Upcoming Soccer Events on TV or in Northern California:
Wednesday, June 24th @ 11:30:
US MNT vs Spain -- ESPN
Sunday, July 19, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
Club America vs Inter Milan -- Stanford Stadium
Saturday, August 8th, 2009
Barcelona vs Chivas in San Francisco
Live Soccer Alert
To Improve Performance... Try Sleep
A recent Stanford study has found that athletes performed better on their drills & exercises after increasing their sleep times. Specifically, improvements were observed after the athletes extended their sleep to 10 hours a night for five to six weeks. Ten hours is probably more sleep than many of us can afford, but the study still demonstrates just how much sleep matters to your performance.
So are you getting enough sleep to perform at the highest level?
Spring Evals
Players & Parents,
Be watching your emails for your player evaluation.
I will be completing and sending them out for you to view/print-out from the web. I will also have a conference with each player at practice during the next two weeks.
Before you can view it, you must fill out a self-evaluation for my records.
Remember these evaluations are to be kept between the coaching staff and each player and their parents. Evaluations are to help with your individual development & personal goal-setting. They are not to be shared with other players.
All It Takes Is One
Here is a video list of the top 15 goals from last years Champions League, offered as a way to breakdown the forcefield around the oppositions goal.
Trust your preparation, trust your skills, and let it flow!
And are the English Premier League Goals of the Year:
And for all the Beckham fans - his best Freekick Goals
Before there was Ronaldo there was...
Ronaldo. He was the first of a new wave of soccer player who played with both skill and above everything speed. Here's a reminder of how he terrorized defenses.
And he still is. Check it out after the jump...
How cool is that?
The Next Four Trainings
Thursday: Speed of Play (technical speed, soccer decisions, possession)
Monday: Team Shape & Defensive Organization
Wednesday: Technical Training
Thursday: Principles of Play: Attacking & Defending w/ freekicks, set-plays, corners
And all practices will be highly competitive. Come ready to earn a spot.
Summer Camps
Summer soccer camps are a great way to improve your skills in an exciting soccer environment. As always there are many choices for players and families. Like the new one from Ziemer.com.
Jan olde Riekerink is the Director of the Ajax Amsterdam
For Dutch Method Summer Soccer Training Camps
• hosted by Mustang Soccer Club •
Jan olde Riekerink is the Director of the Ajax Amsterdam, the #1 club in the world for developing youth talent.
Around the world people admire the Dutch style of playing soccer. The Dutch are ranked #3 in the FIFA world ranking and achieve it by a attacking, adventurous, possession style of soccer. Many icons of modern soccer come from this small club Ajax Amsterdam: Clarence Seedorf, Edwin van der Sar, Wesley Sneider, Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong and Ryan Babel to name just a few.
Advanced camps with
Ajax Director of Youth Jan olde Riekerink
#JOR 1 - 8:30am - 11am • $160
#JOR 2 - 12:30pm - 3:00pm • $160
#JOR 3 - both AM and PM sessions • $250
Top level boys and girls ages 7-15 .
This camp is for competitive, motivated players who love the game of soccer (Class
1 / Premier/ Gold level players or highly motivated Class 3 players wanting to reach the next level).
Skills camp with Dutch skills coach –
Hemmet el Ouassiadi several other Dutch coaches.
# Skills 1 - 5:00 - 7:30pm • $160
Skills camp for ages 5-14 for players who love soccer and want to get the skills needed to reach the next level (Class 3 / Bronze level players).
Sat Match Vs. Livermore Elite Fury
I won't be at the game this Saturday (the U12B are in San Jose @ the same time).
Shawn Blakeman will be there to take you through the game.
Make sure to set goals for yourself, work hard, work together, and enjoy the game.
And don't forget the California Storm Women's Premier Soccer League game @ 7pm.
Focus & Discipline
From The Vision of a Champion:
In order to excel at the highest possible level you need to be focused and disciplined. That's because the competitive soccer world is so stressful. For example, athletics demands tremendous fitness... Can you drive yourself to get fit, and, after you are bent over in exhaustion from sprinting, can you spend an hour slamming a ball against the wall, or playing one v. one against your friends? Can you drive yourself with self-discipline when others are not there? No one is going to be constantly pushing you, insisting that you get fit or hone your skills. When it truly counts, you're on your own. Your margin of success is based on your inner drive. This focus and self-discipline is also a great element of your character.
Now let's get fired up.
The Art of the Cross
An accurate cross can bypass the entire defense and create an easy scoring opportunity.
Here are the techniques of the many different types of crosses:
The Driven Cross:
- Non kicking foot to the side of the ball
- Use the instep
- Contact through the middle of the ball // below the ball for more height
- Cut across the ball
- Head down and steady
- Eyes on the ball
Cut Back Cross:
- Non kicking foot to the side of the ball
- Use the instep
- Contact through the middle of the ball
- Rotate your hips on making contact with the ball
- Head down and steady
- Eyes on the ball
The Inswinging or Outswinging Cross:
- Non kicking foot to the side of AND behind the ball
- Use knuckle of the big toe to make contact with the outside of the ball
- Follow through with toe in the air
- Head down and steady
- Eyes on the ball
Here is a video to help all you visual learners put that into motion.
If your goal is to be a better crosser or a better winger, this is your best tool.
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