officials discretion. Intentional slide tackles
will result in a Red Card!
Goalkeepers may slide or dive in an attempt to block a shot only in the goalmouth. They
may not come out to take the ball from a player(s) as they attempt to drive or shoot on net.
EQUIPMENT
1. Players are strongly advised to wear protective shin guards for their own safety.
2. Headgear of any kind can only be worn with the game officials permission.
3. Only appropriate athletic footwear may be used. No steel or steel tipped cleats may be worn.
Reminder: All players must stay on their feet at all times or receive either a yellow or red card
GAME
1. The game consists of two halves with a 20-minute running clock (official may stop the clock at their own discretion).
2. Each team will consist of 5 players with at least 4 needed to start or continue play. Co-Ed teams must have a minimum of 2 female players on the field at all times.
3. Forfeit time is 5 minutes after scheduled game time.
4. The "Offside" rule is not in effect.
5. Any time a team achieves a 5 goal lead after the 10-minute mark in the second half, the game will declared over.
6. Ejected players may not be replaced and their team must play a person down until the completion of the contest.
7. Tie games during league play shall remain tied. Playoff Tie Breaker: sudden death overtime.
DIRECT FREE KICKS
All kicks will be Direct Free Kicks and may be taken by any team member. Opponents must remain at least 5 yards away on all Free Kicks. Direct Free Kicks shall be awarded at the Official's discretion.
PENALTY KICKS
Shall be awarded when a Direct Free Kick offense is committed inside the penalty area or a goal scoring opportunity is intentionally taken away. All players must remain behind the PK shooter.
YELLOW CARD / RED CARD
Cautions (Yellow Cards) shall be issued for the following:
1. Unsportsmanlike conduct or rough play
2. Questioning an officials ruling
3. Use of foul language directed at an opponent or teammate
4. Intentional stalling
Disqualifications (Red Cards) shall be issued for the following:
1. Intentional slide tackles or any type of violent play
2. A second caution to any player
3. Foul language directed at the game officials
4. Any act in which the game official feels warrants an ejection

Teach me how to play soccer: Attacking Techniques and Positioning

2008-09-27T03:58:00.001-07:00

Teach me how to play soccer. Learning soccer is easy and enjoyable for any aspiring player. There are many available techniques on how to learn the sport. One of the most important aspects in learning the sport is the basic attacking techniques and proper positioning.

Basically there are three positions in attacking. These are the First Attacker, Second Attacker and the Third Attacker. The First Attacker is the player who holds the ball. This player is responsible in retaining the ball and aims to bring it as close as possible to the goal by dribbling, passing and shooting.

The Second Attackers are usually those players within a clear area where the First Attacker can safely pass the ball. These players must prevent at all cost any possibilities of losing possession of the ball. They have to help advance the ball forward until it reaches the goal.

The attackers must forward the ball away from the defenders until reaching a safe zone where scoring a goal is possible. The Second Attacker must be ready at all times and soon as the ball is moved in an area where it possible for a score, the Second Attacker must immediately switch to a defense position to keep possession of the ball. This technique aims to put a good shot either by the Second Attacker or First Attacker.

The Third Attacker on the other hand must distract the defense of the opponent by making deep runs to far area of the goal.

These techniques should be practiced so as to develop coordination from other team members and achieve the objective.

Soccer Performance

2008-09-27T03:49:00.000-07:00

I have read a book called "Inner Speed Secrets, Mental Strategies to Maximize Your Racing Performance" by Ross Bentley. This is some of his work which I picked apart and changed for football. Some of the sentences are straight from the book, and I do apologize for that. This book is amazing, and it has helped me with football and racing. It was mainly for use for my preparation on racedays, but I took this knowledge, and put it to work for football. Now after this, I expect all of you to go and buy a racing book, because it can help you for football!!! Ross will go more into detail then this... I got all the ideas from him, but I made them relate to football. So I hope this is alright, as it took a lot of my own work. Wink

Focus on your performance, not the result.

Performance is what caused the result. So first, we have to make a performance model. You look at your match's performance as a cause, then to get better, you define strategies. Example, it's like treating a headache with a pain reliever. It doesn't heal it (effects of bad performance), it only gets rid of symptoms.

You have to identify the cause, then find a solution. If you can identify what makes you perform well, you can make a strategy. If you can identify what makes you have a bad performance, you can develop a strategy to avoid to avoid those causes.

Things like "don't do that" do not help find a cause. Example, if you tried to shoot the ball and you missed horribly "a don't shoot anymore, look for a pass" by you coach would try to deal with the effect. This isn't right. You should try and approach training your shot to deal with this effect.

The goal is to get 100% out of yourself

So make a chart, and let say Ronaldinho's skill would be a benchmark of 100%. And you rate yourself 70% or something like that, with practice, you can overcome that skill level and go to 105% of his skill. But not just yet. Then a column beside put 0-100% scale for your performance. Your goal is to get 100% performance every match. Later on, you may wish to increase your scale. But this is not done by trying harder, wishful thinking, or more testosterone. It's about planning a strategy...

So telling a player that he must shoot less, pass the ball etc. might be accurate, but a player must know how to achieve these things and program it into their minds, for use in a game. There are many players who have tons of skill, but are lost when it comes to game time.

Getting into a subconscious state

Subconscious is auto-pilot in your brain. Our brain's are limitless, in a subconscious state, you use more of your capabilities then at a conscious state. So here is how you program your sub-conscious. When in a conscious state, if you think positive, your subconscious will make these things happen. The opposite is also true. If a situation triggers anxiety or fear, your performance will drop immediately. (ex.scared of going to tackle because you got knocked down.) Or thinking that the opponent has nice shoes, so he must be good. All of these things make your game better or worse!! That slight intimidation factor will subconsciously make you not play as well. Maybe only against that player, maybe against that whole team. But it does affect your play. Turn that into: "He thinks he has such nice shoes, but I'm going to take beat him every time." Or use it as fuel to start the fire so that makes you want to beat him even more. So make sure you program what you want to occur, and don't discourage over things that don't. You have to deprogram all the bad things in your head, and reprogramming what you want to do. It's a learning curve, but it has to be done to be very successful. Players must know what they are doing, what they need to change, what they need to do to change, how to change, and how that change will affect their resulting performance. It's not just wanting to do better.

This is whole new way of learning. It's not just knowing your basic skills. It includes what to execute, when to execute, how to execute them etc. After this is programmed into subconscious, you can go back and fine tune these skills even more. You can never be perfect!! For subconscious, here's an example for driving. Once you learn how to heel-toe downshift and practice it enough, you have developed a basic program for that psychomotor skill. In football, until every psychomotor skill becomes fully developed, you will not be able to play at your limit by yourself, let alone having sufficient brain resources left over to deal with everything else in the game.

This is why when learning a skill is so critical. Before moving to some insane amount of spin on the ball, you have to develop the basic striking pattern and how you adjust your foot to hit a ball normally. Then gradually with practice, you can start to try more advanced shots. so basically, before you can develop new versions of programs, you have to fully develop and de-bug the basic programs. The better developed your program is, the better you play, and it's easier make fine tuning to your program. For example, you should not be thinking of getting a first touch into space, it should come automatically with practice. So in a game, it just happens, without the anxiety of inner conflicts such as: "Am I going to mess this up" or "I have to play this touch there." This will already be programmed in your brain so you do not have to think about it. Hence less anxiety, hence less bad thoughts, hence a better performance . Without a precise and accurate program, you continue to do what you have before, never making improvements. The more variations of a basic program you have (ex. shooting), the more adaptable and flexible you will be to uniques situations.

Once an action, movement, thought, or whatever is programmed in your brain, it is there forever. It's not always easy to access, but it's there. For example, you can't remember a person's name, but later it pops into your head. It was always there, you just couldn't access it.

Usually it is when your mind is relaxed that you most easily access deep rooted memories or programs. You remember the name when you weren't trying to, right? So the same when playing footy, you need to be relaxed. When you relax and trust your program-your subconscious-to play, and stop thinking, you will too. Program your mind through mental imagery so that in situations, you respond instinctively. "Analysis is paralysis" and "Act, don't think" always come into play when playing. And it even works for writing tests at school!! Believe me!!! Just don't stress and you will do fine.

Here are some ways to program:

Physical Programming
Physical programming occurs through experience. It's the practice of your skills. This is a major factor in playing well for football. This is why practicing all the different types of situations also makes a huge difference. Practicing shooting with a placed ball may only happen a few times a game, or never! You have to practice shooting all different ways to refine those skills and be able to automatically use them when playing. This is just refining your basic program, the shooting program for example.

Mental Programming

This speeds up the programming process. It also improves quality of programs developed through physical programming. Great athletes do this a lot! Mental programming is the deliberate control and use of thoughts , of taking charge of your beliefs, mental imagery, and the effectiveness of creating a virtual reality environment...

External Programming
This is the most negative. External programming results from words, actions, and emotions from outside sources, namely other people around you. A simple word or two can have a drastic impact on your play. It's a shame, because it will happen. From someone or another. Maybe a coach will send a negative comment, or a player who says the team you're playing is very good, all these things are just bad, bad, bad... Try to keep this out of your head!! It can really affect your play if youif you don't have a strategy to deal with it.

You can't just say you won't be affected by other people. You require an actual program to deal with external disruptions, distraction, negative emotions, energy, and dialogue. You must develop a program to block out all of these things, to keep you at peak performance, and blocks out the negatives. You may think you're mentally touch enough to block out things like this by saying to yourself, "Don't let it get to you." Unfortunately, when you are the slightest bit tires, or your confidence level has been tested, you won't be able to without a preconcieved program.

For example, Real Madrid has a seemingly unbeatable lineup, but don't live up to expectations. Often, one person will have a negative effect on another member. And this affects the whole team's play. So if you don't have a program to deal with this, your performance will suffer.

Strategies
Using physical and mental programming, develop programs for certain situations. Create programs for all your skills. Use mental imagery to imagine what you would feel like, what you would see, and how you would act in these situations. It takes a lot of time and practice, but to become the best in the world, it is necessary.

Program your mind

Then you need to anchor your programs. Use a trigger word or movement to signal the beginning of the program. That way, then you are in the dressing room, or getting ready for a match, all you need to do is recall the trigger to activate the program. (I'm still trying to find mine... Rolling Eyes )

Practice getting into subconscious

Brain Waves:

Beta waves range between 13-40 Hz, or cycles per second, but are low amplitude, This is the brain state when we do most of our daily activities. this is the conscious state. It's associated with peak concentration, alertness, visual acuity, focus, and cognition.

Alpha waves are between 7-13 Hz. Alpha state is when you are is a state of deep relaxation. Where most we are most effective in activating creativity. (You know when ideas pop into your head when you're thinking about nothing) This is just below your conscious awareness, and is the link between conscious and subconscious.

Theta waves are between 4-7 Hz. This is when you are just drifting off to sleep, just waking up, and during light sleep. This also happens in meditation. This is subconscious. You are very receptive to information beyond your normal conscious awareness. Some researchers believe, the brain is in a superlearning state while producing theta waves.

Delta Waves are between 0-4 Hz, this is the highest amplitude. This sleeping, or an unconscious state.

Now how do you put yourself into the Alpha/Theta states of mind? By spending time relaxing, visualizing, and allowing yourself into a meditative state.

Here's an exercise:

Sit in a comfy chair. Close your eyes. Take 3 or 4 deep breaths. Let your body relax. Start at your toes and work your way up, until you are completely relaxed. Then start counting your breaths. Focus on your breathing as it slows down.

After doing this for a few minutes, most people are ready for mental programming-their mind is in a receptive state. If you're still not ready, keep focusing on breathing. If your almost falling asleep, 3 or 4 quick breaths will increase beta waves, waking you up a little bit. You should now know how to place yourself in a mental state ready to receive mental programming and imaging.

Only you can decide whether you're in a alpha/theta frame of mind. As you do this exercise more and more, you will learn to recognize when your brain is producing alpha waves. When you are-you will know, your mind will be calm and still; the outside world will fall away. In a Theta state you may get some uninvited, and random images pop into your head. This is the state of a daydream, or just waking up from sleep.

Practice Relaxation

If you do this before a game, it gives your brain something to do, other then get nervous. the relaxed, calm mind of athletes prior to great performances is a perfect example of the benefit.

Mental Imagery

Your mind does not know the difference between a real, and imagined, or visualized, experience. This is even better when you can learn to involve all of your senses in the imagines experience. So you can program your mind to make that perfect pass, of that great touch, or that low-hard shot before anything has even happened.

Mental imagery is a very efficient substitute for real experience. Visualization is placing a picture, or visual representation of something into the mind. It's sensory input to the brain. And the brain accepts it as being real. Visualizing negatively is worrying!! Worrying is visualization about something that has been, is, or will be negative. This makes the brain slow down its speed of processing and so on. It dis-integrates the brain's connection to the reciprocal side of the body; we become less balanced/less centered.

For example, visualize a lemon, cutting the lemon in half and seeing the juice drip from the lemon. And then, in your mind, lick the lemon. When most people do this, their mouth begins to salivate, because the brain believes that the citric acid is on it's way to the mouth, and it sends saliva to counteract the citric acid.

Create a mental image exactly the way you want to do something is very effective. Sometimes it's even better then doing it, because you can do it perfectly, and many times in a short period of time. You mind doesn't know the difference. It is establishing the situation, and programming, as if you were actually doing it.

There was a study about basketball players. there were 3 groups of players. One was to practice shooting free throws 20 minutes a day. the second was to do none at all. And the third to visualize getting baskets for 20 minutes a day. The group that practiced improved 23% the group that did nothing, did not improve at all. And the group that visualized showed a 23% improvement.

Make sure you include all of your senses, as it will be more effective. Try using all senses and you will create a virtual reality. With practice, you will become better at it. If you are making mistakes when visualizing, STOP!!! Program errors will result in being good at making real errors.

Make some sort of a trigger to get into this state of mind when playing. Use a word, an action or something that gets you into that state of mind. For football, I use a sentence. "These guys are just prima donna's, they don't have it all, I do..." This is just like when you see Maria Sharapova putting her hair to the side before every serve. That's her mental trigger. Wink

Here are a few more things:

'Try' is a negative word. The brain doesn't understand 'try'. The brain either does something, or does nothing. Trying dis-integrates the brain. It suggests a chance of failing.

What you think is what you get
You cannot not think about something. Don't think about blue elephants. Stop!! Stop thinking about blue elephants.

What happened? You thought about the blue elephant, right? You can't not think about something. You have to implement a a strategy to make you think about what you want. So if you put a strategy in that when you hear about blue elephants, you think about a solid strike on the ball going right into the back of the net, it's a trigger which you could use. It's all about the strategy...

Always have a preplanned thought or program-always on standby, ready to kick in when an unwanted thought comes into your mind. The blue elephant is an example. But I would suggest a thought about striking the ball, or how much fun it is playing football instead. This automatically should kick in whenever a bad thought enters your mind.

The Belief System

Maybe the single most important system in the body!!! There was a study by scientists. Some people were given coffee to go to bed, and the others were given milk. The next morning the people who drank coffee complained of a bad night's sleep. And the people who drank milk said they had a very good night's sleep. Unknown to the subjects, the caffeine had been removed from the coffee and added to the milk! the subjects believed that caffeine would keep them awake and the milk would help them sleep. The belief system is so strong, that it overpowers even chemical reactions of a drug!!

It's like asking can you walk on water, no you say. But is it possible to walk on burning coals without getting burnt? Yes, because you have seen it somewhere. Can you do it? Most people say no. Some believe that is can be done, but they can't do it. Some may think that they can do it, but they're not sure. Why? Because they haven't tried it, so they don't know.

Your limitations are are based on what you believe you are capable of doing. And what you are capable of doing is based on your experience. so you may think you can do something, but you don't really know that you can do it. After doing it a few times, you start believing that you can do it. You have to believe you can play well before you play well. This plays in with confidence. If you have beaten a team every time you played, you believe you can win. But if you have lost to them a few times, you might start to program that you can't beat that team. The more fun you have in an experience, the more effective the programming.

You don't just program your mistakes. They can be changed, because, as human beings, we can learn from mistakes. We learn what not to do and determine what we can do that will make a change to the program.
So don't listen to you suck at passing, shooting etc. You can't accept that. You can't make it part of your belief system. And if you don't you will do just fine.

There is also confidence that comes with knowledge. If you believe that your teammate will make a good pass. You have a tendency to have more confidence. Doubt has a way of exponentially expanding limitations.

Knowledge is key, because you can't fool yourself. You don't know what you don't know. Too much of this is false confidence.

Superstition is an effect. If you really believe that your ability to play well is affected by your lucky underwear, you will almost never play well without it. So it's important to be confident in yourself, and try to leave superstitions...

But don't forget, you are what you believe. If you believe you are a great player, you will play great. You can reprogram your system everyday. Write down your beliefs, both positive and negative. Then make a chart, one side positive beliefs the other negative beliefs. Be honest with yourself. The goal is to strengthen your strengths and change your negatives to positives. Just like when training your shooting for example. If you want it to become better, you train it. And to help with this, write down your beliefs. After a season it is good to update your belief sheet.

If you act like someone, you will increase your chances of performing like them. If you mimic Zidane, chances are, you will program your belief system to be more like Zidane.

State of Mind

Your state of mind actually has a functional, physiological impact upon your body. Your body communicates to your muscles through bioelectric energy and therefore decrease the communication from the brain to the muscles. Your emotional response can cause you to contract muscles and hold your breath. Negative emotions restrict the bio-electrical communication between your brain and body.

There are only few exceptions to this. Very rarely anger is the state of mind which allows the athlete to perform. aka. John McEnroe from tennis.

Your state of mind will directly affect your ability to perform, and also the ability to learn. Keeping positive will ultimately impact you in a positive way. So make sure no negative thoughts, or angers come into your mind. Use a trigger to block these bad thoughts out as soon as they come to you. So you can focus on positive thoughts, and having a good game.

When we are in high pressure situations, stress builds up. And sometimes we think it's good to get the adrenaline going, but that's not the objective. Adrenaline can kill neurons used for thinking and memory. The net result is triggering the fight or flight mechanism we are born with, which is not what we want. When under pressure, the goal is to be relaxed and focused. If you feel under pressure or of any sort of negative thought, use a trigger to get that positive state of mind again.

Recall past feelings of success

Instead of thinking about all the bad things that could happen, think about what good has come before. Thinking of good experiences can help you feel better, and hence the better play.

Breathing
Breathing is critical in our performance as humans. Holding your breathe will cause you to perform at a lower level when you need to perform at a high level.

Courtesy of Francis: You need to program yourself to breathe, especially in these situations. When you breath through your nose, the air is warmed, so the oxygen is used more efficiently. If you breathe through your mouth then the lining of your throat will dry up and cause irritation. So, breathe in through your nose and out of your mouth. By the way, A "side stitch" is a sharp, intense pain under the lower edge of the ribcage caused by a muscle spasm of the diaphragm. Pain can occur during exercise, and occurs more commonly in beginners who have not yet understood proper pacing and breathe more quickly and shallow. When we inhale, we take air into the lungs, pressing the diaphragm downward. When we exhale, the diaphragm moves up. If the body has some trapped air/gas below the diaphragm, if we've eaten too close to exercise, or if we start exercising too vigorously, the diaphragm may cramp, causing pain under the rib cage on the right side.

Setting Goals and Keeping Them

This is important to motivate yourself. If you want to challenge yourself by scoring goals, create a tally and compare the amounts of goals you score throughout the seasons. Or set goals for the amount of goals you want to score. It can keep you focused on the task you want to do, it will come with the proper state of mind. You can even use this as a "goal scoring" state of mind trigger. This could be your on switch to have a great game.
This with all the proper preparation can devastate your opponents!!

Water
Water is a critical ingredient for the function of the body. Many people today know the importance of drinking water, but they don't drink enough. Water is key to conducting bioelectrical current from your brain to your body and back again. Just by drinking enough water, you will increase your concentration levels, you will be more physically coordinated, you will think more quickly, and you'll be more energized. Researchers have found that anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times more oxygen binds to your blood when your body is fully hydrated. This reduces stress, helps remove waste and toxins from the body, and is essential for proper lymphatic function.

It is recommended that you drink at least one 10-ounce glass of water per day for every 30 pounds that you weigh; more if you are physically active. Add another glass for a glass of coffee or soft drink you have.

Tags: Soccer Performance, soccer performance training, soccer player performance

Mental Preparation for a Game

2008-09-27T03:46:00.001-07:00

If you think that just warming up is suffiecient preparation for a game, then you're quite mistaken. Physically sufficient, yes, but what about motivation? For some motivation comes naturally every single game. For others, there may be little or no motivation coming naturally. This guide will help both people take their motivation to the next level, and hopefully their love for the sport, as well.

There are many famous quotes on motivation, but my favorite is the following:

"You are what you think you are."

Think for a minute... what does that quote mean to you? You don't have to delve into the realm of philosophy (although, I did), but do give yourself some type of answer. The rest of this guide will mean something different to everyone who reads it, depending on how they interpreted the given quote. It is doubtful that any two users will get the same out of this guide, but I hope that everyone can find it somewhat beneficial.

Table on Contents
1. Ways to Motivate Yourself
--1.1 Questioning Yourself
--1.2 Yelling
--1.3 Visualize Yourself
--1.4 Music
--1.5 Videos
2. Dreaming into the Future
3. Motivational Quotes

1. Ways to Motivate Yourself
1.1 Questioning yourself. Ask questions that you know you will always be able to provide a positive answer to. This can take place verbally, mentally or both. Ask questions like "Why do I play soccer?" then answer "Because I love it". Keep an ongoing string of these questions, and make sure they aren't empy questions. Ask smart questions that require deep thinking. Actually think before answering. Think about how much this means to you.

(Ex. What am I gonna do today? How many goals am I gonna score? How many people will I knock down? How many assists will I have? How many people will I let get by me? Why do I love this? Why have I made this my passion? How is this going to help me?)

1.2 Yelling. This is similar to questioning yourself, however without the questions. You can vent on the other team, your little brother, etc. It doen't have to be soccer related, just something to get you mad. You want your veins pulsing, and adhrenaline pumping. Vent, vent, vent; rant, rant, rant. Even if you do some non-soccer related yelling, probably add some soccer shouts, too, talking about anything and everything, but maily what you are going to do, and how you are going to accomplish that.

(Ex. This is my game! I can do this! I will do this! Nothing can stop me now! I'm at the top of my game! This is everything I have ever worked for! I'm going to give it all I got! I'm going to dominate! This is my time to shine! I won't let anyone take this from me! I deserve this for myself and to my teammates! Everyone will want to be me! I'm going to be the best!)

1.3 Visualize yourself. You need to see youself doing what you want to do. See it happening. Over and over again; more than once. You don't only need to do this before a game, do it during a game to for an extra boost of in-game motivation.

(Ex. See yourself making an amazing pass, cross, defensive play, save, move, or goal.)

1.4 Music. On the way to the game, or right before it, get pumpin' to some motivational tunes. A good idea would probably be to make a CD of all your favorite, motivational songs. Choose a variety of songs from those having a good beat, to those that contain lyrics that are very personal to you. A good song is one that makes you want to win even more than before.

(Ex. Yeah! - Usher, Remember the Name - Fort Minor, Pump It - Black Eyed Peas, etc. There is a whole thread on motivational songs, view it here: http://expertfootball.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7761)

1.5 Videos. This is probably one of the most underrated ways to motivate yourself, yet it is one that works extremely well. You can watch any particularly dramatic or motivational scenes from your favorite movie, or watch football clips of amazing plays form YouTube. Preferably ones that have some good background music playing. This can go with visualization if you put yourself in someone else's shoes.

(Ex. Movies: Goal! The Dream Begins, Miracle, Bend it like Beckham, Walk the Line. YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fb2Xl49ZgNs, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szgpzvN8_Pw,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-bWsOK-h98, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-0XHkfUH-k&NR.)

2. Dreaming into the Future
One thing you must realize is that motivating yourself is just finding a way from inside to reach your goals. Although you may not have written this particular type of goals (e.g. winning a game), they are still goals. Motivating yourself is one part of a two-part goal. The other half is actually doing it.

Motivation is completely useless, unless you know what you are motivating yourself for. You need to have a dream; an ultimate goal that you work to acheive everyday. If you haven't figured out what you really want yet, then wait no longer. Think of what you really want to do, and dream into the future.

3. Motivational Quotes
These are some quotes that will assist you in motivating yourself. If you read over them, you will bring your motivaton up to the next level.

"All power is within you. You can do anything and everything. Believe in that. Do not believe that you are weak; do not believe that you are half-crazy lunatics. Stand up and express the divinity within you."
Swami Vivekananda

"Today is the opportunity to correct the wrongs/mistakes of yesterday and to plan for a better tomorrow, thus a brighter future is ensured."
Written in 2003 by Matilda Wemega

"Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action."
Author Unknown

"I'm not working to make a living; I'm living to make a difference."
Carlos Paez

"Don't get comfortable; always stay motivated or you will be just like everyone else. Set yourself apart!"
Author Unknown

"Break the silence with your smile; Break the barriers with your confidence. This makes everything possible in Life."
Keerthivasan V

"Life is a lesson. A Lesson to be taught is in the past. A Lesson to teach is ALWAYS in the future. Look, Think forward."
Matthew T.

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe."
Anatole France

"We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible."
C. Malesherbes

"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as you mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve."
Mary Kay Ash

"The reward of a thing well done is to have done it."
Ralph W. Emerson

"The future is not a gift - it is an achievement."
Harry Lauder

"There is no great achievement that is not the result of patient working and waiting."
J. G. Holland

I used to have major problems with motivation, so if you do, too, remember that you aren't alone. I know many skillful players that just aren't motivated enough to go far. I hope my tips can help some people out, especially in the long run.

Links

2008-09-27T03:45:00.000-07:00

Under Construction New page

Home WarmUp plan - Soccer

2008-09-27T03:42:00.001-07:00

Dribbling technique can be used to exploit attacking space and create goal scoring opportunities. Dribbling can also be used to allow players to retain possession against pressure from opponents. It is important that you spend a lot of time on continually learning new moves and ensuring that you are able to use both feet and effectively execute these moves at pace.

Developing the ability to execute moves using both feet is important as it provides you with greater options on the field. For example, if you are able to successfully execute moves using both feet, then they can effectively beat players on both the right and left sides. This allows you to CHOOSE which way to beat opponents and dictate play to defenders. In 1v1 play, attackers SHOULD NEVER allow defenders to dictate the play and push them away from danger areas. As attackers, you want to be "driving at pace" towards goal at every opportunity and taking early shots on net or creating opportunities for others.

To succeed as an attacker against a defender in a 1v1 attacking situations, you must ensure that your approach is correct, you need to unbalance the defender with fakes and then use changes in direction (attacking moves) and pace (speed) to beat and "explode" past defenders at pace.

Warm-Up (10 minutes):

Run on spot or skip for 2-3 minutes
Stretch
Juggle ball for 5 mins, aim for 100 successive, use both feet
Stretch
200 touches of tennis ball (100 each foot)

Key Factors:

Approach: Dribble at the opponent, keeping the ball under close control

Fake: When approximately 2 metres from opponent, apply fake. Drop your eyes down to defender's feet and use your eyes, shoulders, hips, body and the ball to fake and unbalance the defender.

Acceleration: After fake, push the ball past opponent and 'explode' away at pace.

Technical Ball Work (20 minutes):

Fast Footwork: Perform each exercise 20 times, 10 for each foot

Inside Roll: Roll the ball across your body from outside to inside with the inside and sole of the foot and stop the ball with the inside of the other foot.

Outside Roll: Roll the ball across your body from inside to outside with the outside and sole of the foot and stop the ball with the inside of the same foot.

Side-to-Side Push-Pull: Tap ball back and forth with inside of feet, push ball forward with one foot and pull it back the sole of the opposite foot.

Side to Side Step-On: Roll ball to outside with the sole by stepping lightly on the ball, then tap ball back to the inside with the inside of the foot.

Side-to-Side Front Roll: Tap ball back and forth with inside of feet, push ball slightly forward then pull the ball across your body with the front part of the sole.

Pull Instep Push: Push ball forward and pull it back with the sole, then tap ball forward with the instep of the same foot.

Pull a Vee: Push the ball forward and pull it back the sole of the foot while turning and then take the ball with the inside of the same foot.

Pull & Take with Outside of foot: Push the ball forward and pull the ball back with the sole then push the ball diagonally forward with the outside of the foot.

Pull & Roll Behind: Push the ball forward and pull the ball back with the sole of the foot then pass the ball behind the standing leg with the inside of the foot. Control the ball with the sole of the other foot.

Pull turn: Push ball forward with one foot and pull it back with the other while turning toward ball and take the ball in the opposite direction with the inside of the first foot.

Inside of foot turn: Push ball forward, move past ball and turn toward ball and take it with the inside of the foot in the opposite direction.

Outside of foot turn: Push ball forward, move past ball and turn toward ball while taking it with the outside of the foot in the opposite direction.

Cruyff: Push the ball forward, fake kick with inside of foot, but instead pull ball behind the standing leg and change directions.

Stepover Turn : Push ball forward, step over ball with one foot, turn toward ball and take it in the opposite direction.

Full Sole Roll: Roll the sole of one foot forward over the ball and to the outside so the ball stops against your heel. Turn and take the ball with the sole of the other foot with a Step-On.

Scissors: Starting with the ball to one side, step over or in front of ball so that the ball ends up on the other side of you. Take theball in the opposite direction with the outside of the other foot and then stop ball with the sole of the first foot.

360: Push ball forward, stop it with the sole of one foot while stepping past it, turn and drag ball back with sole of other foot, continue turning all the way around and take the ball with the inside of the first foot.

Kicks Over ball : Kick over ball with inside of foot then pull it back with the sole of the same foot

Conecut

2008-09-27T03:41:00.000-07:00

Most of you guys know this simple drill. Run at full speed to the cone, open your hips, plant your foot and "explode" like you are exploding away from a defender. It is very game realistic since it mimics the movements you will make on the soccer field.

The Drill:
Set up 10 cones diagonally to each other about 10 metres apart, just like in the picture. Follow the correct technique above. You spring to cone 1, then 2, then 3....

The next drill is is a bit more complicated:

There's no name for it, so i'll call it the Jdefoe Drill

Here is goes:

Place 4 cones to make 4 lines that are 3 metres apart in witdth in a squarelike shape. Then, place 4 cones in the middle.
X1 ________3m____________X2

4----------------->xx
cones------------>xx

X3_________3m____________X4

(Length and width are both 4m, therefore the dimensions are 4x4)
X= a cone
Start at cone 1, sprint to the middle, take a cone, and put it right next to cone 4, then run back into the centre and take the next cone and bring it to cone 3, then do the same and bring it to cone 3, then cone 4. When the sequence is over, go back to cone one, take the cone that you placed next to cone 1, and bring it back to the centre. Do this until all the original cones are back in the middle.

Soccer Training

2008-09-27T03:40:00.000-07:00

Every soccer player wants to get the ball and see what they can do. You can build a soccer team on a few naturally gifted players, but a team does better if all the players have strong soccer skills. So the basis for a great soccer team is many players with developed soccer skills. Practice is where the skills are developed and most soccer time is spent in practice. Make sure practice is fun and drills are interesting.

Training For Skills

Soccer players like to do soccer tricks and to see what they can do with the ball. Really shining as an individual requires knowing and mastering the basics of ball handling and moving. There really are many fun ways to drill in the basic soccer techniques. Keeping the skill building fun will make everybody want to practice and it just builds momentum. The more you like to practice, the more fun practice is.

Training For Teamwork

The coach must set the system, tactics and style of play for the team. Practice can help the players work together to make it all come together as a strategy at game time. Practice helps every player learn to place his position better and move the ball better. It's up to the coach to put the players in positions that will best play to each players strengths and playing style.

Training For Conditioning

Conditioning can help prevent injuries. For younger players just moving around is all the conditioning needed. But as players mature it's important to build muscle to protect joints. It's also vital to teach how to move and turn to prevent injury too. Toughness comes with conditioning too. Tough players keep going and that's an important quality for success.

Soccer techniques are learned in practice. Natural athletic ability is great, but soccer skills must be developed. Training can improve individual skills, team skills and conditioning. Conditioning is essential to prevent injuries.

Fun Facts About Soccer

2008-09-27T03:32:00.000-07:00

Fun facts about soccer give us information about the most popular sport in the world, soccer. There are a lot of facts about the sport that we might not know.

Here are some of the interesting fun facts about our favorite sport:

* Soccer fans of ONDA, a Spanish Soccer team are paid just to attend and watch soccer tournaments at the local stadium.
* At the earlier years of soccer, referees use a handkerchief by waving it to command soccer games. It was in 1878 that whistle is introduced to be used by referees.
* The AC Milan team had played soccer tournaments without any lose which set them an Italian record. They were able to win 58 times without any lose.
* Queens Park is the oldest soccer club in Scotland.
* Real Madrid holds a record for five consecutive wins in the European Cup.
* The youngest ever to play soccer in the World Cup is Norman Whiteside.
* Mexico holds the record as the first country to host the World Cups for two times.
* The most successful soccer team in Argentina is the River Plate team.
* A dog was able to retrieve the stolen trophy for the World Cup of 1996.
* Soccer has the most number of fans among the sports in the whole world.
* The number one sport that has the fast growing among college and high school in the US is soccer.
* Women soccer teams are also playing with the tournaments of the World Cup.

Soccer Drills - Speed Work

2008-09-26T08:49:00.001-07:00

Speed is a very essential component of most sports. There are two areas in soccer where speed is applied. The first area has elements that can be improved by specific speed training. The second area has elements specific in training with a ball. The first area has the following elements: the ability to accelerate quickly, a high maximum speed, the ability to react quickly to situations, being able to twist, turn and change direction quickly, and lastly the ability to produce bursts of fast running throughout the game. The second area is the ability to read a situation and anticipate and the ability to move the ball and use the ball at speed.

To gain acceleration, a player needs to move his/her feet, gradually increasing stride length as he/she drives forward. Speed ladders, sprint drills and low intensity ply metrics can improve acceleration as well as coordination.

Maximum speed requires leg strength and leg speed. Sprint drills could greatly improve these two. A warm up session over 20-30 meters of sprint drills is ideal.

Players usually react to visual stimuli. It is better that players, during a routine practice or workout, be given commands while they are running or moving. As the drills progress the players concentrate on the command and therefore making their running reaction more natural and relaxed.

Drills in changing directions can be done by getting the players run back then forward, then side to side, then back, then diagonally etc. There are no restrictions on the directions during a game. Multi direction is incorporated while running at speed.

To hold close to maximum speed for as long as possible is called speed endurance. Speed endurance coupled with many short bursts of effort is need during a soccer match. Interval type training is required to obtain this skill of a soccer player. Basic training like light jogging and stretching will be done during the first part of the training. After a week or two of low-level intensity training, players may increase intensity of the training.

What Soccer Scouts Look For!

2008-09-26T06:40:00.001-07:00

I see people keep asking questions like; ''What does a soccer scout look for in a player?'' Here is the answer.

Manchester Utd Scout Offers Tips.
Article by Geoff Watson on "What do top scouts look for in a player?"

As Manchester United’s chief recruitment officer, Geoff Watson knows what he’s looking for in a potential star. Follow his tips on what makes a young player stand out and the next one he picks could be you……

TECHNIQUE
"The very first thing I look for in a football player is his first touch and close control. With some boys, their second touch is a tackle! Good players have their heads up, receive the ball and are looking to make the next pass straight away. It’s down to natural ability.

It’s great if a player has a few tricks up his sleeve, but it depends how he’s using them. I had Joe Cole playing for me a few years ago and he stood out a mile, but some players want to do three tricks before they even get the ball. By doing that they slow the game down, and allow the opposition defence to get back in position. I might see a kid doing keepy-uppies in the park, with all the tricks in the book, but I’d never invite him for a trial on the back of that. In that case, I’d ask the boy whether he played for a football club, and if he says “yes”, I’d arrange to go and have a look at him.

You can only judge a player by what he does on the football field, but it’s getting harder. With less football being played at schools, and a whole range of other distractions like computer games, there is a real shortage of naturally skilful players. A lot of the games I watch are much of a muchness. It’s a real bonus if a player stands out.

PACE
After technique the next most important thing is pace. Defenders, strikers and even goalkeepers need it – young players have to be athletes nowadays. When I’m on a scouting mission, I am specifically looking for a quick change of pace, a burst of speed that will beat a player, or change a game in an instant. I remember going to watch Jimmy Davis, our lad who tragically died last year while on loan to Watford. He was 11 years old and only about three foot tall, but he was so quick – just like Billy Whizz! I watched him take a corner and although he was small he effortlessly stroked the ball into the middle of the goal area and this was on a full-size pitch. He had pace and technique, and that’s all I needed to see.

Young boys can lose some of their pace as they grow, but often we’ll take a gamble –at that age, size and strength are less important. At Untied, we do tests to see how big a growing lad is going to be. Size is important, especially with goalkeepers

MOVEMENT
The next thing I look at is what a player does when he hasn’t got the ball. I’m looking for the boy with his head up, who’s moving into space to get the ball, making runs that give his team-mate options or draw his opponents out of position. I’m also looking for players who, when they’ve passed the ball, move quickly to get it back. If you look at players like Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, from the moment they step onto the pitch they work hard. They never stand still.

On top of movement, there’s awareness. Some players instinctively know where to play the ball, and where their team-mates are or should be. I’m looking for the player who plays the first time pass without always taking a touch. That’s awareness. I’m also looking for the striker who doesn’t have to look up to find out where the goalie is, because his instincts tell him whether to chip or place it.

TEMPERAMENT
Now, if you’ve seen pace, technique and movement, the final piece of the jigsaw is temperament. Will they be able to handle playing in front of 75,000 people at Old Trafford? I’m looking for boys who are in control as well as ones who don’t mind getting wet and muddy! Ones who’ll be clattered and won’t make a meal of it if they aren’t injured. Ones who encourage their team-mates, and drive them on.

The ones that don’t work off the ball are difficult to consider. They might make a good pass, but they’ll think “that’ll do, that’s my bit done.” We call this ball watching, some players find it difficult to change this. I want to see a will to win and a desire. I like to see that Roy Keane look in a boy’s eyes. That’s a good indication he’s got the right attitude and a chance of making it. It’s not just about being good enough, you’ve got to have the hunger and desire to take away you all the way.

Temperament is tricky one for a scout. Ideally you don’t want a boy who loses it on the pitch, but plenty of temperamental players have made great footballers. If he’s got the ability, you have to go with your gut feeling – after all, he could be another Eric Cantona!

THE X-FACTOR
So, you might have sat through a thousand games before you find a boy who’s got all that, but the hard work is only the beginning. You don’t really know what you’ve got on your hands until you’ve brought him into the club for a trail and got him playing with boys of a similar standard. At United, we sign our first boys into the academy at nine, although we continue to scout all levels of football for the ones who may have slipped through the net. Scouting is not an exact science. You can never be sure whether a player will be good enough to play for United in a few years time, or that you’ve got a future Christiano Ronaldo or Paul Scholes on your hands. But when a player you spotted out on a freezing cold pitch in the middle of nowhere runs out of the Old Trafford tunnel in a United shirt, now that’s a great feeling. It makes all those hours of standing in the freezing cold worthwhile. That’s what gives the scout a real sense of achievement, something to be proud of."

Tags; college soccer scouts, soccer scouts, soccer scout, what do soccer scouts look for, professional soccer scout agency

Shooting Guide

2008-09-26T05:20:00.000-07:00

1. Approach the ball from an angle - the power in shooting comes from your midsection (Abs and lower back). Trying to rely on leg power will cause you to swing to hard, resulting in inaccuracy.

2. Take small steps on your toes as you approach, long strides will usually put your body in the wrong position as you strike the ball.

3. Place your non-kicking foot even with the ball, but not touching it. There should be about a ball's width worth of space between your foot and the ball. It is important to plant next to the ball though, because planting behind it will cause the ball to rise, while planting in front of it will cause you to "top" the ball. Point the toes of your non kicking foot at your target, this will direct the ball. Adjust that foot position with the non kicking foot. Not even with the ball make it a few inches more in front of the ball then even. Get your head over the ball and drive through the ball with a bended knee.

4. Keep your body going forward - do not lean back or away from the ball - staying 'over the ball' will help to keep it from rising or tailing off to one side or the other.

5. Strike the ball with your toes pointed down and ankle locked - try curling your toes under as if you were trying to pick up a sock. Curling toes under does two things, first it gets the hardest part of your foot to stiffen - your toes - out of the way. Second it causes the tendons in your ankle to lock..... try wiggling your foot around with your toes curled under, you can't do it.
Curl the toes
Point foot down
Strike with top of foot or "laces".

6. Follow through with striking foot. After you strike the ball, follow through with a little hop on your plant foot, and land with your kicking foot pointed at the target. Stopping halfway, or chopping of the shooting movement, usually leads to bad shooting posture and a shot that sails high and/or wide of the target.

Most important is not trying to hit the ball too hard. Instead, make sure you are hitting the ball solidly, with good technique.
Last edited by jdefoe on Jan 15, 7:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

Quick Touch Program

2008-09-26T05:06:00.000-07:00

If you follow these drills to the letter, you will see amazing improvement in mere weeks. If you are the kind of player who is trying to push yourself past the rest, this guide will do it! Follow these simple drills, at least 5 times a week, to enjoy your improvement!

A: Sole of foot
B:Upper outside
C:Lower outside
D:Upper inside
E:Lower inside
F:Backheel
G:Instep
Also, for future reference (R) refers to right foot, and (L) refers to left foot.

Drill number 1:

Take the ball to a spot where it can bounce on the ground, i.e. concrete or brick, and bounce it on the ground as if you were going to juggle. As the ball comes down, hit it lightly up with one of the six major parts of your foot. Please experiment and become the friend of your foot. Many people say the ball is your friend, but in my opinion, the foot should be your friend. If you can learn your foot well enough, you will understand how to put the ball anywhere you want to. Anyways, once you have hit it, let it bounce on the ground once, then repeat. Do this for 10-15 minutes. Try your hardest to keep the ball in front of you. Your goal should be to never miss a touch, and to never have to chase the ball, or have it flip around you when you give it to much backspin. Do not substitute this for juggling. There is a very big difference between the two.

Drill Number 2:

Find a street curb. Do not use a wall, a street curb, or anything that you can bounce the ball off of that is not any higher than a street curb works fine. Take the ball, and experiment with the different parts of your foot. Hit it with your instep, upper inside, upper outside, backheel, etc. Experiment for about 3 minutes just hitting the ball against the curb with the different parts of your foot. Make sure the ball, once again, never goes too far to the side, or you miss a touch. The ball should never stop, it should be all one touches. After you are done experimenting, follow these drills.

1: Upper inside (R), Upper outside (R) X 5 times then, without a change of rhythm, do it with your left foot. Repeat this cycle for 5 minutes.

2: Lower inside (R), Lower inside (L) X 3 times, then instep (R), instep (L). Repeat for 5 minutes.

3: One touch the ball repeatedly against the wall using only one part of the foot, on only one foot, for 1 minute. After the minute is up, switch to a different part of the foot on the same leg. Once you are done with all parts of that foot, do the same with the other foot.

Drill number 3:

Take the ball and find a tree, pole, telephone pole, bucket, cone, or something that you can run circles around. Take the ball, and dribble in a circle around the tree, using both feet, and constantly switching areas of the foot that you are using. Switch directions every once in a while, and try different turns. Mainly experiment with your newfound touch. Pretend you are Ronnie, c. Ronaldo, Henry, whoever is your idol. Try their moves and be creative. You will get a feel for the ball.

Drill Number 4:

Take the ball onto an even surface that has no bumps, cars that pass through, poles, trees, or anything to bump into. Close your eyes, and start walking while slowly dribbling the ball. If you lose the ball out of your grasp, keep your eyes closed, and move your feet around looking for it. If you cannot find it, then open your eyes, retrieve it, and start over. Stop after 15 seconds, open your eyes, then turn around and repeat. Speed is not a factor. You can walk as slow as you want to, just concentrate on keeping the ball close. Whenever you start feeling comfortable, whether it takes one practice, or several weeks, notch up the speed just a little bit. Eventually, after a lot of work, you can jog around with your eyes closed while dribbling. Only do this drill 10 minutes a day.

Drill Number 5:

3) Take the ball and nudge it to the left with your outside of the foot, then bring it back in quickly with your inside of the foot. Repeat quickly. Change feet after 2.5 minutes. Only do this for 5 minutes.

If you finish these drills 5 days a week, you will definitely see some great improvements. Also this is a work and progress... so for now do these drills, and I will add more as I come across them. However all of the above are tested and true, so go right ahead. You will definitely notice increases in your dribbling, passing, and being able to connect with your sweet spot. Next time I get a chance I will add a bit about how to always make a spot on accurate shot.

Comments and criticisms welcome.

Offensive heading guide

2008-09-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

Offensive heading is without a doubt a great skill for an attacker to possess. There are different ways to score using your head, depending on the situation. Below are some different techniques that can be used.

Heading 101.- Never make contact with the top of your head for a few reasons... 1: It hurts. Razz 2: It can cause problems such as concussions. 3: It is not as accurate (How can you see where the ball will go when your hitting it with the top of your head?) . Try to use your forehead when heading.

Redirecting the ball- Sometimes, especially if there is a hard corner-kick or cross, redirecting the ball is your best option. This involves contacting the ball at the correct angle to make it go where you want. The difference is, you don't try to "drive" your head through the ball, but simply hold your neck rigid and redirect the ball.

Step 1: Determine roughly where the ball will land.

Step 2: Get into a good, strong stance (we will assume you do not have to jump)

Step 3: When the ball comes, you will turn your shoulders (keeping your neck rigid).

Step 4: Just before making contact you may want to adjust whether you want the ball to go into the top or bottom part of the goal. To do this, you make contact on the top or bottom of the ball.

Step 5: Keep that neck rigid and direct the ball using your upper body.

Step 6: Celebrate that spectacular goal. Razz

Power Heading

Power Heading- Generally, if the ball is cross and is more of a lob pass, meaning the ball if travelling slower and has more of an arch on it. If this is the case, you will want to drive your head "through" the ball to get more power into it.

Step 1: Determine roughly where the ball will land.

Step 2: Get into a good, strong stance (we will assume you do not have to jump)

Step 3: Similarly to redirecting the ball, turn into a good position so you are more easily able to aim. Depending on where the ball is coming from, you may want to turn towards the goal, or stay so that your shoulders are square to the ball.

Step 4: As the ball comes in, you will want to bend your neck and upper body back slightly so you will be able to get more power behind it.

Step 5: When contact is made, thrust forward into the ball with your forehead going toward the place where you want the ball to go.

Step 6: Once again, celebrate.

Practicing Tips: Although it is difficult to practice heading without a partner, there are ways around it. Obviously, the easiest way to practice is to have a partner make crosses for you if you have a net, or even an open space. If you are practicing by yourself and you have a wall, you can kick the ball off the wall and pick a spot where you want to head it back to. You can adjust whether you want a high lob pass off the wall, or a lower and harder pass. If you don't have a wall, you can resort to throwing the ball up in the air, and heading as it comes back down.

Turning guide

2008-09-26T04:30:00.000-07:00

I noticed a few posts asking how to turn effectively when a man is on your back. As an offensive player one has to turn the ball a majority of the time when receiving a pass as opposed to defenders who usually win the ball and receive back passes that they rarely have to turn with. So I think turning is a fundamental part of having a good touch with the ball when playing on the offensive end. If you can't turn with a man on your back you will rarely find space to pass, make moves, dribble, and shoot. You can't always hope to be wide open when receiving a pass but I've noticed I rarely am.

Although expert football is great in a lot of respects it only lists one way to turn with the ball and that would be guiding the ball with the inside of your foot while you pivot. I've found this only moderately effective. It is hard to turn this way unless the pass is dead on and with a lot of momentum to carry through with your foot. Although if the ball is played correctly and you receive it in this way it works great. I'm just going to go into other ways to turn.

Outside of the foot turn: I've found this to be effective in most instances. It is hard to practice at first but once you get the hang of it you can do a move, pass, and shoot once you turn around. As the ball comes to you guide the ball with the outer portion of your foot as you spin/pivot towards that foot. For example if turning with your left foot, guide it with the outer edge of the left foot and let that momentum turn you around towards your left shoulder. It is sort of like doing the first part of an elastico while turning. For those of you that like the elastico, this way of turning allows you to do an elastico immediately after turning.

True dummy turn: others have posted that doing a dummy, or letting the ball roll by you, is effective. I agree, but it is a one and done move because rarely does a good defender get tricked by that twice. Essentially the move is to let the pass go by you and you run with it as the defender is stuck standing looking like a dummy.

Step over dummy turn: Here you do a step over as the ball rolls between your legs. It isn't a true dummy in that you at least throw a move in there. This helps in creating space between you and the defender and also opening you up to make a move or control the ball once it goes between your legs. I've seen a few players do this and I've only done it once in a game setting. It was effective but I faked the guy so bad he fouled me since he thought I was going the other way with the ball. He admitted that I faked him badly after I dusted myself off for the penalty kick. I rarely do step overs but from my limited experience this move works well.

The half garrincha or a 180 turn: If you have really quick feet you can turn with a 180. This allows you to create space between you and the defender while also keeping the ball close to your feet and body space. The disadvantage is that you have to have really quick feet to get the other foot involved (the second part of the 180 move) in that type of close quarters. If done effectively you can do most fakes and passes immediately after turning. The best combo I've seen with this is a 180 and then a Puska if the defender steps towards you.

Roll turn: I call this a roll because I'm not sure what else to call it. But I found that I'm not quite quick enough to do a 180 all the time so I've modified the first part of the 180 to allow the ball to keep rolling while my toes are on the ball. As the ball comes towards you step on the ball like you would want to do a 180 but instead of switching feet you spin around the ball and roll the ball with you. The closest move to this is a standard V-cut but with more of the 180 spinning body movement. The ball should go from your one side looking towards your goal to the same side but looking at the other goal (so essentially the ball has gone diagonally while you've turned around). Again this allows you to control the ball while facing the defender and creating space to allow a move, shot, or pass. I like doing a scissors immediately after this turn with the foot that controlled the ball with.

Back foot turn: This one I have the most difficulty describing. Essentially you are doing a variation of the scotch/L-cut/Cruyff or any other move where you scoot the ball behind the other leg. As the ball comes towards you, take a step forward with your left foot (for this example) and as the ball passes your left heel hit it with your right foot towards your left side. Then you turn towards the ball (i.e. your left side) and go. This works really well if the defender is right on your back. Essentially you pass it off to the side for you to be able to turn around.

The first three turns allow you to get the ball around the defender immediately. If the defender is right on your back these will work but if he gives you any room they aren't as effective since you'll only pivot into him or else he can recover accordingly. The next few allow you to create space while also controlling the ball and turning around with the ball in your control allowing you to pass, make a move, or shoot. Of course I've assumed that the ball is generally low in all these moves on purpose. Once the ball gets to knee/chest/head height flicking, juggling, and such becomes more practical.

As far as practicing goes you can hit the ball against a wall and practice the turns with each foot. Then once you are turned, throw a move in and immediately explode away. If you have a buddy you can have him stand behind you and this will allow you to get a sense of feeling where a defender is on your back. Let the buddy cheat to one side or another (maybe cutting off the middle of the field and giving you the sidelines), vary their distance from you, and make you really work to turn around.

Personally I practiced this aspect for a month because I found it was one of the weakest parts of my game. I was/am more of a face to face player that can use my speed and moves to blow by a defender. But now I feel I can play with the defender to my back just as easily as I can play face to face. Sometimes (especially in congestion around the penalty box or midfield) I prefer having my back to the defender so I can shield the ball before making a play. Best example: I received a ball right at the top of the penalty box and had one defender on my back and another coming in on my right. I did an outside of the foot turn and was left with the defenders uselessly at my side and the goal in front of me. I was immediately in position to shoot and score, which I did.

As most guides say: feel free to add your knowledge and such. These are just the turns I've effectively used on the pitch.

Soccer Moves and Tricks Bible!

2008-09-26T04:27:00.000-07:00

Hooray!!! Your official soccer bible is here! Don’t leave home without it.
This guide will hopefull cover every single aspect of the game and help round your game.
The Rabona- The rabona is a move which is executed by striking the ball the opposite way a normal kick would be done, this is done by kicking the ball with your right/left leg behind you supporting leg. Flexibility is not going to affect how well you do this so don’t use it as an excuse to not try. When striking the ball use your instep (the top of your foot or laces) not your toe because if you strike it with your toe the ball won’t get any height. The rabona takes forever to learn and at first your progress will not be seen. This is why many people give up. What they don’t know is that they are making progress and eventually it just clicks.

The Roulette- this move is a very easy move to learn but takes a while to master it. This move may also be known as the 360, the maradona move, and the spin move. Different types of the roulette have been explored which can be done with back heels, inside of feet, and soles of feet. When executing this move have ball directly in front of you, pull the ball back and while turning back use your other foot to pull the ball back.

The Kerlon Seal Dribble- This is a move in which the player runs while juggling the ball on his head. The process of learning this move is simple; basically just try juggling the ball on your head while running, however it takes a very long time to learn.

Fake Shot Roulette- Same as a roulette except first touch should be a fake shot. If done properly the opponent will rotate in one direction.

Cruyff spin- The cruyff spin is a move that takes a moderate time to get comfortable with, when mastered your touches will be faster and less heavy. This move is basically a cruyff turn then immediately you spin and take the ball with the foot you did the cruyff turn with.

Aiden Mcgeady Turn- This move is very similar to the cruyff spin except when taking the second touch hit it with your supporting foot.

Stepover- Very basic move, step over the ball and take the ball. Variations of this move are to take it with the foot you did the stepover with; the other is to take the ball with the foot you didn’t do the stepover with. Many times these moves are repeated or thrown in with scissors.

Stepover Pull- Step over the ball then with the foot you didn’t do the stepover with kick the ball behind your leg and accelerate. Takes a while to get do it smoothly.

Cruyff Turn- When approaching the ball fake a shot and take the ball with the inside of your foot the opposite way behind your supporting leg. The better the fake shot the more effective this move is.

Roll Around- While having your back turned to the opponent place inside of foot on the center of the ball and turn with the ball attached to your foot. This move is most successful when there is much space behind the opponent because it will be easily intercepted if there is someone waiting behind him.

Cruyff Chop- While running jump slightly and chop the ball from your right side to your left behind your supporting leg, visa- versa. Move is very useful when an opponent is diagonally to your left/ right.

Drag Stepover- A stepover done while stationary, this move is very affective. If you are using your right foot drag the ball to your left while doing a scissor, this move can be built on with further moves.

Ronaldo Combination- Do a drag stepover hit it back and snap your leg. You’ll find your opponent staring at the ball on his heels, now just accelerate. This move is easily learned, however. Speed is vital.

Roll Stepover- Roll the ball across your body and do a stepover. This move is one of the most effective in the game, I highly suggest it. Like many other moves speed is vital.

Fake Rabona- Very elaborate move and is not very effective unless you have done a rabona in that game or are known for your rabona. You can also do this move to just show off too.

Elastico- Also known as the snake, flip flap, akka, virgule, and the one move that Ronaldhino does. To execute this move properly you must push the ball diagonally out then in, all in one motion. Your first touch should not be below the center of the ball or else your second touch will go flying up in the air and your opponent’s body will stop the ball.

Hocus Pocus- This move is very hard to learn, this is an elastico performed behind the leg. I have never seen someone do this move while the ball is rolling so I’d say it would be a stationary move. Your first touch shouldn’t be too heavy or the ball will go flying off to your side.

Hocus Pocus In The Air- This move is the same thing as a hocus pocus except in the air. While performing this move flick the ball up behind your leg and in the same motion kick it down across your body. Very elaborate and when pulled of is a real crowd pleaser.

Roll Stop (Outside Version) - This move is nothing more than a small move but can be very effective when followed by another move. This move is a good way to start moving the ball. In order to execute it you must roll the ball outwards and stop it with the inside of your foot.

Roll Stop (Inside Version)- This move is the same as the Roll Stop (Outside Version) except you roll the ball across your body and stop it with the outside of your foot.

Heel Pass- Moderate difficulty in learning, however it is very hard to have accuracy in the pass. In order to execute this move you must have the ball on the outside of your foot, then you must heel the ball to your other heel.

Triple Elastico- Extremely difficult but is a very fun move to watch. Instead of thinking of doing a triple elastico think of taking a touch across your body then performing an elastico. With plenty of practice you will be able to do this move.

Reverse Elastico- Instead of doing the elastico from outside to inside, do this move inside to outside. This move is slightly easier than the regular elastico.

Stepover Reverse Elastico- Do a stepover followed by a reverse elastico, this move is a very good move when facing an opponent in a small area.

Elastico In The Air- An elastico performed with an airborne ball. Takes a while to learn and isn’t too prevalent to a game situation.

Reverse Elastico In The Air- Same thing as an elastico in the air except it’s from inside to outside. Slightly easier to learn.

Backwards Elastico- In order to execute this move you must take a touch diagonally to your outside then your second touch must take the ball behind you. This is a good move when you have your back to the opponent and your are facing the sidelines.

Push Stepover- Push the ball outwards then doing a stepover, this is a lot like the drag stepover except reversed. This move is very useful if you have your back facing the sidelines and you need to explode down the flanks.

Unique Scissor- In order to execute this move you must instead of exploding after you do a scissor you must kick the ball against the inside of the foot you did the scissor with. The key here is to extend very far when doing the scissor, not only the move will be more effective, you will avoid getting the ball stuck between your legs. If you do the stepover to close to the ball the ball won’t be able to bounce.

Stepover Do Salto- I made up this move myself or at least I think I did. While doing a stepover you must kick the ball against the outside of your foot and the ball while bounce behind you. Very hard move to learn and is most useful when along the sidelines.

Pull Kick Back- In order to execute this move properly in a game situation, you must have to practice this move so you do not lose control and you know where the ball will go. This move can be used two ways. One way is to nutmeg an opponent, when the opponent reaches in, pull the ball back and kick it between his legs. When your opponent reaches in only then try to attempt the nutmeg or else this move will be pointless because it will just roll to his feet. The other way is to have to make the opponent turn. When an opponent is parallel with you, you can do this move to make the ball go behind the opponent this causes your opponent to turn, or if you get lucky to even fall, this is when you accelerate.

Scissor Cruyff Chop- This move is easy to explain but pulling of this move is harder than it looks, do a stepover then immediately do a Cruyff chop, make sure your Cruyff chop at the end is behind the leg you did the stepover with or else it will hit it.

Double Cruyff Chop- Do a Cruyff Chop then do another Cruyff chop first touch. Another way of explaining this is to hit it with the inside of your feet. This is a useful move if an opponent is coming straight at you from your side.

Rainbow- This moves takes a long time to learn and is not commonly used in professional matches because it can be very risky. There are many versions of doing the rainbow; I’m not sure how to explain many other versions besides mine. When first learning this move it takes a long time to get it, so keep on trying and you’ll eventually learn. In order to execute this move you must place the ball between your heel and the inside of your foot. If you’re right footed put your left foot in front of your right foot. Now have the ball pressed up directly on your heel and if you’re right footed move the ball slightly to the right so it is on the right side/ inside part of your heel. Now while leaning forward roll the ball up your leg and immediately after kick your left heel up.

Reverse scissor- Very basic move, just do a scissor then instead of using the outside of the foot to explode push the ball across your body with the inside of your foot. Speed is vital.

Scissor- Very basic move, make a half circle around the top of the ball, really use your body to make it look like your going the direction you faked it to be and explode the other way with the outside of your foot. Speed is vital.

Flick Heel- This move is useful when you are on the last line of defenders and someone passes the ball to your feet. Flicked the ball up then immediately heel the ball over the defender and explode. Make sure there is plenty of room behind the defender so it isn’t easily intercepted.

90 Stop Go- In order to execute this move you must pull the ball back then push it over with the inside of your foot forming a 90 degree angle, stop the ball then accelerate. Sounds harder than it is. Moderate difficulty, good to use to get space for a pass.

Are your shots your best part of the game? When the keeper walks on the pitch does he know you’re the one he should look out for? And what makes a good shot?

Generally, a good shot should have no spin on it, with the occasional exception. You can break shooting down into it’s fundamentals. A lot of times people don’t realize but everyone has their own shooting style. Don’t force yourself to copy someone’s style, follow these steps and see what works for you. The best drill to do for shooting is to group many balls at the top of the eighteen take a touch, shoot. Run around get another take a touch, shoot. At a fast pace too!
1. This is generally overlooked but remember to lock your ankle. Practice this by just tossing a ball a foot over your head and hit it with your locked foot so it should have no spin. A locked ankle is nothing without hitting the instep. The instep is what makes a shot have its power. A shot will never be good without a solid strike on the instep. You can locate the instep by placing your finger on your toe and slowly moving it up to the bone. The spot where the bone is the largest is the sweet spot for your strikes.

2. CENTER OF THE BALL!!! I can’t stress the importance of this enough. The ball must be struck in the center or else it will spin…usually with backspin. Your instep should strike it right in the center. You should feel the ball just bounce of your instep. Almost like you are kicking a big ball of air. The science behind this is because a spinning ball creates more air resistance a non spinning ball will fly a lot faster throughout the air, also a non spinning ball can be more susceptible to dipping and swerving through the air making it harder for the keeper.
3. Following through, this is usually explained by the “hop”. This hop is just another way of following through. But you have to realize that the hop is not necessary and will come naturally, so don’t force yourself. Many times a powerful strike will come from a shot that doesn’t end in a hop, just a follow through. Two variations of following through is as we discussed the “hop” and lifting your leg after the shot. When lifting your leg after the shot you are not literally lifting your leg vertically, you are merely raising your leg to get your whole bodies motion into the ball. When following through feel like the ball isn’t there and almost shoot through it.
4. When shooting remember to keep your eye on the ball. Have you ever seen Juninho shoot one of his legendary free kicks? Look at his preparation to the shot, involves a lot of staring at the ball right? This is because it is key to keep your eye on the ball. Know how you’re going to shoot, know what the shot will look like. Also keeping your eye on where the ball should be placed in the net helps too. Not only looking at the ball helps but keeping your head down allows energy to transfer to the ball. Keeping your head down during the shot is another way of keeping your body over the ball and thus having a strong shot on the ground. And at least for me this helps me follow through. Generally keeping your head down is often not recognized for how important it is.

5. The psychological aspect. This is vital to the powerful shot if not the most important thing. Never ever ever imagine a shot going wry or not being how you imagine it. Believe in yourself, visualize a shot you had earlier and just imagine what the shot will be. Never have self doubt or reluctance, if you miss it big deal, you’ll have another chance. By not being reluctant you actually increase your chance of hitting the target whereas if you have self doubt the ball can go flying over or off target. So just kill the ball and if you miss you miss.
6. Try shooting the ball from say…40 yards out. You probably had back spin on it. Since your body is programmed to hit a long distance target by striking underneath the ball and not in the center you probably hit it with backspin. When striking the ball from long distance don’t think of how far away it is and how much power you have to put into think about the fundamentals of shooting. Feel like the goal is closer and you are trying to strike the crossbar. All these things are important and just remember…relax.
7. The approach to the ball should be very relaxed, especially during set pieces. Being tense will cause your shot to just dribble along the ground or just go way off target. Your approach is dependant on who you are and what angle you are at. Generally a shot should be taken at a 50 degree angle to the ball. In a game you may need to speed up the approach to the ball which is also another way to increase the speed of a shot. However, the approach should be fast not tense in anyway.
8. Your supporting foot stabilizes your shot, affects direction, trajectory, power, point of contact, and the part of the foot that contacts the ball. A couple of inches can determine whether you have a fabulous upper 90 goal or a whiff. Generally your plant foot should be pointed toward your target several inches away from the ball. Usually this comes naturally and should be comfortable since everyone has their own swing path.

9. Curling the ball is usually used in a free kick or a set piece. Contrary to the popular belief, the closer to the instep you strike the ball at the better the shot. Most people try to strike the ball lower than their instep, near their toe, this won’t get you too much power, always hit it nearer to your instep. You should approach the ball at a slight angle plant the foot more to the left than a regular shot and sweep the ball from the right side of the ball (assuming your right footed). You should always follow through since this is where you are getting most of your power from.
Passing is no doubtedly the most heavily used aspect of the game. If you can’t pass you will lose. But what makes a good passer?

There are different types of passing but the most frequent and fast paced one is the one touch pass.
The one touch pass can drive the opposite team mad and give your team a confidence boost. There is nothing more beautiful than a perfectly operated one touch pass attack on the goal. Remember, when you are going to approach the ball always relax. One touch passing requires a relaxed touch. When approaching the ball take normal strides than plant your foot very much like a shot except you must be completely over the ball or else it will go flying. Many times this is ignored and instead players hit the top of the ball to prevent it from going high. This results in a slow bouncing pass because you are hitting the top of the ball. Lean over the ball strike through the center very lightly and you will have a good accurate first touch pass. Remember to keep your knee over the ball. You can either use the inside of your foot or your instep. Usually your instep is used for a long distance one touch pass though.
The next type of pass is the long distance pass. The long distance pass can be a very nice setup for a breakaway or finish. Remember to lean back and hit the ball with your instep. Unlike shooting you should strike through the bottom of the ball and follow through, however, do not hop. Make sure the ball is not too far ahead of you. Also, since long balls take longer to reach the target remember to lead the target.

A good pass is nothing without a good control at the end of it. There are so many types of controls and will take a while to learn and apply to the game.
With all these keeping your eye on the ball is the most important thing, without concentration you will lose control every time. Also judging the bounce of the ball is vital too.
1. The first kind is the regular control, very basic stuff, lift foot slightly up but not too much or it will slip beneath it, take an easy touch and go.
2. Outside of the foot can be useful not only in regular control but can be beneficial in turning to face your opponent. Before the ball has touched you move your leg so you can have a swift movement in controlling the ball. Again, very easy stuff.
3. Lace control. When a ball flys high in the air straight to you what will you do? Well, a very good way is to lift your leg and when the ball comes near cushion your foot while bringing it down with your laces. It requires a very soft touch but if space is restricted this is the best way of controlling it. Remember to have a delicate touch.

4. Inside of foot control. When a shot is directed to you or a long pass in the air this is the most useful. Slowly move the inside of the foot backwards so the ball won’t bounce of and instead be cushioned. The ball should fly right up in front of your thigh and can easily be controlled after if done correctly.
5. Thigh control- The most important part of controlling with your thigh is relaxing your muscles. Tensing up will cause the ball to bounce off you when you really want it to sink into you. The thigh control skill is simple if you know to relax your muscles.
6. Chest control- Just like thigh control except with chest. Also when controlling you can move chest back so it bounces right to your foot rather than the ground.

Elastico or Snake Move

2008-09-26T04:15:00.000-07:00

Do the Elastico~ Also called the Snake! First off Push the ball with the outside of your foot then (while still slightly touching the ball) bring the same foot around.

A lot of elasticos put together in one video!

Rainbow

2008-09-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

Do a Rainbow. -- kick the ball in front of you about 2 yards, run onto it, step over it with one foot and use your other foot to hold it in place against your other foot. Then move your foot on the back of the ball up and kick up with your first foot. If you do it right it will sail over your head and over the defender. sprint around him and explode down the field to score.

video tutorial that could be very useful!

Toe Flick and Okocha Soccer Freestyle Tutorial

2008-09-26T04:05:00.000-07:00

Here's an ok Demo of how to do the Toe Flick.

Here's how to do the Okocha.
Try the "Okocha". Begin by taking a touch a few feet in front of you and smoothly put your right foot on the ball. Spin 180 degrees to your left and pull the ball with your left foot as you complete the rotation. You should have your back to the defender. With the sole of your right foot, pull the ball back onto your left foot, close to the inside of your big toe. If you simultaneously lift your left knee, you will pop the ball up around one or two feet off the ground. At this point, begin to rotate 180 degrees to your left. Halfway through the rotation the ball should be at its peak. Hit the ball with the outside of your right boot up and over both you and your defender and finish the move by completing the rotation and exploding off your left leg past the defender.

Get out of trouble!

2008-09-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

Do a "Fake". Take a small quick touch to the right, and then touch it through the defender's now-open legs or around him or her, and run onto it to do a "Fake".
Also When you are in a jam with a defender in front of you, try this move. Take a hard half step to the right side of the ball with your right foot. You want your opponent to stab to your right side. Pull the ball back with the sole of your right foot, when it is past your left foot, tap it across the back of your left foot and if possible, tap it forward. When done fast, this move works very well.
Get the defender to shift his or her weight. Drag the ball with your right leg toward your left leg and do a stepover with your left leg and explode to the left. Do this smoothly and the defender will shift his or her weight to the opposite direction.

Fundamentals of Soccer

2008-09-25T13:19:00.001-07:00

Fundamentals of Soccer

A few tips for young players, key aspects of the game to keep in mind, both defensively and and when attacking. Of course, don't forget to enjoy yourself when playing, try new things on the pitch and take players on. Look at Ronaldinho for example, he's deadly focused but at the same time he's having fun. A player who cares about his team. He's always smiling and cheering his teammates on. Above all, he wants the ball and wants to make things happen. That's infectious.

Send this page to a friend or teammate:

General

* Keep high concentration at all times.
* Stay fit - endurance and strength.
* Be positive and play your best.
* Have realistic expectations of teammates.
* Communicate on the field (don't scream or blame each other).
* Have the ability to combine with players.
* Show creativity and vision.
* Play the way you're facing (play simple).

Defensively

* Be aware at all times.
* Play smart and anticipate.
* Always get behind the ball on defense.
* Stay on the goal side when defending.
* When challenged, make the play predictable so your teammate can anticipate the next pass or play.
* To make a player commit, take a quick step forward and quickly back off using your body to block the run. Not obstructing the player but anticipating the play.
* When faced with a two on one: buy time until help arrives (concede space a bit of space, don't dive in); take away the pass and force the ball in one direction.
* Always recover centrally (toward the penalty spot).
* Always find a free player and mark-up.

Offensively

* Keep it simple.
* Have vision of the entire field.
* Play the ball back when options are limited or dangerous.
* Always look around before collecting a pass.
* Have a first time pass in mind before collecting the ball.
* Be calm with the ball.
* Always be in position to support teammates.
* Give options to player with the ball (check in and check out asking for the ball).
* Keep your elbows up and use your body to protect and shield the ball.
* Take on players in offensive third of the field.
* Dribble toward defender until he leaves his mark then pass or beat him.

Key Training Tips

* Get lots of touches on the ball.
* Small sided games help develop creativity and skill (keep the training area small so players have less time on the ball, must make quick decisions and are always under pressure).

Dribble a soccer ball!

2008-09-25T13:10:00.001-07:00

Dribbling is the art of flummoxing opposition players using quick feet or a variety of football moves usually seen in Nike ads. To become an exceptional attacking player, one must be able to beat opponents--the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho are all perfect examples of this. Ronaldo’s trademark move, the step-over, has left dozens of defenders all across the world on their backsides, with both experienced campaigners and those just starting out in the game deceived by the move perfected by the Manchester United winger. Other famous moves include the nutmeg, where a player places the ball through an opponent’s legs, runs around him and collects the ball. This is known as one of football’s greatest embarrassments. The roulette is a move perfected by France legend Zinedine Zidane. This move involves a complex 360 spin that, when performed at speed, is near impossible to stop. Some players have mastered a move so well they can perform it at ease, with the “Cruyff turn” named after Dutch soccer great, Johan Cruyff.

Although dribbling moves can appear inexecutable when first seen by a soccer novice, after practicing, practicing and practicing some more, it is easy to get them right. Those especially fond of YouTube will relish watching over and over again the Olé videos, a mini-game that originated in Brazil where the sole purpose is to embarrass your opponent with quick feet. On the pitch, dribbling serves many purposes. Against teams that have a strong defense with tight man-marking, dribbling can draw more than one defender to the man with the ball, creating space for others to take a shot or make a pass. A good dribbler, one that defenders cannot take the ball from legally, often draws rash tackles, which can result in free kicks in good position for the attacking team, and yellow or red cards for the defending team.

How dribbling is perceived around the world is an interesting issue when you look at the way coaches in different countries see it. Whereas most football coaches in England tend to ignore coaching dribbling, preferring to concentrate on what they see as more practical skills like crossing or shooting, their counterparts in Brazil allow youth players to play with freedom, and this difference can clearly be seen on the national stage. While England only has two players (Aaron Lennon & Joe Cole) that can dribble anywhere near as good as the elite of the game, nearly all of Brazil’s players can go past an opponent with ease, including some of their defenders. In conclusion, dribbling appeared to be a dying art, brought back to life with a bang with the emergence of the likes of Ronaldinho and Edgar Davids, and one only hopes that the next generation, with players such as Anderson, Kerlon and Carlos Vela, continue the moves that bring so much pleasure to those watching the game.

How can YOU become a master dribbler? Follow these tips to learn how:

1. Start off with a relatively easy move, such as the Cruyff turn.
2. Watch examples of this move performed on the Internet, on sites such as YouTube or Google Video.
3. Start practicing the trick, first alone on grass.
4. Add in plastic cones to act as defenders.
5. Ask a friend to mark you to make it harder while you perform the move.
6. Try the move in a match.
7. Once you complete the basic moves, move on to harder and harder ones like the Elastico or Roulette.

One hopes you will be able to master the art of dribbling in no time at all! The easier moves should take a couple of days to become good at; slightly harder ones could take a week or two. Practice these moves a lot in street matches before you try them in a semi-professional or professional match.

Nutmeg!

2008-09-25T12:52:00.000-07:00

Control the ball before the defender gets within two strides of you.
Step2
Determine which foot the defender has her weight on. Defenders are taught not to stand flat-footed, with their planted foot slightly ahead of their other foot.
Step3
Push the ball to the outside of the defender's planted foot.
Step4
Keep contact with the ball as you push it no more than 6 to 12 inches.
Step5
Allow the defender to shift her weight to her back foot while moving her front foot to block you from scooting around her.
Step6
Redirect the ball toward the spot where the defender's front foot was previously.
Step7
Tap the ball between the defender's legs.
Step8
Step around the defender and continue on.
Step9
Listen for cheers of "nutmeg" from your teammates on the sideline.

Also Try the "Stepover Nutmeg". While dribbling, step over the ball with your right foot, and when the defender leans that way, hit the ball with your left foot. It will "Stepover Nutmeg" the defender every time.

Examples of Nutmegs! All these are great examples of how to nutmeg people! Enjoy and practice makes perfect!!

Sole of the Foot Turn and the Scoop!

2008-09-14T04:32:00.000-07:00

Try Performing the "Sole of the Foot Turn". Dribble straight ahead with the right foot and then pull the ball back with the bottom of your right foot, bursting away in the opposite direction with a change of pace.

Try performing the "Scoop" it! Tempt the defender into diving for the ball, and lift the ball over the defender's foot just as he or she dives in. This is usually done while feinting one way and then scooping the ball the other way, just over the defender's planted foot. Make sure to take off with a burst of speed after you lift the ball over the defender's foot. Often, you'll want to scoop or lift the ball over the defender's foot onto your other foot, so that your body will be between you and the defender after you make the move. Have the ball on your right foot and scoop it over the defender's foot to your left foot. Your body is then between the ball and the defender. This move is usually done when you're in an almost-standing position, and the defender is rushing at you, or you're suckering the defender in and then lifting the ball over his or her foot as he or she comes towards you too fast.

My rating

2008-09-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

Comment saying how much you like this website!

Me doing Soccer/Football freestyle

2008-08-20T07:38:00.001-07:00

This is me doing soccer freestyle! Hope you guys enjoy

ME doing soccer/football freestyle

2008-08-20T07:38:00.000-07:00

This is me so you can check out what I can do! I put it together in about an hour! So hope you guys like it!

Bookmark

2008-08-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

You guys should bookmark this site to help me out! Also comment it would mean a lot thanks guys!

Scoop!

2008-08-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

"Scoop" it! Tempt the defender into diving for the ball, and lift the ball over the defender's foot just as he or she dives in. This is usually done while feinting one way and then scooping the ball the other way, just over the defender's planted foot. Make sure to take off with a burst of speed after you lift the ball over the defender's foot. Often, you'll want to scoop or lift the ball over the defender's foot onto your other foot, so that your body will be between you and the defender after you make the move. Have the ball on your right foot and scoop it over the defender's foot to your left foot. Your body is then between the ball and the defender. This move is usually done when you're in an almost-standing position, and the defender is rushing at you, or you're suckering the defender in and then lifting the ball over his or her foot as he or she comes towards you too fast.

Hey

2008-08-13T19:40:00.001-07:00

Hey I know its been like 2 days but I'll post something new soon thanks for coming to my website (;

"Drop the Shoulder"

2008-08-11T02:42:00.000-07:00

Try "Dropping the Shoulder". Dribble directly at a defender and feint with the shoulder in one direction and dribble away in the other direction. You are ducking or leaning your shoulder down a little bit one way and taking off the other way. Thus the reason for calling this the "Dropping your Shoulder" technique. Remember to touch the ball with each step as you move towards the defender so that the ball is close to you and easier to control and touch to one side or the other. If you are dribbling the ball with your right foot, then you are going to fake with your right shoulder. Touch the ball to the left foot just after you drop your shoulder fake.

This is what it should look like; but a little quicker!

Inside and Outside Cut!

2008-08-11T02:35:00.000-07:00

**Pull the "Inside Outside". Fake like you're going inside and then rush to the outside. With the inside of your foot on the ball, carry the ball a little bit to the inside a few steps (leaning in the direction you want the defender to think you are going). When the defender is off balance or not ready, push the ball to the outside with the outside of your foot, and dribble away at speed. Again, change of pace is key to all dribbling moves.

**Reverse the above for the "Outside Inside". Use the outside of your foot. This is usually more difficult because you don't have as much control with the outside of your feet in terms of surface area, so make the dragging of the ball to the outside a shorter distance. Push the ball to the outside a few touches and then break to the inside with the ball on the inside of your foot.

Inside and Outside Cut!

Tags: soccer cut, soccer cuts, soccer outside cut, soccer inside cut

Double Step Over

2008-08-10T20:14:00.000-07:00

Try the "Double Step Over". If the defender doesn't go for the first "step over", you can try this move. Take your right foot over the ball, and then swing your left foot over the ball. Take the ball away with the outside of your right foot - it's two swinging motions of each foot over the ball - and then break off at speed.
Ronaldinho doing the Double Step Over in a game!

Ronaldinho - Double Stepover - Click here for the funniest movie of the week

Reverse Step Over Soccer Move

2008-08-10T20:07:00.000-07:00

Practice the "Reverse Step Over". Bring your right foot around and over the top of the ball to the inside and plant your foot on the ground. While your foot is on the ground, kick the ball with the outside of your foot to the right. Always remember to accelerate after doing a move. This move is most often done while in a standing position. Do the reverse for your left foot. To perform the trick faster, do foot drills as in jogging backwards and dragging the ball backwards with you or jogging fowards and tapping the ball in front of you. Try and keep the ball close to you.

Example video, wait until the time reaches 7 seconds for a good Reverse Step Over Example.