Archive for May, 2010

Will Roy Hodgson Be The Next England Manager?

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Against the odds, Roy Hodgson guided Fulham to the final of the 2010 Europa League. Italian giants Juventus and holders Shaktar Donetsk were just two of the teams Fulham beat during a memorable campaign.

 

As a player, Hodgson was on the books at Crystal Palace but never made a first team appearance. It was when he moved into management that Hodgson started to make name for himself. His early career in Sweden saw him win the Swedish title twice with Halmstads in 1976 and 1979.

 

From there, Hodgson moved to Switzerland with Neuchatel Xamax before taking over the Swiss national team who he guided to the 1994 World Cup Finals and the 1996 Euro Finals. Hodgson next spent 2 years in Italy as manager of Inter Milan. Inter reached the UEFA Cup Final in 1997 which was Hodgson’s final season as he headed to England with Blackburn Rovers. Things didn’t go to plan and he was dismissed after 18 months.

 

For the next few years, Hodgson held a number of managerial positions but never really settled anywhere for long and in 2005, he took over the Finnish national team and took them tantalisingly close to the Euro 2008 finals.

 

At the end of 2007, Fulham offer Hodgson the managers job as at the time, they were struggling in the Premier League and needed a change of direction. Despite some poor initial results, Fulham stayed up and the following season Hodgson had worked his magic as they finished 7th, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League.

 

Fulham’s first season in Europe has been nothing short of spectacular. Fulham have met some tough opposition including Juventus and the German champions. Now all that stands in their way of glory is Athletico Madrid.

 

But what next for Roy Hodgson? Hodgsons influence on Fulham will not have gone unnoticed. The England job has been mentioned but at present, Fabio Capello is doing an excellent job and will be in charge for some time. Perhaps it is a bit more realistic to think that Hodgson could well take over the English national team after the Euro 2012 finals.

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Youth Soccer Drills:Discover The Basics

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Youth soccer drills

In youth soccer drills, the basis of a game is its defense and though I strongly believe in this, you may have your own opinions. When the score in a game is 0-0, it denotes defense played flawlessly by both the sides.

Nonetheless, in kids soccer drills, there are two facets of winning a game. First is by exhibiting a wonderful defense. The second feature is the ability of the offensive players to rise above the other team’s defense.

Your players will not be able to score if they cannot acquire the ball. When it comes to training, some coaches teach either defense or offense to their players. But, a player must be given complete training in both playing defense when the ball is in other person’s custody and offense when it is with him or her.

In youth soccer practice, players who let the ball go out of their possession should instantly go for the ball. This is necessary and most appropriate because the person who loses the ball is the one closest to the ball. Therefore, it’s easy for this player to pressurize the one in the possession of the ball now.

Youth Soccer Drills

To put it in another way, he or she should try to get the ball as fast as possible. An added benefit is that the remaining team members would also get a chance to recover and take their defensive positions. In this way, the player from the opposite team who has the custody of the ball will not be able to run freely on the field.

Players can be taught these skills by following the below mentioned techniques.

Immediate chase: When executed correctly in youth soccer drills, it puts the opponents under a good deal of pressure from all sides. And it ultimately causes him or her to make a bad pass or lose the possession of the ball.

Fall back and delay: To achieve this, it is a must that the remaining team members fall back, and challenge the opponent with the ball and delay him or her from getting into their team’s goal area.

As the most risky places on the field is the center, you must instruct your players to make the opponent run towards the touchline. This puts a restriction on the movement of that player to pass the ball as also the directions that he or she can travel to.

Arc of Concentration: When it comes to scoring, Arc of Concentration is the most unsafe area. Most of the goals are scored by the players in the arc of concentration. So it’s very important to teach the players in youth soccer coaching to concentrate on moving the ball outside of this area.

This arc is right ahead of the goal. It sets out from one corner post of the goal all the way through the corner of the goal box and goes on to the touchline. A goal is possible when the ball is in this area.

These are the most effective and easy ways to teach your players the strategy of the game and youth soccer drills in an easy manner.

You can also get your hands on loads of relevant information on coaching soccer drills in form of newsletters, articles, and videos by subscribing to our youth soccer coaching community.

 

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: http://www.soccerdrillstips.com.

 

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Youth Soccer Drills: Learn To Create Goal Scoring Opportunities

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Youth soccer drills

The young players most likely enjoy the game of soccer when they are continuously scoring goals. In designing the practice schedule, include such youth soccer drills that have many opportunities for them to score goals.

Let them take advantage of all opportunities during small sided games, full field scrimmages, and shooting drills. In order to encourage players to score goals, try to introduce variations in small sided games and full field scrimmages in performing kids soccer drills.

Another option is to incorporate games that can do without a goalkeeper or where his movement can be limited to a given area. With a view to boost the chances of increasing the number of goals scored, add more goals or expand the ones that are already in use.

The chances of improved goal scoring can be experienced when the young players become experts in shooting techniques and its strategic knowledge. As is with passing skills, shooting techniques should also be taught to players at the beginner’s stage. And then during the later stages of his development, these skills can be highlighted more.

Youth Soccer Drills

In youth soccer practice, one of the most effective ways to improve shooting skills is through using drills. Shooting drills play a major role in effectively scoring goals by way of developing shooting skills of the players. Still, a player’s shooting skills are best developed step by step.

Following series can be incorporated in youth soccer drills to make them suitable for developing player’s shooting drills;

1.  A stationery player kicking a stationery ball.

2.  A moving player shooting a still ball.

3. A static player shooting a moving ball.

4. Moving ball being shot by a moving player.

It should be an imperative part of youth soccer coaching to help the players hit the ball effectively while shooting. Majority of the players take the shots using the inside of their feet. The leads to enhancement in the shooting abilities.

Where the situation is such that strength is required to hit the ball, teach the players to use the instep of their foot to strike the ball. Their toes should point downwards and the ankles must be locked.

Elevation of the shoot is also affected by the placement of the non-kicking foot. Ask the players to put their non-kicking foot a little ahead of the ball. This will keep the shot low. Make sure that the players are focused on striking the ball. Getting rid of all the distracting elements helps them focus better.

As shooting techniques improve, keep on adding to the level of difficulty in the practice games. Take for example, when their shooting improves, make them work with balls at different speeds and levels.

Now get out there and include a lot of shooting exercises in your youth soccer drills for the practice sessions.

If there is more information that you’re looking for on coaching soccer drills, just join our youth soccer coaching community and get an access to tons of news, views, and articles that help you give an insight of coaching young players.

 

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 Training.

 

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Youth Soccer Drills:Secrets Revealed

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

Youth soccer drills

Has it ever occurred to you how important it is for your player’s development to devise an appropriate training plan? Youth soccer drills designed to augment player’s skills must be performed if the players have to reach a given level of success.

The drills in youth soccer coaching should first be aimed at teaching players, the basics of the game. This calls for adequate stretching and warm-up before starting the practice sessions. By doing the stretching and warm-up exercises players ready their body to take the physical stress in practice.

Each practice session that you undertake must have an objective. And so make it a point to identify only one or two drills and then focus on those drills alone. Devise the training program in such a fashion that allows you to complete a different set of drills each week. Once the players start playing the game, have them perform the drills that help spot those skills where they need practice.

A majority of the games are won by a team only because the other team wears out at the end. So, make sure your strength exercises include such drills that make use of the soccer drills at every stage.

Youth Soccer Drills

Your youth soccer practice can be conveniently divided into two different types. For example; cardiovascular strength and muscular strength that aid in developing agility, strength, synchronization, speed, and promptness in the players.

One of the many youth soccer drills, “running in formation” is rated as the most effective and fun drill. All players in the team are used in this drill. It is a fantastic way to build teamwork. The players get an opportunity to learn to stay in step with your guidance. Also, it really is a pleasure to watch your team run through in perfect formation on the ground before the game starts.

“Following the leader” is another wonderful warm-up drill. This inculcates in the players the ability to dribble the ball with their heads up. It also engages the entire team with each player having a ball.

Having full control over the ball, also known as “touch on the ball” is very important in soccer. Use the “roll over” drill for teaching this skill to your kids. This drill is very exciting. The players may feel a little awkward at first because it may be difficult to keep the ball moving and going in a straight line. But a little practice will help them get over it.

This drill is helpful in imparting the skills in balance, agility, and a touch on the ball.

Your kids soccer drills should cover just about everything that a soccer player must learn. “Karaoke” drill is the best for this sort of an exercise. Using this drill, the kids run, handle the ball, and keep their balance along with building cardiac endurance.

Don’t think twice about it. When we talk of youth soccer drills, this drill takes the cake.

Our youth soccer coaching community has plenty of useful information in the form of articles, videos, and newsletters related to youth soccer and you can get all this by enrolling for it.

 

 

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: Youth soccer drills.

 

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Learn How To Coach Soccer

Saturday, May 29th, 2010

How to coach soccer

The role of a coach in the process of change is central, and you’ll surely agree with me on this once you’ve finished reading this page. How to coach soccer is a feeling that is innate in a coach and he or she is a natural in it. But, a coach still needs to learn and become accustomed to so many other things if he or she has to shine in the field of coaching.

Therefore, it is essential that the coach considers soccer coaching ahead of physical and technical training, and starts coaching players as people.

A coach should look at a player’s mental and emotional needs and work upon finding an array of coaching techniques to accomplish them. The coach must make efforts in changing the culture from a downbeat team experience to something constructive, like positive surroundings that enhance a player’s self-reliance.

Over and over again, importance of a player’s mental, emotional and lifestyle skills has been emphasized for a winning performance in this game. It will also require coaches who have the caliber to understand and appraise the importance of positive mental attitude.

Consequently, a variety of skills are required to be developed by the modern coaches today;

1. Meet the needs of a fast changing and refined game.

Soccer Coaching

2. Meet the requirements of a contemporary player who is optimistic and not negative.

3. Review and shape a player’s mind-set.

4. Prioritize a constant communication both with the team and with individual players.

How to coach soccer is a subject that involves changing the culture of a team through a coach’s efforts, but refusing to compromise on the players yearning to win games. Teaching soccer to a contemporary player today requires a modern way to attract the player to the game so that a shared energy and a incentive for greater success is created.

So a coach must be a self-sufficient, smart, and a player oriented instructor who cautiously plans and focuses more on the quality of performance.

As a coach, your style of coaching should be appropriate to;

1. The sex, age, and experience of the players

2. The batch you are playing in

3. The grade of goal as an understanding between you and the players.

4. Your temperament and what works for you.

As a rule of thumb, coaches that teach young kids need to be soft and friendly in training soccer skills. This condition is especially important for female coaches to excel.

A soccer coach should aim to bring about a change in the team culture by encouraging discussions and stressing on changing their perceptions of playing.

Involve players in everything from reviewing obstacles to achieve success to setting team goals for the season. As an example: an aim to win the respect and trust of senior players and staff.

Now, go ahead and develop an environment that allows for success and creativity. This is the simplest answer to your question on how to coach soccer?

If this interests you, enroll for our youth soccer coaching community that has wealth of information on youth soccer.

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: How to coach soccer.

 

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