This is the video I promised you on speed and agility training. This is another f.r.e.e. excerpt from our DVD, "Building the Complete Soccer Athlete: Train Like a Pro". If you don't have a copy yet, you can pick yours up by clicking the image of the DVD on the left.
This video will show you some great drills you can include in your training program right away! Check it out:
Showing posts with label technique. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technique. Show all posts
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The Complete Soccer Athlete
During the 16 years that I’ve been coaching youth soccer, I’ve had the fortune to see many great players develop and I’ve observed the qualities that are necessary to excel at this sport. Many young soccer players are happy just to show up and play simply for the love of the game, which is fantastic. However, this article is for those athletes who dream of taking their game to the next level; for the player who wants to become the complete soccer athlete.
My primary focus in coaching soccer at the youth level has always been “Technique, technique, technique.” A strong player needs to be technically skilled with both feet, and be able to apply those skills appropriately on the field. Good ball control and the ability to read the play are essential. To be a well rounded player, you also need to be fit, athletic, fast, and mentally focused.
Technique is something that can be coached, and something that I’ve become very proficient at coaching over the years. Fitness and physical conditioning are other aspects that a coach or trainer can develop in their players by implementing regimented athletic conditioning programs. But there are other important qualities that must be developed in order to become the best soccer player you can be. Some of these qualities a coach has less influence over.
Qualities such as maturity, independence, mental toughness, creativity, and what I call that certain “X-Factor” (or WOW Factor) can be encouraged and modeled by a good coach, but these are characteristics that a player will need to develop on their own. Incidentally, this is the sort of personal development that will not only make you more successful at soccer, but also more successful at life in general.
WOW Factor
A player should view their sport not only as competition but also as entertainment, and should therefore learn to be creative and add another dimension to their game. Put yourself in the position of a fan or a spectator. Would you pay to watch a boring game? I don’t think so. The game is about entertainment. People want to see a quality game with great athletes, plenty of creativity, and exciting goals! When a talented player can enter the field of play and change the chemistry of the game in such a way that makes the crowd go crazy, that’s what I call the X-Factor. This player is unique, creative, skillful, and passionate about the sport. These are the qualities that make us remember a player, and this is part of what makes a “star” stand out from the rest.
Here are some of my recommendations for those who want to take it to the next level, and who dream of being a pro:
•Be a student of the game. Take a personal interest in learning everything you can.
•Eat right, stay fit, train smart, and adopt a positive attitude.
•Be unique and creative. Develop your own personal style and make a difference on the field!
•Become a master of technique. Try to be the best in your position.
•Being talented is great, but you must also be a team player! A superstar is of no use if they can’t work with the team.
•To be a pro, you have to eat, sleep and breathe soccer!
Remember to have a strong work ethic when you train, and perform your drills with intensity. Don't worry about mistakes. Even the pros make mistakes.
I encourage you to check out my new DVD, “Building the Complete Soccer Athlete: Train Like a Pro”, which covers strength and conditioning programs, speed and agility training, nutrition, psychology, and several important technical drills with the ball. Go to www.SoccerAthletics.com for more information. If you have any questions, or if you are interested in participating in our program, feel free to contact me at coach@soccerathletics.com or 416-319-1729.
I wish you lots of success!
Coach Clayton Rosario
------------
About the Author:
CLAYTON ROSARIO
Technical Director
Clayton has been coaching soccer at the youth level ever since he came to Canada in 1981 from London, England. He is known for the many successes his teams have achieved: Nine league championships U8 to U14, winner of over 70 tournaments including the Robbie International and USA Cup. He took the Mississauga U17 OYSL for a 4 game exhibition tour in the north of France winning 3 and losing 1, as well as taking different teams to other European countries. Clayton is an expert in creating youth development programs and has been involved in a number of leading OYSL clubs. His focus is on developing the total player, incorporating technical training, ball control, creativity, high performance training, nutrition, and psychology.
•Specializes in technical development of youth level soccer athletes.
•Instrumental in sending many talented young players to Europe.
•Has traveled all over US, UK, Italy, and France for team tours
•Visited training centers of Manchester United and formation centers of Lille and OGC Nice France.
•Specializes in Dutch, French, and Brazilian training methods
•Co-producer of the DVD- “Building the Complete Soccer Athlete: Train Like a Pro”
www.EliteSoccerDevelopment.com
My primary focus in coaching soccer at the youth level has always been “Technique, technique, technique.” A strong player needs to be technically skilled with both feet, and be able to apply those skills appropriately on the field. Good ball control and the ability to read the play are essential. To be a well rounded player, you also need to be fit, athletic, fast, and mentally focused.
Technique is something that can be coached, and something that I’ve become very proficient at coaching over the years. Fitness and physical conditioning are other aspects that a coach or trainer can develop in their players by implementing regimented athletic conditioning programs. But there are other important qualities that must be developed in order to become the best soccer player you can be. Some of these qualities a coach has less influence over.
Qualities such as maturity, independence, mental toughness, creativity, and what I call that certain “X-Factor” (or WOW Factor) can be encouraged and modeled by a good coach, but these are characteristics that a player will need to develop on their own. Incidentally, this is the sort of personal development that will not only make you more successful at soccer, but also more successful at life in general.
WOW Factor
A player should view their sport not only as competition but also as entertainment, and should therefore learn to be creative and add another dimension to their game. Put yourself in the position of a fan or a spectator. Would you pay to watch a boring game? I don’t think so. The game is about entertainment. People want to see a quality game with great athletes, plenty of creativity, and exciting goals! When a talented player can enter the field of play and change the chemistry of the game in such a way that makes the crowd go crazy, that’s what I call the X-Factor. This player is unique, creative, skillful, and passionate about the sport. These are the qualities that make us remember a player, and this is part of what makes a “star” stand out from the rest.
Here are some of my recommendations for those who want to take it to the next level, and who dream of being a pro:
•Be a student of the game. Take a personal interest in learning everything you can.
•Eat right, stay fit, train smart, and adopt a positive attitude.
•Be unique and creative. Develop your own personal style and make a difference on the field!
•Become a master of technique. Try to be the best in your position.
•Being talented is great, but you must also be a team player! A superstar is of no use if they can’t work with the team.
•To be a pro, you have to eat, sleep and breathe soccer!
Remember to have a strong work ethic when you train, and perform your drills with intensity. Don't worry about mistakes. Even the pros make mistakes.
I encourage you to check out my new DVD, “Building the Complete Soccer Athlete: Train Like a Pro”, which covers strength and conditioning programs, speed and agility training, nutrition, psychology, and several important technical drills with the ball. Go to www.SoccerAthletics.com for more information. If you have any questions, or if you are interested in participating in our program, feel free to contact me at coach@soccerathletics.com or 416-319-1729.
I wish you lots of success!
Coach Clayton Rosario
------------
About the Author:
CLAYTON ROSARIO
Technical Director
Clayton has been coaching soccer at the youth level ever since he came to Canada in 1981 from London, England. He is known for the many successes his teams have achieved: Nine league championships U8 to U14, winner of over 70 tournaments including the Robbie International and USA Cup. He took the Mississauga U17 OYSL for a 4 game exhibition tour in the north of France winning 3 and losing 1, as well as taking different teams to other European countries. Clayton is an expert in creating youth development programs and has been involved in a number of leading OYSL clubs. His focus is on developing the total player, incorporating technical training, ball control, creativity, high performance training, nutrition, and psychology.
•Specializes in technical development of youth level soccer athletes.
•Instrumental in sending many talented young players to Europe.
•Has traveled all over US, UK, Italy, and France for team tours
•Visited training centers of Manchester United and formation centers of Lille and OGC Nice France.
•Specializes in Dutch, French, and Brazilian training methods
•Co-producer of the DVD- “Building the Complete Soccer Athlete: Train Like a Pro”
www.EliteSoccerDevelopment.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
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.
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
Friday, June 19, 2009
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
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
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