Check your emails. I will be sending links to your email accounts. You should receive one email confirming your account & one email telling you there is an evaluation ready.
Evaluation scale:
0 to 4.
1 - Base Comp Player Skill level
4 - Top player in California's Skill level
Please focus more on the comments then the numbers.
If you have any questions regarding the player evaluation please contact me.
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring. Show all posts
Evaluations Released
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.
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. There's something to get you pumped up for tomorrows.
And he still is. Check it out after the jump...
How cool is that?
HowTo: Defend in Midfield
Here is a video for all the players who have aspirations to play anywhere in the middle of the park or any players wanting to be better at defending.
This is Darren Fletcher. He plays for Manchester United and is what could be called an unsung hero.
Watch this 2 minute clip of him and this teammates defend as a team. It's from the BBC Match of the Day program.
Check out how Darren and his teammates communicate (talk, point) and work with each other to mark and defend.
BTW - if you want to watch the whole Match Of The Day, let me know and I'll bring you a copy.
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
Crossing is sometimes a forgotten skill of attacking soccer in the United States.
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.
Homework for Thursday
The homework for Thursday is the dribble move the Dutch call Akka.
Here is a quick demo.
Make sure to work on all versions at home. Have fun.
Goal of the Year?
The Guardian has a great page up that lets readers rate the goal of the year.
Make sure to check out Cristiano Ronaldo's, Grafite's, & Zlatan Ibrahimovic's.
My choice is Yoann Gourcuff:
My favorite part, besides the incredible skill, is listening to the crowd react after seeing the
replay of what they just witnessed.
Make sure to stick with it till 0:50!!
Summer Reading
With summer rapidly approaching, I thought I'd put together a list of soccer reading for the players and the parents.
Recommended Reading List:
Parents:
- 101 Ways To Be A Terrific Sports Parent by Dr. Joel Fish
- The Sports Parenting Edge by Rick Wolff
- Brilliant Orange, The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football by David Winner
- The Coaching Philosophies of Louis Van Gaal and The Ajax Coaches by Henny Komeklink and Tjeu Seeverens
Players:
- Playing Out of Your Mind, Developing Mental Toughness by Dr. Alan Goldberg
- The Vision of A Champion by Anson Dorrance
- The Champion Within, Developing Women Soccer Players by Lauren Gregg
10 Types of Speed
If one of your soccer goals involves speed (i.e. - being a more explosive dribbler, improving passing range, improve services from the outside, being more competitive winning 50/50's ) or you just want to be faster, THIS is a great article about the different types of speed from World Class Coaching.
Make sure to check out Part 2 - Neuromuscular or Physical Speed for stuff you can do at home to become faster.
Here is a quick rundown:
- Anticipation (understanding the game, preparing mentally, being ready, preparedness, pre-calculation of trajectory, speed, force…)
- Recognition (seeing a situation develop and knowing what to do, decision making speed, sensing changes in touch, sight and sound (tactile, visual and auditory indicators), cued by recognizing sequences or preparatory movements)
- Reaction (response time, neuromuscular, motor reaction sequencing, sensing time and decision time, improved by repetition of various neuromuscular skill work, efficiency in execution of specific motor patterns, “time between stimulus and response”, specific reaction times…)
- Acceleration (factor of strength, power, starting explosive strength, resistance to fatigue, genetic factors, mechanics of movement…)
- Deceleration (strength, understanding of movement, positioning, center of gravity, body control…)
- Transition (the point in which you transition from deceleration to acceleration – agility, core strength, proprioception, plyometric, neuromuscular efficiency in generating explosive force, stretch shortening cycle…)
- Speed Endurance – Max Speed (genetic factors, ability to relax, combination of V=S(L) x S(F), running economy and energy expenditure, also seen as a combination of horizontal thrust and vertical oscillation of the athletes center of gravity, rarely comes into play in team sports…)
- Speed Against an Opponent (combination of the 4 physical (neuromuscular) speed characteristics with the 3 mental (cognitive) characteristics, seeing changes in an opponent’s position, and reacting subconsciously to those, then possessing the physical ability to adjust or alter your speed to get the advantage…)
- Speed with a Ball/Bat/Racket (combination of the 4 physical speed characteristics and technical ball handling ability or skill, requires many repetitions to fine tune the precise motor skills, timing, tracking, trajectories,…)
- Speed with the Ball, Against and Opponent (This is the ultimate goal, it requires an broad understanding of the game and its limits, rules, and expectations: it also requires an awareness of your opponent (tactile, visual, auditory, etc), then the repetitions of skill
Close Control : Dembele
Moussa Dembele is what the Dutch would call "balvast" (difficult to get off the ball).
Notice how he never does anything super tricky. He just has close control.
This Weeks Schedule
Monday:
No Practice
Wednesday:
Principles of attacking play
See Everybody on Wednesday.
Juggle Tricks
The development of a player's juggling ability can improve touch, balance, and coordination/agility. Developing a quality touch, players can weight their passes more accurately, have more confidence dribbling and controlling the ball under pressure and strike balls with various surface with precision.
Here is a juggling superstar named Palle. His specially trick: Around the World (ATW).
Homework for Wednesday:
1) Work on your juggle tricks.
2) Tape or watch or Download the Champions League Final
Barcelona vs. Man Utd - Wed 11:30 - ESPN
Welcome to the Sac United - U12B Man Utd Blog
Welcome to the new home of Sac United U12B Manchester United info.
Check back weekly for updates on training sessions, match reflections, skills videos, goal videos, and other soccer information helpful for young players and their parents.
All Content NK and SU Manchester United U12B