Key Technical Points of Crossing

In this issue let's look at what's involved with "crossing".

The majority of the time you will want to use the inside of your foot to cross the ball. However, there will be times when you want to cross the ball with the outside of your foot or drive the ball in with your instep... whatever it takes to get the ball into the box.

Push the ball a little a head of you at an angle so you avoid the defender and give yourself enough space to cross the ball without the defender getting a touch. Turn your hips at an angle to the ball. Wrap your foot around the ball to bend it with the inside area of your foot.

Strike the ball with pace, although not necessarily like a shot; you take just a little pace off the ball but enough to whip the ball skillfully into the box. It's like taking a free kick or set piece, you want enough power to make it on goal but enough touch and skill to bend around the wall or to get over the wall.

As a winger or wide midfielder it is important to get the ball in the goal box. That means serving the ball across the goal mouth. Whip the ball in. Put the ball in with pace. This makes it easier for the targeted player to redirect the ball on goal and also helps avoid getting the ball cut out or blocked by a defender.

Get accustomed to crossing the ball when you have the opportunity. You don't have to always beat the defender. The defender, who is marking you, will begin to think you are going to cross it every time, that’s when you take the player on and go down the line to cut the ball back or take a shot yourself.

Plus, you don't need to reach the end line to cross the ball. You can and should cross the ball from any point over the half line really, as long as you are trying to pick out someone directly or if you are leading a player with a cross or long pass - as that player makes a run towards goal.

The Key Technical Points of Crossing:

* Head down.
* Eyes on the ball.
* Decide on part of the foot and part of the ball.
* Follow through.
* Head up and direct the ball to a specific target:
->Near post; far post; of edge of the box; towards the penalty spot.
* Determine type of serve depending on the situation:
->Hard low drive or high bending ball for attacker, to head or volley ball.

Stay fit, train smart, and play hard

Coach Clayton Rosario

Elite Soccer Development #8- Bodyweight Training

Every activity we do, exercise related or not, centers around using and controlling our own bodyweight in order to perform specific tasks. Bodyweight training trains the body to be more stable, especially at the joints. Since bodyweight training trains major muscle groups in an integrated fashion it allows you to train multiple muscles at once, which is how the body really operates in our environment. This makes it a truly functional method of training.

Check out the Jungle Gym straps used in this video at http://tinyurl.com/suspendme

Shooting the Ball

Shooting is one of the most critical skills in a game. Without it there will be no goals scored which obviously means no there would be no win.

The ability to shoot with both feet is the sign of a top quality player. Reaction, speed, and decision making are other key ingredients for a successful shot on net.

Before shooting on net keep your eye on the ball and your head steady. Decide on the part of your foot you will use depending on whether you want to drive the ball or bend it.

Always think about accuracy before power. Especially in a training environment repetition of getting the ball on target will increase your success in the game. The game is about statistics and consistency. Focus first on getting the ball on target, placement, and then power.

Here are some tips that will help your power and accuracy, which can be drawn from observation of other sports such as golf or baseball.

• The swing starts from the mid section. Use the following steps:
  
  
• Breath in and breath out on follow through of your shot. If you are shooting with your right foot for example along the ground. Attack the ball. Place your supporting foot (Left foot) beside the ball in the direction of the opponents net. Get your body over the ball. Both arms should be too your left before the follow through.
  

• Your right shooting foot should be raised behind you as high as possible.
  
  
• As you shoot the ball your reaction should be explosive, like the trigger of a gun. Flex your hip and lock your ankle.
  

• Swing your arms across your body in the opposite direction.

• Drive the ball with your laces toward the goal with accuracy. On the follow through your left foot (Back foot) should be off the ground. Be ready to react for a rebound

Consider these points when training, and practice shooting with both feet to become a master of the ball.

Stay Fit, Train Smart, and Play Hard!

Clayton Rosario

Free DVD Excerpt: Technical Warmup

Free DVD Excerpt: Technical Warmup for Soccer from Josh Hewett on Vimeo.

PASSWORD: train4soccer

This is a short excerpt of the Technical Warmup from our DVD "Building the Complete Soccer Athlete: Train Like a Pro". The DVD includes complete warm ups and training programs for speed, agility, strength and conditioning as well as over 50 technical moves with the ball.

Nutrition and mental conditioning are described as well. We designed this DVD to be a complete resource for soccer athletes and coaches.

If you are a subscriber, enter the password "train4soccer" to view the video.

Check out www.soccerathletics.com for more information

Elite Soccer Development #7-Mental Conditioning

Studies have proven that certain mental conditioning techniques (or 'sport psychology') can greatly improve your athletic performance. This short video introduces some of the basics. Our DVD describes this topic in more detail.
Check out www.soccerathletics.com

Elite Soccer Development #6- Rosario Hook Back & Turn

This episode's "Move of the Month" is called the Rosario Hook Back and Turn:
Run at your opponent with the ball at your right foot and keep close control of the ball. Fake a shot as you get near the opposing player and change direction by hooking the ball back with the inside of your right foot. As the opposing player gets near you surprise him/her with an outside left foot touch and accelerate past him/her. Rotate 360 and spin off your right foot. Shield the ball when you are turning.

Train smart and play hard!
Coach Clayton Rosario

Passing the Ball

PASSING
a) Accuracy / Eye on the Ball
b) Pace / Timing / Weighting
c) Part of Foot and Ball

Attack the ball as if you are going to shoot the ball. Get your body behind and over the ball.
Your supporting foot should be beside the ball pointing in the direction you want to pass the ball.
As your passing foot is about to make contact with the ball lock your ankle and make sure your foot is square to the ball.
Keep your eye on the ball as you are about to make the pass.
The timing, pace and weighting of your pass important for accurate passing and for creating good combination passes to beat your opponent effectively. Other parts of your foot can be used in different situations.
e.g. outside foot pass to bend the ball around an opposing player.Chip pass with the laces over the opponents head into space.
Play Hard!
Coach Rosario