Good luck catching Arjen Robben, one of the world’s fastest players! – (Photo: Spanishfootballsports.blogspot.com)

One of the greatest assets that many top youth soccer players possess is speed.  If you can outrun all your opponents, chances are high that you’ll be able to break free and make an impact on the team.  All you have to do is kick the ball passed a defender and run quicker than them to the ball.  Until you face stiffer competition and other fast players, you can dominate your rec league.  But what about those players not gifted with blazing speed?  If you want to defend adequately against a quick player you need to be prepared for a tough fight and be fast to act on every moment that they receive the ball. Here are some tips:

First things first, you want to attack the ball and win it before they get a chance to utilize their speed.  If the fast player gets the ball past you in the open field, you’re done.  Sure you can hustle back, but you definitely won’t win the race.  You need to immediately put them under pressure.  Without time to think, your opponent won’t have time to play the ball past you.  Instead, they’ll worry about losing possession and may even make an errant pass back to your teammates.

Another thing to plan is to always be in between the goal and your opponent.  When you achieve this, you’ll greatly reduce their ability to sprint clean in on the goal.  A good general defending tip is to always keep your eyes on the ball, not a player’s feet.  Their nifty moves will throw you off and catch you off balance (the second that happens they’ll simply kick the ball past you and outrun you!).  If you just focus on the ball you’ll be best prepared to block their attempts and keep them from beating you.  Think about where they’ll try to go, but be sure not to give yourself away.  Remember, the second you stab at the ball and miss, they’ll beat you.  If you go after the ball, make sure you get it.

A final piece of advice is to get physical.  While blatant fouling and abuse will rightly result in a red card for dangerous play, there is certainly a benefit to slowing down your opponent through physicality.  Push them around a little bit, leave a little extra on your challenges.  Don’t try to hurt them, just remind them that you’re there and that you’re going to push them around.  Not only will such tactics make them tired, but it will get into their head. When you can induce a bit of fear in your opponent’s mind, they’ll hesitate and play at a lower level than their true potential.  This is the type of thing that professional defenders do all the time in order to slow down those speedy wingers.

But be careful.  While an occasional foul will go unpunished, you are maneuvering on shaky ground.  Lots of soccer games are changed entirely when a last defender is sent off for a rash challenge.  If you can, focus on stopping your opponent legally by keeping your eyes on the ball and being aggressive in your defending.  While speed is a great attribute, stiff and stern defending can often slow such players down mighty fast!

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Many best friends begin as youth soccer teammates! – (Photo: Medfieldphoto.wikispaces.com)

Playing in the competitive realm of soccer can often bring out the worst in people.  Following the often cutthroat experience of tryouts, players then have to endure the tough times of fighting for starters’ roles and playing time.  Additionally, players compete with one another as to who will receive passes from whom when they are on the field in a game.  Many players have best friends that they always look towards and enemies on their own team that they often avoid bringing in to the action.  This is a terrible occurrence for any other team because it reveals that personal differences are now clearly getting in the way of your team’s ability to click.  That is the first reason why soccer players must strive to be nice to one another.

Naturally, a very talented player will get on a bit of an ego trip when they succeed time and time again, scoring goals and winning games, but these players need to remain humble as well.  Remember, scoring a goal in front of your parents at the U-14 level is a long ways away from winning the World Cup!  However, keeping a level head on such a person is very important, and it’s crucial for coaches to not give an preferential treatment towards their top players.

This often occurs when the child of a coach plays for a team, and a heavy resentment can circulate through the team if they are favored time and time again by their mom or dad.  Remember, the tone that a coach sets results in how the players interact with one another.  When you are respectful of the players and treat them all fairly, they’ll do the same to one another.

A tough challenge can develop for a team if two players simply hate one another.  Usually this is only discovered once the players get into a verbal or physical fight.  At this point, emotions are running high and liable to threaten both players’ future on the team.  As a coach you must solve the matter.  Take both players aside during the next drill and talk to them about the importance of working together.  As a team, everyone needs to work as one.  When internal problems persist, your team will never perform to its full potential.

For players, you need to simply be nice to one another.  Remember, you are really competing against your opponents, not your teammates.  No matter what role or impact you have with your team, you need to be focused on positive support with your fellow teammates.  Even if your play continues to struggle, a coach will give you opportunities because of your positivity.  In all likelihood, your skill will improve as you believe in yourself and aspire for greatness.  Additionally, your positive influence will help your teammates improve and will likely be returned.  This is the key to team camaraderie! It’s far more enjoyable than internal competition and hatred as players fight amongst each other for every little thing related to the team.

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Who will lift the cup! – (Photo: En.wikipedia.org)

With the MLS regular season coming to a close in the next week, the MLS playoffs are nearly set. Only one place remains open in the Western Conference and teams are now vying for seeds to improve their hopes for the upcoming tournament to decide an MLS champion.  However, all that is often rather meaningless once the games begin.  The playoff atmosphere brings a whole new level of intensity to the matches and it just comes down to who wants it the most.  I’ve selected two teams that I expect to reach the MLS Cup Final and have included a prediction as to who will win it all:

In the West I can look no further than the Los Angeles Galaxy.  Yes, Clint Dempsey’s Seattle Sounders are a major force and could still win the Supporter’s Shield, but I think with Landon Donovan set to retire from professional soccer that his play (and that of his teammates) will rise to another level.  The Galaxy is loaded with talent, including stars like Robbie Keane of Ireland, Omar Gonzalez, and Gyasi Zardes, who might just develop into the top quality striker that the USA Men’s National team so desperately needs.  This team is stacked and Donovan went so far as to guarantee an MLS Cup victory following the last regular season home game of his illustrious career.  It would be an absolute shame if they slipped up as Donovan deserves another title in this country.

In the Eastern Conference I think the surprise will be in the form of a strong run by the New York Red Bulls.  Yes, they are currently in the 5^th slot and will probably have a tricky wildcard game ahead of them, but this team is loaded with talent!  The big name is Thierry Henry, legend of Arsenal and France.  While his 10 league goals aren’t that inspiring and his 37-year-old legs have certainly lost a bit of their spring, what is impressive has been his 14 assists on the year, which are tied for second in the league.  When he brings his teammates into all-around play, good things happen for the Red Bulls.  Surprisingly, the top scoring figure at this club belongs to Bradley Wright-Philips, an English striker who has finally come into his own.  With 25 goals, he leads not only the Red Bulls but also the entire MLS!  Don’t forget that Australian star Tim Cahill also helps pull the midfield strings and start attacks.  In a conference where no one has truly dominated, I feel the Red Bulls are poised to surprise their rivals and win a trip to the MLS Cup.

And what an MLS Cup Final it would be between the LA Galaxy and the NY Red Bull.  With the game’s biggest stars as well as several blossoming strikers, this could be an MLS match for the ages.  With the added bonus of being Landon Donovan’s final game, this could be a monumental occasion.  And based solely on Donovan wrapping up his career, I suspect he’ll lead the Galaxy with a goal and an assist in a 2-1 win in the match, handing Los Angeles the cup and sending him out in style!

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Long sleeves and gloves can be very warming – (Photo: Whotalking.com)

As fall continues to see dropping temperatures throughout America, soccer players all over the country will need to take precautions in order to stay warm and preserve their health.  While it may not be fun to put on additional layers of clothing before heading out to soccer practice, it can be the crucial difference in determining whether you can continue to play the sport or end up stuck in bed all day with a nasty cold.  Here are some rough guidelines and ideas for making sure that you’re prepared to handle the cold weather that’s headed our way:

First, you need to be aware of the weather in your area, especially on days when you plan on heading outside to play soccer.  This means checking weather reports.  With winter storm systems and cold fronts liable to shift temperatures and conditions greatly within just a single hour, you should be aware of such systems and be prepared.

When cold temperatures are present (or on the way), there are several things you’ll certainly want.  A long-sleeved undershirt can be immensely helpful and can be worn underneath your jersey on cold days.  Other key items include hats and gloves.  Also, warm undergarments can help protect your legs from growing cold.  While wearing such clothing can be a bit of a nuisance, if you practice in such items you’ll grow used to them and be well prepared to handle most inclement weather conditions you may face.

Another thing you should consider is bringing along a sweater or jacket to practices and games.  While such heavy outfits are too big to be worn on the field, they can be there waiting for you after the session is over or if the conditions become to severe to bear.  Time after practice is often when players catch a cold.  They’ve been running around for hours, building up a sweat, and then they’re just standing around in the cold waiting for their ride home.  The sweat turns to cold liquid, and their tired bodies become susceptible to sickness.  Having that jacket handy for this post-playing downtime could be vital to keeping you in good health.

Another important thing to remember as the temperatures cool down with the fall is to simply maintain good health practices.  You want to get a good night’s sleep every evening and should go to bed early.  Also, be sure to eat right.  With a good diet and a healthy amount of sleep, your body will be strong and ready to combat the cold, especially if you wear the right garments!

Many professional soccer leagues will play right through the coldest months of winter, and most players will certainly experience playing in cold weather at some point.  Also, training sessions and pick-up games are often common during this time of year.  You definitely want to be able to play the sport in all types of weather and an important thing to remember is that you need to be dressed for success.  Be sure to wear proper items and have a jacket handy if things get really cold!  You’ll be thankful for it later…

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Looks like everyone wants in on France’s EURO 2016 party! – (Photo: En.wikipedia.org)

While the early expectations were that an increased number of teams to 24 at EURO 2016 would water down the excitement of the qualification process, that seems to be far from what has transpired on soccer fields across Europe in the past week.  It now appears that with the expanded tournaments, more of the second tier caliber of European nations have drawn hope and desire to qualify themselves and are currently pushing some of the established super power nations of Europe to the brink.  While there is still a long way to go, it looks like the EURO 2016 qualification matches will be a delightful joy to watch over the next year.

Here are some of the rare upsets that unfolded over the weekend:  2014 World Cup champions Germany lost for the first time in its history to neighbors Poland, 2-0.  Then they followed that up with a 1-1 home draw to Ireland!  Spain was beaten by Slovakia, 2-1.  World Cup semifinalists, the Netherlands, fell at the hands of Iceland, 2-0.  Other surprising results occurred to Belgium, who barely managed a draw with Bosnia & Herzegovina.  World Cup round of 16 participants Switzerland was beaten by Slovenia, 2-1.  Similarly, Greece was undone by Northern Ireland, 2-0, in front of their home fans!  What is happening to the establishment of Europe’s elite?

These results are quite stunning, and they reveal the balance of talent and skill that is spread wide throughout the continent.  In all likelihood, a team like Slovenia or Poland would qualify for major tournaments with ease in any other zone except for Europe.  Realize that one of the game’s top strikers, Robert Lewandowski, features for the Polish national team.  Under normal qualification structures of the past, where only 13 or 14 qualify for World Cups, and just 16 for EURO tournaments, such a talent is often left at home.  That also happened to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sweden, who were denied a place in Brazil this past summer.

But that has now changed, and it seems as if the increased possibility of earning a spot at EURO 2016 has spurned on these non-superpower nations with hope and belief.  And intriguingly, the results are beginning to fall in their favor.  When a team like Iceland beats the Netherlands, or a team like Poland defeats Germany, it means that the competition is balancing out and that we could likely see some surprise teams taking part in the next EURO tournament.

Now, in all likelihood we can expect the major nations to still qualify relatively comfortably.  These results have been surprises, and their awesome talent will get them through.  Certainly, over the course of 10 or 12 matches, the cream will rise to the top.  But what is fascinating regarding these early results is that the typically subsidiary countries in Europe are beginning to believe in their ability to contend against the major nations.  While such a result in qualification doesn’t carry all that much weight in the grand scheme of international soccer, if such teams continue to get results against the big boys, they’ll close the talent gap and potentially make for an intriguing and exciting EURO 2016.  I say let the grand upsets continue!

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Pass it! – (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

While the modern professional soccer game is built around fluid passing and teamwork, at the youth level things are very different.  Because players have very limited ball skills and passing control, passes are often sent errantly away or result in turnovers gifted to the other team.  Often times the most effective manner of attack is for kids to try their one-on-one dribbling skills and take the ball past their opponents single-handedly.  Which way is better for youth development, and which way is the best plan of attack for your team?

Ideally, you want your players to move the ball around like the stars of Barcelona, who dominate time of possession and pass their way into the goal.  Everything is so well-coordinated and timed, and their meticulous teamwork is truly inspiring (and usually victorious as well!), but this simply isn’t a reality for most U-10 soccer teams.

In reality, young kids just haven’t played enough soccer to truly grasp the art of teamwork.  Things happen so fast and physically they can’t kick the ball all the way across the field with pin-point precision to throw off a defense.  What should you as a coach try to do?

You need to persuade the kids to work on their short-passing game.  Shorter passes are very easy and will help your players move the ball down the field as a unit.  This will also help when your team is dispossessed, as several teammates will be nearby to help swarm the opponent.

You don’t necessarily want all your players jammed up in a big soccer scrum (which are atrociously common in the U-7 levels), but you want them to be close by in order to help each other with passing.  Remember to teach general basics of positioning so the players know where they belong on the field.  This will help keep things reasonably organized.

But also, do encourage players to take on their opponents one-on-one if they feel confident in doing so.  Despite all the professional’s incredible teamwork, it’s often the singular moment of brilliance that separates two teams.  Creative, quick, and talented players can often take the ball past an opponent, and they should be encouraged to try these in certain instances.  The key comes with the decision-making.  When an open, obvious pass presents itself, a player should pass.  But if they are stranded in the offensive third or have just one person to beat, often times that player can make something happen if they just go for it.

The balance here is key, and how that balance is determined is dependent on the specific situations that a player finds themselves in.  As a coach, you simply have to prepare the kids as best you can.  They must learn for themselves how to play in each instance, and they’ll only come to master the skills with more experience and knowledge about soccer.

Therefore, don’t stress too much over whether your players are passing enough or are just a bunch of ballhogs.  As long as they know the importance of teamwork and passing, they’ll begin to make the difficult choices that come alongside soccer playing and whether to attack with individual skills or collaborative team passing.

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Thanks for the memories, Landon! – (Photo: Article.wn.com)

For a great soccer player such as Landon Donovan to call it quits at the age of 32 is a bit of a surprise, but the reason it hurts so much is because he’s been such an incredible player in the last 15 years for the USA and the MLS!  His 57 goals is the American record (as are his 58 assists), while his soon-to-be 157 appearances will leave him in second on the all-time list below only Cobi Jones.  But while you may shed a tear on Friday watching Donovan’s final international game against Ecuador, what you really should be doing is rejoicing in all the great moments that he provided for the USA and the various clubs he represented throughout his career.

After a stellar youth career, Landon Donovan came to prominence at the 2002 World Cup, where he was awarded the “Best Young Player” award following several great performances and key goals.  His pace, smarts, and simple ability to make an impact had made him one of America’s best prospects.

Donovan initially played in Germany with the club Bayer Leverkusen, but found opportunities hard to come by, despite his impressive international resume.  Instead, he found a place in the San Jose Earthquakes on loan, where he won two MLS Cups.  In the 2003 MLS Cup Final, Donovan would earn “Man of the Match” for his two goal performance.

But in 2005, Donovan would move closer to his home of Southern California when he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy.  There he would help the side win the 2005 MLS Cup with his instinctual playmaking ability.  The Galaxy would also become world-famous with the arrival of English superstar David Beckham.

By 2010, Landon Donovan had proven himself as one of the game’s best playmakers.  During a loan spell at Everton in the English Premier League, he delighted the fans with several fine performances and goals, even earning “Player of the Month”!  In the summer, Donovan was a key member of the USA 2010 World Cup team.  In perhaps his finest moment, Landon scored a fantastic late goal against Algeria in the group stage to seal a place in the knockout rounds.  He would score 3 goals in the tournament.

In the new decade, the Galaxy would take two more MLS Cup titles in 2011 and 2012, with Donovan largely responsible for pulling the strings.  But after that success, the player decided to take a break from soccer, signaling that his time on the field was numbered.  This clearly angered USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann, and he ended up outside of the 2014 World Cup squad for the USA, which will likely go down in history as one of American soccer’s greatest blunders.  Nevertheless, Donovan has continued to perform well with the Galaxy, and remains one of the favorites to lift this year’s MLS Cup, which would be his 6^th!  Not too shabby, especially when combined with his 4 Gold Cup titles with the American National team!

And so while Donovan braces himself to put on that USA jersey for one last time, let us look back and celebrate the career of America’s finest soccer player.  Yes, his incisive and creative hard working play will be wrapping up soon, but his efforts will never be forgotten in the remarkable tale of American soccer!

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Do something cool! – (Photo: Wikihow.com)

While they certainly can impress your friends, do skillful little tricks with the soccer ball really help you out in a real game situation?  The question is quite important because many soccer players will spend hours on end learning how to juggle the ball hundreds of times or perform all sorts of circus acts with a ball at their feet.  Perhaps this time would be better spent in the weight room or working on conditioning.  Or maybe your should be focusing your attention more on soccer basics like passing and shooting?  Here are some things to consider about this delightful soccer-related activity:

Most of the tricks you see jugglers perform with a ball are entirely useless on a soccer field. For instance, does anybody really think that balancing the ball on the back of your neck before popping it up to your head will have any effect on your ability to play soccer?  Obviously not.  However, some tricks can be very helpful.  Learning cross-overs and step-overs can definitely help you beat defenders, while a strong ability to juggle the ball (with your feet) will greatly aid you in improving your ball control.  This is one of the most important aspects in soccer!

Another thing to think about is what position you play.  If you are a creative, attack-minded soccer player, learning a boatload of tricks can be really helpful.  As long as you can beat defenders with them you could become a great player.  See Neymar and Ronaldinho videos for inspiration!

But contrastingly, think if you play a position such as central defense or goalie.  Here, an arsenal of tricks won’t really be doing you any good.  The basics of your game will be all about positioning, strong tackling, and making smart, decisive decisions with the ball at your feet.  Nowhere in there is befuddling opponents with a brilliant move.  If such a position is your calling in soccer, tricks should be of lesser importance.

But the main thing to understand with soccer trickery is that it’s simply for fun.  Thousands of people around the world are incredible jugglers and tricksters on the ball, but they don’t have a hope in the world in playing professionally.  But the thing to remember is that the art is fun!  People love watching such feats with the ball and delight in the joy that juggling can bring.  It’s about doing the unthinkable with a ball and making people smile.  For those interested in learning these skills, learning tricks can make the game more enjoyable and fun to practice.  No one wants to be stuck in conditioning practice all day everyday.  Trickery and juggling is the fun way to practice and makes for a great show!

Additionally, these skills can certainly help in some areas on the field and will help improve your ball control from repeated touches.  Another thing to note is that most pro soccer players have incredible trick skills and can blow your mind with their precision and mastery of the ball.  But if you’re an aspiring pro soccer player, just remember to mix such juggling practice with actual dedicated training of the basics.  While tricks are fun, getting down the basic essentials is the most important thing to do to better yourself as a player

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Lining up for a penalty kick – (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

Penalty kicks can be the most important and high stakes moment of any soccer game.  Whether it’s a foul in the box that presented the opportunity, or if it’s a tied game that needs to be decided by shootout, when it comes to penalties, it’s all about holding your nerve.  As you place the ball down your heart will be pounding.  That once massive, wide reaching goal will shrink in size while the keeper’s wingspan magically grows two feet longer.  This is what pressure feels like.  As the PK taker, you need to ignore these emotions and stick the ball in the net.

First things first, you need to be comfortable with the simple motion of shooting from the penalty spot.  Make sure you practice taking the kicks with some regularity.  The idea is to build your kicking motion into such a habit that you know you can consistently take a good shot from the spot.  If you’re not very experienced in this regard, the emotions will certainly get the best of you.  Not only will the pressure and magnitude of the game mess with your head, but you’ll also have to contend with the reality that you’re not sure how the kick is going to go.  This is a recipe for failure.  Better practice taking a few spot kicks and get a good feel for it.

Now, when dealing with all this pressure approaching the shot, you need to clear your mind of everything and just focus on what’s in front of you.  All you have to do is kick the ball into the goal and beat the keeper.  This is not a difficult task and chances are you’ve taken this shot many times.  Imagine scoring the goal, and then make it happen.  If you start having worrying thoughts about what if you miss, chances are you’ll step right up and miss it.  Most importantly, you need to believe that you will score the PK.

Next, have a plan of action as to what goes on in your mind before taking a shot.  Build up a routine with something like: put the ball to its spot, take your steps back, visualize the shot, shoot.  Something clean and simple to where you can make it just another habitual thing like passing back to your defender.

Don’t necessarily pick your spot beforehand.  There’s always this guessing game between striker and goalie during PK’s, and if you’re eyeballing the bottom left corner, chances are that’s where you’ll be going as well as the keeper.  Keep them guessing and unsure to boost your odds of beating them.  If the goalie dives the wrong way, you’re almost certain to score.  Sometimes the best odds are to literally run up and strike, not knowing where you’ll aim for until the last moment.

Lastly, a good soccer player needs to relax for the occasion of taking a penalty kick.  Take a few deep breaths and don’t rush through it.  Make sure that you are in a calm, happy place so that you’ll be most likely to bury the shot.  Don’t fret about anything else, just step up and take your shot!

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Chelsea vs. Arsenal is always a treat! – (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

Another tasty English Premier League bout will bring London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea together in a massive clash of the undefeated at Stamford Bridge this weekend.  While the Blues have certainly had the advantage in the last few years (4 wins and 2 draws in their last 6 meetings), there is certainly hope that the Gunners will bring new life to this rivalry having revamped their squad with more big name transfers this summer.  But on Sunday all that will matter is the 22 players on the pitch and who fights the hardest for the result!  Which will way will this London derby go?

The obvious choice is Chelsea.  They battered Arsenal 6-0 in their previous meeting last spring.  With 5 wins and a draw on the season, Chelsea is first in the league with 16 points.  Though undefeated as well, Arsenal has been far less impressive, winning just twice and drawing 4 games for a 10 point total.  The Gunners have been quite inconsistent.  An impressive 3-0 win over Aston Villa showcased the brilliant coming together of Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil, while Alexis Sanchez has had a few good outings as well.  However, a shaky defense has seen Arsenal trail in most of their games, including poor recent cup losses to Southampton and Borussia Dortmund.  They come into this game battered and bruised, with two regular midfield starters Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey set to miss out.

On the other hand Chelsea has been firing on all cylinders.  New striker Diego Costa has been largely unstoppable, with an EPL leading 8 goals from 6 matches.   Other stars like Andre Schurrle, Ramires, and Eden Hazard have also done well.  But the main player this weekend sets to be Cesc Fabregas, former captain of Arsenal, and now midfield orchestrator for Chelsea.

After several down years at Barcelona, Fabregas sought a return move to England.  Initially offered back to Arsenal, their manager Arsene Wenger turned him down given the surplus of midfielders in his squad.  Jose Mourinho of Chelsea seized upon the opportunity to add some spice to this rivalry and signed the Spaniard up.  With 6 assists in 6 matches this season, Fabregas has continued right where he left off in the Premier League.  In what figures to be an emotionally charged match for the player, we will see if he can rise to the occasion of facing his former club.

With all the arrows pointing in Chelsea’s favor, one really wouldn’t be surprised by a 3-0 or 4-0 type of scoreline in this game.  But I think this may play into Arsenal’s favor.  They were abused last season in the 6-0 mauling, and had a tough time overall dealing with top opponents, especially away from home.  They have a chip on their shoulders and will be ever hungry to snatch something from this game.  Additionally, their midfield reserves should see them through the game without too much of a change in style or talent level.

While I’d be quite stunned if Arsenal escape from Stamford Bridge with a win, this is certainly a game in which they could snatch a point with a 1-1 draw.  I expect a high-paced, emotionally charged and energetic match that should entertain highly, with a split of the points when it’s all said and done.  1-1 in London!

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