Archive for July, 2010

Soccer Training Tips: Tips On Flexibility

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Soccer training tips

Would you answer this simple question? Almost all soccer coaches tend to ignore the soccer training tips while designing training programs for kids with the intent of just making up the numbers and going through the motions. Are you doing the same thing?

Before planning your next training session, set some goals for the team. Determine in advance what you wish to achieve form this program and do whatever it takes to accomplish that.

With a view to add variety in your training program, add new and innovative soccer drills that are fun to perform. This will give the players a break from the dullness of performing repetitive drills day in and day out. You’ll notice a positive change in your kid’s performance once they begin to enjoy their training sessions.

Notwithstanding their age and the level at which they play, your players must learn to respect you and listen to you. Mutual appreciation creates a friendly environment for both players and the coach.

Soccer Training

Soccer players can greatly benefit from having a high level of flexibility. There are 3 types of flexibility.

Dynamic flexibility: Just like twisting from one side to another, it’s the player’s ability to carry out brisk movements within the full range of motion in the joint.

Static active flexibility: The ability to stretch a tough muscle by using the tension within that muscle is termed as static active flexibility. One example is to hold one leg in front of you and keep it as high as you can. When you do this, your hamstrings are stretched whilst the quadriceps and hip flexors hold your leg up.

Static passive: Ability to use your body weight or some outside force to hold a stretch is termed as static passive flexibility. For example; imagine holding your leg out in front of you and resting it on a chair.

Now let’s go to the next in line of soccer training tips. This needs your attention with respect to kid’s sports gear and make sure that their attire is well suited to the weather.

Training for soccer should be followed by a fitness program that focuses only on those areas that need maximum help. When designing this training program, keep the following factors in mind.

Player’s age: Decrease in the flexibility of soft tissue with aging is directly related to the reduced range of movement as one grows older, irrespective of the gender. Still, the chances of flexibility getting decreased are very less if we remain active.

Gender: Girls exhibit a greater range of movement, independent of their age.

Movement: In demonstrating soccer skills, active kids show a better range of movement that the inactive kids.

Injury: Injuries also hamper the range of motion in a joint.

Pain: As the pain increases, flexibility decreases and results in muscle spasms. Nonetheless, flexibility in kids is not hampered by strength training unless the exercises are done correctly and in full range of motion.

Genetics: A player’s genetics also decide the amount of flexibility that his or her body has.

Therefore, soccer training tips like these should always be a part of the training program that makes it more useful and effective. You can perk up your coaching skills by joining our youth soccer coaching community that has a lot of articles, newsletters, and pertinent videos.

 

Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn  how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Drills For Kids.

 

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Soccer Training Tips: How To Coach Goalkeepers

Saturday, July 24th, 2010

Soccer training tips

If you also share similar thoughts as I do, you’d know that soccer training tips for goalkeepers have a great importance as he/she is the only player that has the freedom to touch the ball with hands and arms both.

And so, soccer skills that a goalie possesses give him an edge over other remaining players. But this makes a coach’s job tougher and more complex when training goalkeepers for soccer.

Soccer Goalkeepers are often the first line of the offense and the last line of defense, depending upon the technique of play. They’re always ready to employ their body to stop the ball from entering the goal or to block it. They are always geared up to go along any direction to capture the ball.

When it comes to a goalkeeper’s training for soccer, on various requirements specific to their role and their level of play can be very trying. It simultaneously calls for you to consider his mental state while training him on different skills and techniques.

Soccer Training

A striker in the team is the only player who has the potential to stand in comparison with the goalkeeper. In fact, some of the best goalies have also been great strikers at one point or the other. You’ll frequently encounter a one on one battle at various levels of competition between goalies and forwards.

One of the most important soccer training tips for a goalkeeper is to stay balanced and know the center of gravity of the body. In a game setting, this will benefit by improving the goalkeeper’s activity and the inclination of the other player.

Even though most of the goalkeepers are tall, have long arms, and big hands, but even if it isn’t so, they can compensate for it with good vertical and lateral mobility.

Goalkeepers need unvarying motivation even though they have a good sense of self-worth and the coaches should never forget this. After the goalkeepers have done their routine warm up rounds with the team, they should then focus on performing soccer drills meant for their specific role in the team.

Goalkeepers are the leaders of the team as both their role and their personality is quite dominating. So they must be supported by the rest of the team to successfully execute their role by being placed in a vocal and demonstrative capacity.

The ball can only be handled by the goalie in the 18 yard box. If the ball is touched by any player’s arm other than the goalkeeper, the opposing party gets a free kick. It’s a penalty shoot from “the spot” in case of a goalkeepers’ team member.

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply the above soccer training tips as goalkeepers are definitely leaders in the 18 yard box, and should get due respect from their team. Join our youth soccer coaching community that has loads of relevant articles, videos, and newsletters to update your knowledge on the subject.

Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.

 

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The Jabulani Features A South African Inspired Design And Radically New Technology

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Jabulani Adidas

After developing the 2006 World Cup footballs for adidas and 2008 European Championship, now Loughborough University become research partners for the adidas “JABULANI”. The ball has been tested and endorsed by many world-class soccer players, including Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Petr Cech and Kaka.

The word ”JABULANI” takes from the language isiZulu, one of the 11 official languages of South Africa, that spoken by almost 25% of the population. Literally translated, “JABULANI” means “to celebrate”. Football is a passion that unites the world. The name of the new match ball appropriately pays tribute to the passionate football celebration international fans will enjoy in South Africa next summer.

Eleven different colours are used in the adidas JABULANI, the eleventh adidas World Cup ball. These 11 colours represent the 11 official languages of South Africa, the 11 players in every team, and the 11 South African tribes that make the country one of the most ethnologically diverse countries on the African continent.

The newly-developed “Grip’n’Groove” technology giving the best soccer players in the world with a ball allowing an exceptionally flies straight and true and perfect grip under all conditions. Comprising only 8, thermally bonded 3D panels, which are spherically moulded, the ball is perfectly round and even more accurate than ever before.

The colourful design brings together the tremendous diversity of the country in harmonious unity. Four triangle-shaped design elements on a white background lend the ball a unique appearance in African spirit. And like the outer facade of Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium, individual design elements also capture the colourfulness of South Africa.

There is something quiet unique about this ball, and I am sure that future designs will be created using the same technology seen in the Jabulani. Let me finish up by giving you 2 tips; anticipate the ball flying further than you expect, and when you get to shoot remember that by using the Jabulani, you already have an added advantage over the goalkeeper!

The resulting of Jabulani’s test in game, were all very similar, with a lot of guys pointing out the fact that the Jabulani moves very fast and stop longer than expected. To understand what I mean when I say that putting some spin on this ball makes it move, you must try it by yourseft.

One of customer review is Charles Rice. Here is what he said about World Cup 2010 Ball “I bought one of these about 6 weeks before the world cup so that me and my friends could play with it and see what it was like.As a field player, I love the way it plays on the ground. It gives great control for dribbling and moving downfield. I also like the way it shoots. Perhaps if I was a more precise shooter, I’d feel differently, but I am happy to hit the quarter of the goal I am aiming for, and I can do that as well with this ball as with most others. I like shooting this ball. Overall, I like it a lot. Most of the people I play with agree, but definitely not all of them.”

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FIFA Presented The Adidas “JABULANI”, The Official Match Ball For The 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

Jabulani Ball

Jabulani from Zulu language, one of the eleven languages that use in South Africa, it’s means to celebrate, and the design of the Jabulani has 11 colors to honor those 11 communities and 11 languages of South Africa, and the 11 players on a team.

Jabulani built with 8 new thermally bonded, spherically shaped, and 3 D EVA & TPU panels, the Jabulani is perfectly round and has been equipped with a new Grip’n'Groove technology. New Grip’n'Groove technology is a textured technology that make sure the Jabulani can flies straightforward and true. The Jabulani is build for never seen power, swerve and control before. It is a ball very worthy of the best in the game.

The ball is constructed using a new design, consisting of eight (down from 14 in the last World Cup) thermally-bonded, 3D panels. These are spherically-moulded from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) and thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU). . The design has received considerable academic input, being developed in partnership with researchers from Loughborough University, United Kingdom.

The Adidas World Cup 2010 Ball comes with some features : adidas’ 11th FIFA World Cup official match ball. Designed for never before seen power, swerve and control, the Official World Cup 2010 Jabulani Official Match Soccer Ball by adidas, COVER: Thermally bonded PU for exceptionally true and straight flight, BLADDER: Latex for excellent rebound, FIFA approved.

The Jabulani Ball for the 2010 FIFA World Cup features a completely new, ground-breaking technology. Eight 3D formed EVA & TPU panels are combined together, create harmoniously enveloping the inner design. This will create an energetic unit with excellent roundness. Soccer players all over the world are happy and are promising many goals with the new ball. In the development and testing of its products, Adidas always involves world-class athletes. For JABULANI, adidas partners FC Bayern München, the Orlando Pirates, AC Milan, and Ajax Cape Town tested the ball in 2008, to improvements in the material composition and surface structure.

One of customer review is Delia De La Torre. Here is what he said about Jabulani Ball “The ball is original, as described. Arrived in time for my husband birthday. He is loving it!.”

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Soccer Training Tips: Tips On Improving Performance

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

Soccer training tips

A coach need to the essential soccer training tips in order to be able to train the kids properly especially, when he or she is playing the role of a coach while playing the game. It therefore becomes easy for you to include these tips in your soccer drills training session that take place 4 to 5 times a week as per your game’s standard.

You can help your players to perk up their performance by coaching them on these very important tips and techniques. These are as follows;

Train your players to continuously move the ball with one or two touches: In a team setting, this is called inter-passing. Tell them to play with speed and make crunchy solid passes, whether it’s a 3 meter or 20 meter pass.

Play the ball and keep travelling: Playing and moving encloses the basic idea behind making runs. But the important thing here is to make sure that these runs open up goal scoring opportunities and make spaces for the other team members.

Soccer Training

The idea of teaching soccer skills to players is to develop their ability to create goal scoring opportunities. The key here is setting up your defender. Your players almost need to close in the defender towards them, as though he or she is going to be able to catch the ball, then give it and go, stepping up into the open space to receive or return the pass.

Once your kids make a move to beat the opponent, tell them to change their pace. They should attack fast and make sure they keep moving the ball as fast as possible. As soon as they get an opportunity to break, they should strike back with some accurate passes.

Coach your players to keep the ball close to their feet when maneuvering the ball: One of the important soccer training tips requires kids to keep their head up and remain watchful of others movements in the field. They should try and make contact with the ball on every step when dribbling it. This perks up the player’s ability to get the ball from the defenders and ensures total control over the ball.

Get the cross in: Take shots on the goal and examine the goalkeeper time and again during the first part of the game. If you know that you are going to make runs into the open space, let your team-mates know this. It type of communication is necessary of the young players in the course of their development.

When training for soccer, teach players to try and aim for the area flanked by the 6 and 18 yard boxes. This will make the goalkeeper come out in an attempt to collect the ball. This will make the goal open and defenseless.

Continue to observe the ball: Constantly observe the movement of each and every player on the field. Train players in a way that they stick to the team’s strategy and tactics for the day.

So you should start incorporating these soccer training tips into your training sessions so that your players are able to execute it naturally while on the field. You can subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community and get your way to innumerable articles, videos, and periodic newsletters.

 

Andre Botelho is a recognized expert in youth soccer coaching. He influences well over 35,000 youth coaches each year with his unique coaching philosophy, and makes it really easy to explode your players’ skills and make training more fun in record time. To download your free youth soccer coaching guide visit: Soccer training tips.

 

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