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Archive for December, 2008

Master These Before Attempting Awesome Soccer Moves Now

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Before you can learn some really awesome soccer moves, you need to get the basic ones down first. As I am sure you have guessed, the basics are not exciting but you still need to practice them. Below are some foundational moves that you need to learn before moving on. Below are three basic soccer moves that everyone needs to learn first.

To begin with, we are going to learn how to effectively dribble. Yes, it is not a flashy move but it is very important none the less. Many argue, for good reason, that dribbling is the foundation of your game. Dribbling boils down to having the ability to move a ball up and down or anywhere on the field in a controlled manner. Dribbling is simply being able to effectively and in a controlled manner move the ball anywhere on the field. Learning to dribble is not hard and can be done by shoving, pushing or tapping a ball with the sole, outside or inside of the foot. What I recommend before starting out practicing dribbling is to first get comfortable with the ball. The easiest and best way to get comfortable with the ball is to simply juggle it with both feet. When you juggle the ball, you develop a feel for the ball along with coordination that will help you pick up other moves more quickly in the future.

Our second move we are going to discuss is called the pass. There are basically two types of passing, the push or short pass and the long pass. Passing the ball is the ability of a player to move the ball from him or herself to another player without the other team getting it. As far as accuracy is concerned, the push pass is better than the long pass. The push pass uses the inside and middle portions of either foot. In essence, you will be striking the ball with the middle inside portion of the foot that you want to pass with. Your other foot will be used to help aim the pass by being pointed in the direction you want the ball to go and planted next to the ball itself. Everything is the same for a long pass except that you will be striking the ball harder. You must always remember to keep your eyes and focus on the ball. This will help out tremendously in the accuracy of the pass.

Our final move is the actual shot. Arguably, accuracy is the most important aspect when taking a shot on goal. Most of us can kick a ball hard, but the select few who can do it accurately stand out amongst us. Following the guide on how to pass above, the foot that is not involved in actually kicking the ball will be pointed in the direction you want the ball to go and also planted next to it. The foot the you are using to kick the ball with needs to strike the ball with the angeled and inside portion. Take a minute and picture the side of your foot as a right angle. The bottom of the foot would be at 0 degrees and the top would be at 90 degrees, right? You want to strike the ball in the middle portion of your foot or at the 45 degree spot. Doing so will enable you to extract the most power. As always, be sure to keep your eye on the ball.

So there you have it, the 3 basic soccer moves to build a solid foundation in your play. Upon mastering these moves you’ll be able to move on to more challenging ones. As long as you keep practicing, you’ll continue to grow as a player. The more you practice the better you’ll be as is the case with any sport. If you want to learn more moves, the different positions and their functions and additional training just see my bio below.

The Best Free Soccer Drills That You Must Practice

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

I am sure we have heard the old saying, practice makes perfect. Well, in soccer that’s spot on. To become a great soccer player you must be willing to practice various soccer drills. If your thinking that practicing with your team will cut it, your wrong. You have to be willing to devout some time on your own to developing your game. To become that star, you can practice with some of the free soccer drills below for starters.

The first drill is done individually and is called juggling. Now, you will most definitely not have the time or space to juggle a ball in a game but juggling lays the ground work for a lot of other soccer skills. The cool thing about this is that you can do this by yourself and it’s fun.

As you get better at juggling you’ll begin to notice your ball control skills grow as well as a good feel for the ball. This helps your dribbling and trapping ability which are very important in a game. In addition, your balance, concentration and control will grow. All that is necessary is to juggle a half an hour a day to help lay the ground work for other skills.

Our next drill is one called one on one dribbling. To be most effective, you should do this drill in pairs. As you play in a live game you’ll see the need to juke an opponent out to get by them. The more practice you have with one on one dribbling the better you’ll be when it really counts, in a game.

When practicing this drill, you will want to take on both roles. In one turn you’ll want to be the attacker and on the next you’ll want to be the defender. Make a game out of it, when the player your practicing with gets past you, it’s a point and vice versa.

The last drill is called one touch passing. This is best done in groups with your teammates. This drill will help in your ball handling skills and also work on your agility. The basics of this drill is having at least 4 players, 2 on either side about 10 feet apart. To start, just pass the ball to someone on the opposing side by only touching it once. As you receive the ball get rid of it as quickly as you can by passing it to someone on the other side. After a short bit of time you should try and speed it up some to increase skill.

Practicing drills like these will build a solid foundation for other skills to come. Be sure to practice these top soccer drills on a regular basis. You would be hard pressed to find a great player who doesn’t practice on their own time. How do you think they became so great.

What are the best strategies for 5v5 beach soccer/ football? How do you organize the team on the field?

Thursday, December 11th, 2008
soccer
needtogetaloan4menow asked:


I will be coaching a very competent, premier level U-11 Girls soccer team in an upcoming beach soccer tournament. Having never seen the game played at a high level, I am looking for specific tips on how to organize the team, and what the best attacking and defending strategies are in beach soccer… What do the pros or better amateur teams do? Are there any websites dedicated to beach soccer where I can get additional related information?

Thank you!

Blake

Soccer Coaching Where Do I Start?

Wednesday, December 10th, 2008
soccer
Soccer has been the sports lifeline of many countries including the United States. The love of the game is so intrinsic that parents provide soccer equipment and soccer gear to their kids at a very tender age. Guided by such soccer parents, some children are given a soccer ball as soon as they learn to walk, some even earlier. In some cases, this is the first exposure kids have to the game of soccer.

However, for the right grooming to play professional soccer, it is imperative that soccer coaching be provided at a young age. A youngster with the right soccer training can be groomed to be a quality player and more importantly a better student of the game. It is all about learning the tactics of the game where you learn not only the skills of how to make a great pass, score an incredible goal, dribble by someone with ease; but also to develop strategies to win which is the ultimate aim.

Soccer enthusiasts however, stress on that aspect of soccer coaching, that the ultimate goal of the players in the learning period is not to focus on match results but to work towards creating a level of confidence and comfort with the ball. It is imperative that a youth soccer player loves the game and works on improving skills with regular soccer drills.

Soccer drills are excellent training modules which playing width, defending and tackling, attacking and shooting, goalkeeping, heading, aggression (physical contact), transition and small-sided games. Soccer coaching can be influential in molding youth soccer to the pinnacle of glory.

Experts of the game agree that it is essential to be able to finish off an attacking movement. Many soccer coaches are found to overlook this important aspect of the game and as a result finishing technique suffers. As a result, many players even after having completed the soccer training sessions are found to have never learned to finish off attacking movements, leading to failed opportunities and disappointment.

An insightful soccer coach teaches the finer nuances or the accuracy in the finishing technique. This accuracy is adjudged to be more responsible in deciding the outcome of a match than the power to hit hard. Good soccer coaching always incorporates the art of finishing in the soccer drills.

At the same time it is also essential that soccer parents impart ethical values in their kids without being intrusive enough as not to over-shadow the influences and training offered during soccer drills. To summarize, soccer coaching is all about grooming the future soccer superstars.

The problem for most people is that they do not know where to start. If you are a new parent or a new soccer coach it is difficult to find everything you need to know in the one place.

You need to find someone that has been there done that both as a soccer parent and as a soccer coach.



By: Murray Peck

About the Author:

Murray Peck is the author of a free 7 day mini course called ‘Soccer For Beginners’, which provides tips on everything you need to know when starting out in soccer. In addition, Murray is also giving away his e book on Soccer Fitness and Nutrition for free when you sign up for the free mini-course.
Drop by
Soccer Coaching Guide to grab your free copy.



Damon

How fast can a professional soccer player run 40 yards and 1 mile?

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
soccer
APHelp asked:


I just turned 17 a few months ago and I did a 40 yd and 1 mile run b/c some colleges ask for it when applying for D1 soccer…I can run 40yds in 4.4 seconds and 1 mile in 4min 53 sec. Is this good? How fast can professional soccer players run this?

Keene

How to become a professional soccer player?

Sunday, December 7th, 2008
soccer
Sasan asked:


I’m in Canada and I have joined my school soccer team. The coach has seen how good I am and has sent me on the Vancouver soccer team. I just wanted what I should do to become a professional soccer player. Where should get noticed? Where should I find scouts who can help me get into MLS and then get transfered to Europe for higher levels. How should I keep my dreams alive? I’m in grade 10 of high school and already I was asked to join the Vancouver Soccer Team because they have seen a lot of potential in me.

Thanks for any advice and Merry Christmas to all.

Fairfax

Uniform – a Must Have for Soccer Players

Sunday, December 7th, 2008
soccer
Beyond the borders of the USA soccer is the most popular team sport, and by a wide margin. However, this does not mean that soccer is not very popular in the USA as well. Each year, millions of Americans play organized soccer teams across the country, and each team identifies itself while symbolizing the unity of their team by wearing a soccer uniform. If you are interesting to join a soccer team, or if you are an adult who is organizing a team, choosing a soccer uniform is an excellent starting point. However, you should know there is more to a soccer uniform than simply choosing a jersey.

There are several elements in the selection of a soccer uniform. Selecting a shirt and jersey color, is one of them. Of course, choosing a color is a subjective exercise, personal tastes and certainly online account. Other factors could be the team name, or colors that represent the city or school with which your team is affiliated. Jerseys soccer not only come in various colors, but in different materials and fabrics as well.

All these factors come into play when deciding what is best for your team. And remember, it is often customary for teams to wear different primary colors during the road during games than home games. If your house colors are red with white trim, then you will probably need the road jerseys are white with red trim, for example.

Selected shorts soccer is also an important selection uniform. In addition to choose colors that complement your team ’s jersey, be sure to find a style of shorts is not too baggy. Baggy shorts – although in style – tend to get easily and boots can encumber the movement of players.

Remember that your goalie wears a uniform different from soccer as the rest of your team. Because the goalkeeper is a player to move his hands on the ball, the goalkeeper is usually necessary to wear a different color scheme so that referees can easily distinguish it from the rest of the team. Also, uniforms goalie both padded shorts and shirts that will help absorb some of the plans that will surely come his way. In addition, goalkeeper are generally long-sleeved shirts, unlike the rest of the team that will wear short sleeves.

Finally, remember that you should select soccer socks that will complement your team colors. Soccer socks socks are unlike traditional insofar as they are designed to offer knee and to be flexible enough to accommodate the shin guards of plastic that are worn below.

If you do not know who to turn to this point, the Internet is your ally. There are hundreds of providers in line and you can choose the uniforms of soccer that most appeals to you. Also, you can seek advice from other coaches and organizers in your league soccer and they can share with you the suppliers with whom they have been successful in the past. With a little research and intuition, you can find a soccer uniform that will make your children happy to be part of the team.



By: John Salmon

About the Author:

Read about soccer moves and soccer positions at The Soccer Coach website.



Alston

What to eat before a soccer game?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
soccer
soccerlover39 asked:


I have a soccer game in about 3 hours in the pouring, freezing rain….I need to stop eating in an hour or so otherwise I cramp. I was planning on eating a bowl of cereal & maybe some bread? Help!

Fleming

Soccer is the Best Sport

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
soccer
The soccer game is played and appreciated by people throughout the world. To play soccer, you need two teams of eleven people in each team, a ball, and a place to play. Soccer games are usually played on a field which has a rich layer of herbs mowed about this. soccer is usually played by children and adolescents, but it can be played by adults. It is a competitive sport which can be enjoyed by everyone in the family and no matter how old they are.

The object of a game of soccer is to get the ball to another team ‘objective without using your hands. People who play soccer in general use their feet, but many players have been known to use their heads quite a bit during the game to hit the ball if it is in the air. The only people allowed to use their hands during a soccer game are goalkeepers, who stopped the ball going in the net.

These people are usually called goalkeepers too, and the arbitrators are likely to issue penalties to any player who uses his arms and hands to move the ball towards the end of the field. The judges maintain a strong research on the action that takes place during a soccer game. They use hand signals to communicate their calls to referees and players involved in the game and on the sidelines.

soccer is a team sport and the team that works together is usually the team that wins. The two teams trying to score points by moving the ball with their feet and the team with the most points will win the game at the end of the day. If there is a tie, then a draw will take place and the team that wins the lottery will be determined the winner of soccer game that day.

soccer is a competitive sport that is played throughout the world. All people need to play soccer is a little time, a group of people and some gear sport as a soccer and some goals. soccer is also a social sport because it gives people the chance to interact with each other as they speed over the ground. Off the field, soccer players in general for the pleasure of meeting in a pub or perhaps for a grilled pizza celebration.

soccer players are very conscious healthy because they spend much time running. Many soccer players have a strict regime of exercise and diet to maintain their competitive edge during a game of soccer. With eleven players to do so during any game of soccer, it is preferable to ensure that all players on the soccer field is at the top of their fitness at any time.



By: John Salmon

About the Author:

For tips on soccer moves and soccer positions, visit The Soccer Coach website.



Keith

What are some good soccer colleges/universities in the tri state and the rest of the country?

Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008
soccer
thuglifedblock asked:


I’m a junoir and plays soccer for my high school. I’m a very decent player and looking for a good soccer colleges/universities in the tri state and the rest of the country.

Ryan