Always fight hard to win back the ball! - (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

Young soccer players often wish to play striker or forward so they can have the most opportunities to score goals.  Yes, goal scoring can be a thrilling and rewarding prospect, and surely goals are the vital moment of any soccer game, but too many strikers refuse to help out in defending, and such a lame way of playing will definitely hurt your team.  Here are some reasons why any team’s forwards should be working hard to defend in addition to orchestrating goal-scoring chances.

Your team needs to have the ball in order to score goals.  That is a fact.  When your opponent has the ball, they are more likely to score a goal.  Don’t let them hang onto the ball for too long or else they will be scoring goals.  As a forward, get in the action and help your team win the ball back.

Defensive pressure works best as a team unit, not with individual players. Yes, the defenders earn their positional title because they are the team’s back line, but the entire team needs to be working hard to prevent the opposition from scoring.  That means you too, super star forward!

Forwards who maintain strong defensive pressure make excellent goal-scoring opportunities for themselves as well.  Because of your advanced position on the soccer field, if you are to win the ball from a center back, there is a good possibility that you will have a clean breakaway and a golden chance to score.

Defensive pressure up top is an excellent way to force mistakes from the other team too.  As they nervously pass the ball around the back, pressure from your team’s forwards can force a player into making a mistake or hurry them into sending an errant pass right to your team.  Opportunistic teams latch onto these moments and score goals.  Not only does this give your team another point, but it absolutely crushes the confidence of your opponent.

Also, consider how any traditional attack in soccer is started.  Players retrieve the ball in defense and prod their way up the field with passes.  If you allow a team to gently move the ball around the back, they will build an attack with confidence and find an easy way to your goal. If every player faces immediate pressure upon receiving a ball, they will have limited time to find openings and instigate their attack.  More likely, someone will mess up and your team will regain possession.  If your forwards are engaged in this defensive duty, your team will have the vast majority of possession and opportunities.

Strikers and forwards will also have other instances when they absolutely need to be in front of their own goal making defensive plays.  During opposing free kicks or corner kicks, defending becomes an entire team effort and surely requires defensive prowess from all players for any team to succeed.  Additionally, when your team is defending a slim lead at the end of a match, you forwards need to drop back and help defend.  Either way, don’t ignore the responsibilities of defending, at any position on the field, because a strong defensive unit is often the side that wins.

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Podolski confidently runs with the ball - (Photo: Article.wn.com)

Momentum is a key ingredient in life.  There is a natural flow and rhythm of your body and you need to embrace it and follow it at all times.  Today I was re-living all the goals scored by Arsenal this past EPL season in a 30 minute video of glory and this fact stuck out to me:  In each goal, the players seemed to be running in full stride or confidently moving with the soccer ball as they scored.  Best utilizing your forward momentum seems to be a vital part of goal scoring.

Watch any highlight video of soccer players and you will quickly notice how easy soccer looks when it’s played right.  It seems as though the players effortlessly glide about the pitch, weaving through defenders, and calmly placing the ball into the net, but the task is actually tremendously difficult.

As an Arsenal fan, I can confidently state that this season was rather nervy and tense throughout with few real moments of glory, although if one were to simply watch all the goals it looked like a real feast of football.  Such is the way of highlights…

In reality, plays constantly break down when players stutter or try to awkwardly change direction, or simply miskick the soccer ball.  Fans of other sports often criticize soccer and call it “boring” because the moments of brilliance are so few and far between.  Players laboriously pass the ball around and often make mistakes, losing possession and turning the ball over.

But that’s why the highlights are so fun to watch and shows how in those vital moments of genius, games are won and lost.  Soccer players need to be confident and believe in themselves.  Trusting the momentum and following your soccer instincts are a major plus and are crucial for orchestrating successful plays and goals.

Another thing to watch in highlights is how the players rarely hesitate when they make a goal-scoring charge.  This trait enables them to power their way through defenders and get in front of goal.  There, a calm finished further illustrates the importance of feeling the momentum and going for shots.

My favorite goal for Arsenal this year was this one:

Notice how Theo Walcott simply makes the run and is basically in constant motion, feeling his way through the maze of defender’s legs.  His momentum is so strong on this run, that when he is tripped up he manages to slide and regain his grounding and stand up with just the keeper to beat.  The cool finish is exemplary considering the awkwardness of the tumble, but in trusting his momentum and maintaining a cool head, Walcott scored one of the goals of the season.

So next time you see yourself with the ball and feel like making a serious run at the goal, go for it.  You must trust your soccer instincts and allow your momentum to push you through your opponents.  Trust your feet and where you are going with the ball.  Any shakiness and you will probably mess up, so just feel your way to glory and let your body take over!

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Cazorla is a pass master - (Photo: Fiestafootball.org)

Yesterday saw the powerful team of Arsenal defeat Wigan and send them tumbling down into the basement of English soccer’s second league, the Championship.  During the 4-1 victory for the London club, a player by the name of Santi Cazorla orchestrated all 4 goals and earned an assist on each occasion.  Such a player is instrumental to any team’s success and has been a vital addition to the London club this year.  For youth players who want to improve their ability to set up goals, Cazorla is a fascinating player to watch and can provide great insight into how to generate an assist.

One of the most important things for any player who aspires to assist on goals is to maintain strong ball control and keep your head up. You will never find your teammate that is running towards the goal if your eyes are always at your feet.  Therefore, learn to control the ball as best you can so that you can be comfortable not always focusing your attention on the ball.

Also, you will want to analyze the defense and read where open pockets of space are.  If your teammate is smart, they too will be looking for the open space and making a solid run into it.  To set up the pass, you must predict where the player is headed and put the ball ahead of their stride so they can find that open space and hopefully score a goal.

A tricky part of this is that you need to analyze the risk of each pass you make.  Although the central plan of any playmaker is to set up goal-scoring opportunities, these passes are quite difficult to make as the defenders will have superior numbers and space in front of the goal is limited.

Therefore, exercise patience and only send in a ball if there is a strong possibility that your player will be able to connect with it on the other end.  Don’t be afraid to pass sideways or backwards because changing the movement of the ball could enable another opening to spring up, especially if the players are crowding around you.  However, do keep in mind that you will have to press the issue at some point in order to score goals.

For a great assist maker, you want to act quickly.  Many goals in soccer occur when teams break away on a counter-attack, and the defense has few players back to properly defend. In these situations speed is an absolute necessity, and you will need to make the final pass quite fast as defenders will be sprinting back to break down your attack.

By reading and analyzing the space at a rapid pace, you will need to know where the ball should go by looking up for your teammates, then sending the ball into that area so they can pounce upon it, and all at the high speed of a full sprint down the field. Of course this is a challenging prospect for anyone, but as Santi Cazorla showed for Arsenal yesterday, such playmaking capabilities can pay off with great rewards.

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The setting of the big game! - (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

For both of these clubs, 3 points are absolutely vital when they play against one another on Tuesday.  The English Premier League provides great excitement and drama at the highest level as the season winds down for a variety of reasons.  First off, the bottom three clubs in the league are relegated to an entirely lower soccer league, the Championship.  Additionally, the top 4 clubs earn a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League tournament.

Both Wigan and Arsenal are in the heat of these two battles.  Wigan is currently 4 points within the drop zone, meaning that they must earn points in both their last two games.  Travelling to London and the Emirates stadium will surely be a monumental task for Wigan, but they have shown a tendency to mount late season charges in the past, often just scraping by to remain in England’s top soccer league.

Additionally, Wigan just became winners of the FA Cup.  Having beat Manchester City at Wembley stadium this past weekend, Wigan showed that on their day they can beat anyone.  In lifting a trophy, they have also accomplished a feat that Arsenal hasn’t managed in over 7 years.

However, Arsenal has qualified for the Champions League in the last 15 years or so, and also seem to always benefit from a late-season surge to find themselves in the necessary position for Europe’s grandest stage.  This year, Arsenal are again in an absolute dogfight with Tottenham and Chelsea that looks to come down to the final day again.  Arsenal would qualify with two wins in their last two matches, but any slip-ups, a draw or a loss, and those dreams would fade fast.

For both clubs, success in these last games has monumental importance in both financial reasons and for the sake of players and fans.  Playing in the Premier League will earn Wigan a considerably larger cash prize than the Championship.  For Arsenal, the Champions League is a cash cow with bountiful television rights deals and adds roughly 5 highly priced home games to the schedule.

Also, with the summer transfer window approaching, both clubs will have their eyes on new players.  Though, most would believe that a large number of players would want to move to clubs that enable them to play at the highest level.  Should either club not reach their goal, their prized transfers may sign with rival clubs.  And worse yet, several current players will surely seek exits to clubs that better fulfill their goals.

And so when Wigan and Arsenal lock horns tomorrow, it will be an absolute thriller of a match.  The Arsenal home crowd will surely become more and more nervous if the team doesn’t take control as the game winds down, and the players will surely get more and more desperate.  As for predictions, I like Arsenal.  Therefore I will predict a 3-0 Arsenal victory.  They are a vastly superior club and are equally as desperate as Wigan is.  They will prove their worth and leapfrog Tottenham into that vital 4^th position in the league.  Wigan, for all their excitement over the FA Cup win, will have a bittersweet end to the season and will be relegated.

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Just shoot it! - (Photo: Mommybytes.com)

Soccer players, especially youth players, have a tendency to only shoot with their dominant striking foot.  The reasons are obvious; players have much more confidence with their better foot and feel they will probably be more likely to score than if they hack away with their other foot. But the result is often pandemonium in front of the opposing goal, when a player has just milliseconds of an opening to strike the ball with their off-foot, but then decides to re-orient their body in order to use their favored foot.  After a full second of adjustment, their shot is well blocked by the goalie who had time to come over and prepare for the save.

See, soccer is often a game that is decided in rapid moments and opportunities like the one described above.  This is the sole reason why coaches need to urge their players to practice with their less dominant foot and for players to be confident in using that foot for crucial game moments.

If you are standing at the six-yard box and the ball is bouncing around after a corner, and you see a chance to give the ball a whack towards goal, take it!  Nothing is more excruciating to watch in a youth soccer game than seeing these kids scramble around when someone needs to just give the ball a hit.

And perhaps the player will not even want to use their less dominant foo for the remainder of the match, as they are vastly superior with their other foot. That’s OK, but players need to realize that in vital moments, they need to be able to strike the ball with their off-foot.

When you force players to try and practice a bit with their less dominant foot, it will give them the confidence to not necessarily become an ambidextrous trick maestro, but at least be reasonably capable of making contact with the ball.

Unfortunately, this is a lesson that most players can only learn the hard way, exactly as I described it above.  People are such creatures of habit that they will see the ball lying, delicately poised for striking, and think, “Oh gee, I had better use my right foot for this shot because I’ve never taken a shot with my left”.  As the slow motion replay ensues and milliseconds trickle by, his or her opportunity is wasted.

Perhaps a good method to teach this lesson to your team would be to actually play out these situations and bounce the ball in front of an empty goal and require the players to simply score with their off-foot.  The kids will enjoy it because it’s a chance to see the ball hit the net, and they will be taught a crucial skill that will eventually help them out in a real game.

So next time you watch a player on your youth soccer team ruin a golden chance to score with their less dominant foot, take heed and get kids playing with their off-foot so the chance doesn’t go wasted again.

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

Good throw-in technique! - (Photo: 500px.com)

Throw-ins present a strange situation during soccer games.  A game played solely with the use of feet suddenly permits a player to toss he ball in-bounds from the sideline, but players on both teams must jostle for position and find the ball.  For many youth players throw-ins can be quite tricky situations.  For one, most players lack the upper-body strength to really get any power behind their throws.  For another, most players will often just stand around waiting for the ball to come to them.  If you want to organize a successful throw-in, here are some ideas for tactics to try out with your team:

First off, teach your players all the proper rules about throw-ins.  Nothing is more frustrating than turning the ball over to your opponent because you lifted your back-foot or didn’t properly throw the ball directly over your head.  Youth players should definitely be taught the proper throw-in etiquette before the team’s first game!

As for players finding space and giving the thrower an opportunity, try to promote good communication between the players.  The goal is for a player to find an inch of space and have the ball directly tossed to him or her right then.  Make sure players get on the same page.

For a teammate trying to get open, you actually have a huge advantage.  Your marker will have to watch both the thrower and the player they are defending at the same time.  Your job is simply to find the space.  Try to throw your marker off by faking like you are headed one way and then quickly head in the opposite direction.  If you’ve made eye contact with the thrower, this can be a valuable opening and will result in a successful throw-in to the teammate.

Another thing to consider is that you will want the person throwing in the ball to have multiple options at their disposal.  This will make marking much more difficult for the defense and will give you better chances of getting the ball to your team.  So if you happen to be in the area, run close to the thrower and provide another outlet for his throw.

These situations can be awkward and tricky, and there is a sense that you need to throw the ball in quickly, but take a moment to find the right person.  Take a breath and look for the best option.  Don’t get caught up in the pace of the game.  Instead, wait for the right moment to get that vital opening.

Once the ball is thrown in, there will be limited space and many defenders in the area.  Pinned in by the sideline, many players will lose possession of the ball.  A good way to find a pass outwards is sometimes to send the ball right back to whomever threw it in.  Chances are they won’t be marked and will have a bit of space to work with to help your team maintain possession.

Good throw-ins typically only come with experience, so I recommend occasionally orchestrating a throw-in drill with your team.  Players need to get used to jostling for position and finding open teammates, as well as defending throw-ins, so take some time of practice to get this tricky part of soccer down right.

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

A soccer field is beckoning you! - (Photo: Thebatavian.com)

May has arrived and spring should truly be settling in, regardless of where you are located in America.  With warm weather and the prospects of summer ahead, there is definitely a feeling a freshness and new life in the air.  Springtime is also one of the most ideal times to really settle in and focus on your soccer game.  Here is why:

The weather is nearly perfect!  Not too hot and not too cold, the temperature should be practically ideal from a training standpoint.  This alone should inspire you to head to the outdoors, and with a ball in your hand you can make this valuable time full of practice and exercise.  Try to work on you juggling skills.  Try to join the promised land of the “100 club”.  Or perhaps get a group of friends together to play a pick up game of soccer.  Everyone is looking for excuses to get outside and enjoy the springtime weather, so take full advantage of it and work towards improving your skills.

Also, with the major worldwide soccer leagues drawing to a close, now is a great time to take inspiration from major matches.  The UEFA Champions League final is due to be played in just over three weeks, which will pit the two best clubs in all of Europe together for the soccer equivalent of the Super Bowl.  Although most leagues like the English Premier League and Spain’s La Liga have already crowned their champions (congrats to Manchester United and Barcelona), there is still exciting late-season drama for many teams that are fighting for Champions’ League berths next year, or who are desperately scrapping in the fight to avoid relegation at the bottom of the league tables.

All this makes for extremely exciting soccer matches with everything on the line.  Players give their all and teams struggle in the quest for greatness.  As a developing player, these are games you should be watching in order to take inspiration and learn from the best.  These matches display soccer at its highest level, and so when you watch Robert Lewandowski blast in a four-goal display like he did against Real Madrid, you can see how it’s done:

Soccer season is also coming to a close for many youth club teams as well.  Thus, if you are already on a team there will surely be lots of training and matches for you to make some highlight reels for yourself.  With tournaments and end of season matches coming around, be sure to give the game your all and be the best soccer player that you can be!

As summer wears on, the heat will continue to rise and the lack of games can often send young players into a lazy daze without training.  Thus, take advantage of the spring weather to get outside and learn the game.  You can only improve as a player when you consistently train and push your game further.  Watch some exciting soccer action, embrace the season of spring, and head outside with a ball at your feet and ready to learn some new skills!

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

I'm a soccer coach now...What do I do? - (Wikihow.com)

Many people who become youth soccer coaches have never played in a soccer game or may have never even touched a soccer ball.  But, due to some belief in volunteering or through the support of their child on a team, these people find themselves as the head coach of a real soccer team.  The grand question they must all ask is: what now?  Here are some of the basic things a coach who is new to soccer needs to understand.

A coach needs to learn and understand the rules of soccer, and absolutely needs to teach the players about them as well.  Rules are posted all over the internet, and you probably will receive some sort of instruction from your league that has its specific rules.  Learn them!  This is a major responsibility for a coach and a soccer team.

Come in with a great attitude.  Coaching youth soccer really isn’t about winning, so factor that out of the equation immediately.  You need to make sure that your players have a fun time and develop in the sport of soccer.  Praise good work and effort by the team.  When someone makes an alarming error that blows a game, don’t single them out and yell at them for it.  Help them get better by focusing on the positive aspects of their game.

Another thing that a youth soccer coach must deal with is fairness.  Most of your players will absolutely hate being thrown into the goalie position, but someone has to do it.  If no one on your team is completely thrilled about being goalie, make the players take turns.  Even if one player is willing and able, let them still play half of every game on the outfield to gain experience.

Likewise, most of your players will want to play striker so they have chances to score goals.  Be sure to mix up your players’ positions and never make someone feel left out of the game.

Substitutions are a constant worry in youth soccer and should have your full focus.  Players should all receive a pretty equal amount of playing time each game, so be aware of who has been on the bench and for how long.  Don’t get so caught up in winning the big game that you forget about someone on your team.  It can leave painful effects on a young player.

A final point to make about coaching is to be organized and on time.  The coach should be at practice at least 15 minutes before the scheduled practice time so that players are greeted with a warm face when they arrive, and so you have time to set things up.  This will enable your practices to run smoothly and efficiently.  Also, nothing is worse than a coach telling you how you aught to behave when they themselves arrive late to events.  Similarly, the coach needs to be arriving for games rather early as well.  This way, your team will be ready to play and ready to succeed.  But most importantly, make sure that the upcoming season is a positive one for the players and inspires them to keep playing the beautiful game of soccer.

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

A chance well taken - (Photo: Heraldnews.com)

The brilliant pass has sprung you into action.  Free and clear, racing down the middle of the field, you have a golden opportunity to score a goal.  You look up and see that you just have to beat the keeper.  You only have a few seconds to make your move and take your chance, what do you do?

The open breakaway is the opportunity that most soccer players live for. It is the chance to have a free run at the goal and beat your goalie.  In truth, a great striker should score all of these opportunities, but sadly enough, many chances like this often go wasted.  A talented goalie will make scoring from any opportunity very difficult, so how should you proceed.

Play to your strengths.  If you put great power behind your shots, going for an early strike may catch the goalie off-guard. If you are exceptionally quick, perhaps you will want to lure the goalie out of his or her net and dribble around them before cautiously placing the ball into the goal.  Whatever works best for you is how you should approach these chances.

Don’t think about the goalie.  Don’t look them in the eyes.  Goalies try to be big in these situations to intimidate their opposition and force a rash decision.  Don’t squander your goal-scoring opportunity.  But when is the best moment to shoot?

This is a tough question to answer because it depends on several factors including what angle you are approaching the goal from, how much time you have, and how the goalie is prepping for the shot.

For me, you shouldn’t shoot until the goalie advances from their goal.  If a goalie stays on their line, you will have the easiest shot ever and can shoot from the six-yard box.  If you miss….shame on you!  But usually, a decent goalkeeper will begin coming out when you reach the 18-yard box.  This will shrink the goal for you and add some pressure.

For me, the best time to strike is when the goalie has taken 2 or 3 steps towards you.  As they are focused on coming out, a quick shot may distract them and leave them flat-footed, but once again it all depends on your abilities and comfort level.

Another thing to consider is visualizing your shot.  Pick a corner and see the ball going there as your take your shot.  You will be amazed at how often this moment of forethought will aid you in successfully converting that chance.

But no matter what, don’t let the thought of missing the goal or shooting over the crossbar enter your mind.  In fact, forget I even mentioned that right now.  Worrisome thoughts or a negative approach lead to likely mistakes and that is the exact opposite of what you need in front of goal.  A great striker is both poised and confident, ready to spring to action and score off of any chance.  A clean break away should be a sure goal for a pure striker.

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

Ease a player back with light training - (Photo: Article.wn.com)

Soccer players have injuries all the time.   At the professional level, with the game so fast and physical, many players simply cannot keep up with the intensity of the sport.  Often a slight knock or pulled hamstring can take a player out of the game for 3 weeks, and sometimes more serious injuries like a torn ACL can require a full year of recovery.

As a coach, one must make a difficult decision regarding bringing the player back into the side after a spell on the sidelines.  The coach must ensure that the soccer player has recovered adequately and has also had enough time to get physically prepped for the game again.
With high profile soccer games endlessly on the horizon, many players are rushed back into action and the results can sometimes be catastrophic.  Any NFL fan saw what happened to rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III when he was rushed back to the field for a playoff game.  After tearing two knee ligaments his entire next season is now in doubt.

Therefore, be patient and ease an injured player back into the side.  First off, when he or she says they are ready, have them start with some light jogging.  Sometimes, this strain on the injured muscles will enable a player to understand that they need more time off.  After the light jog, which should be just a mile or so of running, wait a day.

How the player feels the next day is hugely important.  Soreness or tightness around the injury will suggest using a cautious approach.  If the player feels good, then it is time to get them into practice with other players.  Don’t throw back into a competitive game until they are ready!

Start with a simple training exercise like passing, or a pass and move drill with minimal physical contact.  Depending on how long the player has been out, their game will have probably lost a step.  For players that have been out for over a year, they may need several weeks of training before they are game ready.

Once a player looks comfortable in light training, then you can elevate them back to full squad training.  Again, wait a day between this transition.  You must analyze how the player’s body reacts to the intensity.

Also, really make sure the player is alright by watching how they run.  Are they avoiding kicking with their injured leg, or is there a slight hobble to their step?  Most players will try to rush back from an injury because they want to play.  But a coach must make the final decision and don’t be swayed by an anxious player or parent.  Make sure the child is ready.

When bringing them back into a real game, begin by limiting their time on the pitch.  A full game can be exhausting to a recently injured body and can also increase the odds of a re-injury.  Therefore, start with them on the bench and work the player back into the fold slowly.  By the 2^nd or 3^rd game, if the player looks sharp again, you can give them a start.

The purpose of bringing a player back slowly from injury is to help their body slowly adapt to playing the game again.  It can be very frustrating for a young soccer player, especially if there are any setbacks, but it is a long road that should be taken to ensure the safety of your players.

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