By admin on Friday, December 10, 2010
This is the third article in a series that was started two years ago. Please refer to the previous articles for background information. Some items will be discussed again as thing change in the world of soccer federations, curriculums and training methods. This article consists of conversations by Mr. Aime Jacquet, winning coach of the French National team during the 1998 FIFA World Championships and current FFF Technical Director, during the 2002 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia, PA. Read More » |
By admin on Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Seek out a good learning environment. Find clubs with experienced coaches who will help you develop, not coaches that just want to win games. My own definition of a good coach is that individual who develops you to be successful at the next level of your career. Good competition during leagues and tournaments is a must. It is vital that you train and play year round. Ask your high school coach and club coaches to constantly evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Continue to develop your strengths and ask them for a program to eliminate your weaknesses. Remember that even the professional players in every sport seek advice and spend lots of time relearning the fundamentals. Also play in good club tournaments; if your team doesn’t go often, try to be a guest player on a good team. Read More » |
By admin on Sunday, June 14, 2009
Approximately 10 years ago the coming of the small “keep away game” descended upon us. It hit me squarely between the eyes as some of my players at MKA High school declared “enough” with the technical work we want to do what the “pros” do” Which it turns out is lots of small keep away games in small areas for long periods of time. I faced a rebellion where my intense individual ball skills sessions were no longer “vogue” Certainly for the “better” players it was much more fun to play keep away as they were always winning! My lesser players however saw significantly fewer touches of the ball (even though the small area and fewer numbers were designed to increase touches!) they did however become very good at chasing but technically they started to decline.
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By admin on Wednesday, November 26, 2008
We here in the USA are clearly missing the point on proper defending tactics..... Forget England/Argentina/Germany/Portugal and all the rest and listen to this one. It concerns a match played between Barbados and Grenada in cup competition. Barbados needed to win the game by two clear goals in order to progress to the next round. Now the trouble was caused by a daft rule in the competition which stated that in the event of a game going to penalty kicks, the winner of the penalty kicks would be awarded a 2-0 victory. Read More » |
By admin on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The more I delve into the athletic development side of training athletes I am finding how most players have lower body deficiencies and how this prevents them from fulfilling their potential in competition. It starts with poor warm-up habits and continues with non-appropriate or outdated strength training activities. Most conditioning programs rely on the old straight ahead sprint method instead of using body weight lunges, forward, rear, to the side and in crossover patterns. I start all my training sessions with multilateral activities like various games of tag, single leg wrestling, bear and crab crawls, etc. Not only do these activities dynamically warm up the body and wake up the mind but the athletes look forward to doing them. Read More » |
By admin on 10/30/2008 10:20 AM
Show the proper respect for yourself, your teammates, referees, fans, and most important, the game…especially when you are in the public’s eye. A coach watching you perform will give you negative points in his book if you look sloppy or act like a bum on the field. This means: tuck in your shirt, walk with an air of confidence, no weird haircuts, and watch your mouth. First impressions are lasting impressions. Last impressions are equally important. Don’t throw away all you hard work in the last 10 minutes of a game by doing something stupid.Read More » |
By admin on Thursday, October 30, 2008
A decade ahead of everyone, liberal attitudes, equality and title nine to protect it and help it, more women playing soccer than the entire population of some of the countries that now compete with the us and bright new shiny uniforms every year! But we are still left to ask the question where did it all go wrong? Read More » |
By admin on Thursday, October 30, 2008
Well, once again the ugly side of parents getting involved in youth sports has reared its ugly head this time close to home on my own son's soccer team. I do not coach them as they have an outstanding coach who also is a teacher by profession, a good role model and due to the fact that I just want to be a good dad and watch him have the opportunity to grow on his own. In fact all I ever ask is that he plays hard and has fun.Read More » |
By admin on 10/29/2008 12:35 PM
Your coach has a lot to do with your success, in the present and the future. Treat him exactly the way you would like to be treated. He does have the ability and the contacts to “make or break you”. Provide your coach with lots of positive reasons to help you. Above all…remember the golden rule…the man with the gold makes the rules!Read More » |
By admin on 10/29/2008 12:34 PM
Regardless of a player’s performance, their skill, tactical, and physical display, other factors heavily influence a coach’s decision to recruit a given athlete. Coaches will look at their mental and psychological make-up, their mental ability to quickly and correctly read and assess situations, their motivational drive and will power, their self-confidence and emotional stability. Competition reveals character!Read More » |