Category: Soccer

Training sessions can be wet and very cold. Don’t you think it’s easier to stay at home and sit in front of the television with the heaters on?

Soccer without a shadow of a doubt is the world game. The beautiful world game is played by millions of all ages, shapes and sizes. But can you really be bothered? Do you only play soccer when you find it convenient?

Don’t get me wrong here; soccer is a great sport to play. But do you actually know why you play the game?

Do you want to one-day play professionally? Do you play for fitness? Or do you participate so you can socialize and make new friends? All reasons are valid and each to their own.

The next question I’d like to ask you is how do you stay motivated? When it’s freezing outside and raining, how do you actually motivate yourself to attend? Motivational levels will vary significantly from individual to individual don’t you think?

A player that is looking to play in Europe will need more motivation than a player that is just passing time. It’s important to remember that a player that has a contract and gets paid will need to attend training while the social player can decide whether to train or watch Friends repeats.

Soccer motivation is directly related to your ambitions and goals.

If you take soccer seriously than it’s a good idea to set small attainable goals. If you have an objective training seems necessary and provides a stepping-stone towards your goal. If you commit yourself to small tasks you become motivated and the weather or conditions will not hold you back from training.

Once you achieve and attain your small goals you can progress and fry bigger fish. With the attainment of your goals comes renewed motivation and hunger to achieve more. While the other players contemplate training, your desire and tasks will have you pumped up for each training session irrespective of conditions.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. But you need to establish the reasons why you participate in soccer. Not everyone is chasing that elusive million-dollar contract are they?

If you are, the best way to stay motivated is to record and monitor your progress. With every little achievement comes momentum. With momentum comes hunger. So what are you waiting for? Put on your wet weather gear and get out there and train.

Let’s be honest, who has not admired the titans of soccer and been inspired to set course by those stars? What youth has not dreamed of becoming a superstar? Soccer Mastermind is a site dedicated to soccer motivation and everything soccer.

A varsity soccer player heads the ball into the goal to put his team ahead by one. With more than 20 minutes to play, players on the team that is behind start to hang their heads. Their body language, slumped shoulders, a slow walk, and frustrated, angry expressions convey their temporary lack of resiliency. The speed with which they can bounce back from this setback holds the key to their success. Do they give in to their disappointment, let it turn to resignation, and ever-so-slightly decrease their efforts? Or do they use their anger to stoke the fires of competition and redouble their efforts to score and tie the game?

Psychology is beginning to unravel some of the mysteries around sports performance in general and around soccer in particular. This article discusses three recent findings in sports psychology and how they can be best applied to soccer.

For instance, players who make predictions about who will win the upcoming game enjoy the game less than those who do not. By predicting the outcome of the game, it creates the possibility of being incorrect and thus leads to the anticipation of regret. This anticipation of being wrong puts more pressure on the player to perform. As we know, too much pressure can push a player out of the zone (where performance is maximized) and into a subpar performance.

Focus On Playing to Potential, Not Winning

A better approach is that of nonattachment where players do not get overly attached to the idea of winning or losing. Soccer players can control one thing their own play. By focusing the team on playing to their best individual and team potential, and decreasing focus on winning, the team plays more relaxed, more effective soccer.

Understand Your Players for Better Penalty Kicks

Another finding shows that some individuals look for potential gains in general and on the soccer field. Other people spend their efforts attempting to thwart negative outcomes. So one group looks to maximize gains, while the other group looks to minimize losses. Soccer coaches can identify this tendency in individual players and use it to fulfill their players potential. For example, when preparing players for penalty shootouts, coaches can talk to players who look to maximize gains (usually the forwards and some midfielders) and tell them to focus on scoring. On the other hand, coaches can prep those who seek to minimize losses (usually the fullbacks) by telling them to focus on not missing the shot. These are individualized messages that can run through the shooters head while preparing to take the PK which will increase the probability of success during the shootout.

Use Mirror Neurons to Your Advantage

Finally, soccer players become better simply by watching world class players. There is a mirror system in the human brain which responds to actions we watch, such as Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a goal with a heel kick or performing a scissor move. This system in the brain has been shown in brain scan studies to activate when the individual is viewing a sport or activity in which they participate. However, the mirror system does not activate for a dancer watching a soccer player. The mirror system only activates for individuals who have been trained in the particular sport being viewed. We have known for over 50 years that visualization is helpful in improving sports performance (beginning with slalom skiing back in the 1950s). Science is just discovering that the brain also learns by observing experts. Although no muscle movement takes place in the observer, the brain acts as if the body is replicating the movements being made while watching Ronaldo. The same pattern of neurons fire when watching Ronaldo perform a bicycle kick as when the player him- or herself does a bicycle kick. The possibility exists that players can hone their skills during injuries by watching professional soccer games, highlights on YouTube of favorite players and attending live games.

There are a number of things that psychology can add to sport in general and soccer in particular. Try incorporating some of these suggestions in your play or coaching and see what results come. Above all, have fun. Soccer is first and foremost a game!

About the Author

John Schinnerer, Ph.D.

Dr. John Schinnerer is Chief Communication Officer of Emotion Mining Company, which has a patented method to measure and quantify conscious and subconscious emotions for branding, marketing, leadership development and organizational change.

Dr. John Schinnerer is President and Founder of Guide To Self, a company that focuses on coaching individuals and groups to their potential using the latest in psychology, psychoneuroimmunology and physiology. Most recently, Dr. John Schinnerer hosted over 200 episodes of Guide To Self Radio, a prime time radio show, in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated summa cum laude from U.C. Berkeley with a Ph.D. in psychology. Dr. Schinnerer has been a coach and psychologist for over 10 years.

Dr. Schinnerer is also President of Infinet Assessment, a psychological testing company to help firms select the best applicants. Infinet was founded in 1997 and has worked with companies such as UPS, CSE Insurance Group and Schreiber Foods.

Dr. Schinnerers areas of expertise range from positive psychology, to emotional awareness, to moral development to sports psychology. He is a noted speaker and author on topics such as emotional intelligence, sports psychology, and executive leadership.

Dr. Schinnerer wrote, Guide To Self: The Beginners Guide To Managing Emotion and Thought, which was recently awarded the Best Self-Help Book of 2007 by East Bay Express. He has written articles on corporate ethics and EQ in the workplace for Workspan magazine, HR.com, and Business Ethics. He has given numerous presentations, radio shows and seminars to tens of thousands of people for organizations such as SHRM, NCHRA, KNEW and KDIA.

Handling a Soccer Ball with Accuracy

One of the greatest skills you can develop as a soccer player is the ability to maintain control of the ball. The best players are able to do so even under tough conditions, such as muddy fields, fast opponents, and bad weather. There are many exercises you can do to help you improve accuracy with the ball. In terms of dribbling, practice dribbling through around objects such as cones, arches, and even teammates. Your goal is to eventually lesson the amount of time and space it takes to maneuver around these objects, until evasion tactics become natural to you. Accuracy is obviously also important with goal shooting. One way to improve your accuracy is to use a kickspeed target. This will help you improve both speed and accuracy at the same time. Other tools, such as a kicking net, allow you to work on handling the ball as it comes to you. You will be pleased at how training in this area will improve your performance, especially since not many other players think to practice accurate trapping.

Three Valuable Soccer Skills

Strength, speed, and agility are all important abilities when it comes to the game of soccer. It is obvious why speed is important in soccer: soccer is a fast-paced game. One way you can really add to the success of your team is to be quicker than the other players on the field. Soccer demands lots of fast spurts of speed within a general marathon-like running session, so develop your speed over both short and long distances. Agility is also important in soccer. It is necessary to move with precision around obstacles, make contact with the ball in whatever ways possible, and defend the goal. Soccer training does not often focus on strength, but it is an area that will allow you to really help your team. Developing your strength will also allow you to perform soccer skills better, over a longer period of time, than your opponents. With development in these three skills, you are on your way to being a valuable addition to any soccer team.

Inexpensive Soccer Equipment to Help Improve Your Game

If you are eager to develop your soccer skills, but do not have a lot of extra cash, there are plenty of materials you can purchase inexpensively to use while training. For example, a set of practice cones is very affordable, and can help you with a number of drills. They are very versatile in terms of how they are set up, and can be used to help improve skills in a variety of ways. If you are not sure how to best use the cones to improve your game, look online for free ideas. Weighted soccer balls are also pretty cost-efficient. These balls help with strength and agility exercises. A third purchase you can make is a mirror belt, where you and a teammate are attached with a flexible cord. This versatile tool lets you focus on a number of skills, such as reaction time, direction change, marking your opponent, and resistance training. The way to get the most for your money is to choose tools, like these, that let you work on several skills in a variety of ways.

Fundamental Soccer Clothing

The personal equipment needed for soccer is pretty basic: all players should have a pair of shinguards and a pair of cleats. When shopping for shinguards, make sure they have a good fit, feel sturdy, and have some flexibility. Some shinguards are also great for preventing ankle injuries. Shinguard protection sleeves are not a necessary purchase, but they do help keep your shinguards in place without cutting off circulation. With cleats, look for great traction, since you will be frequently playing on wet grass and mud. Since goalies perform some rather unique actions in the game, they may also want to buy gloves and knee pads. Though you may not want to wear knee pads during your games, you may want to have them during practice to protect your knees as a goalkeeper. Gloves are more about grip than protection, but they are still an important piece of equipment for goalies. Other soccer players may consider gloves to help keep their hands warm.

Both experienced and inexperienced youth soccer coaches are running players out of the game. The kids aren’t having fun, aren’t improving, and are getting burned out at an early age.

One big mistake coaches make is not knowing what their players are able to handle.

Here’s a couple of other noticeable characteristics for these ages. I am sure that you have experienced the same things at home, so why expect it to be different on the soccer field?

U-10/11 Children typically…

==> have an improved attention span compared to U8 ==> are learning to become team oriented ==> like lots of motion, but can hold still for short explanations ==> have reasonably well developoed small motor skills ==> like balls and equipment they can identify with teams and players ==> are beginning to understand game speeds (can go all out, or at 1/2 speed)

U-12/13 Children typically…

==> have an improved attention span compared to U10/11 are much more team oriented ==> are able to handle longer explanations as long as they are interesting ==> begin to look to do creative and clever things with the ball ==> are able to strike the ball with speed, distance and some accuracy ==> have a pretty good understanding game speeds (can go all out, or at 1/2 speed)

With that being said, the pressure is really off of you!!

That’s right, no pressure here. You don’t have to teach the offside trap, the 4-4-2 formation, the double scissors and set plays. Your job is to help them continue to develop their technical skills and introduce basic tactics.

You see, kids come to practice and game to PLAY soccer. They aren’t there to discuss soccer philosophy, stand in line, get lectured to, etc. They want to kick the ball. Preferably as often as possible.

HINT: Kids want to have fun playing soccer. They enjoy the game more when they get to touch the ball A LOT!

If you can develop in your children the love of soccer, they will develop as players. We’ll talk more about this later, but suffice it to say that if your kids are passionate about soccer, they will become good players.

I see the question asked over and over (and asked it to myself as well)…”How do you teach soccer tactics to the U10s ”

I (and many other coaches) have researched, studied and labored over this question. And the bottom line answer is…YOU DON’T

A 9 year old doesn’t want to stay back on defense, he wants to chase, trap and dribble that darn ball. After working hard to get a hold of that thing, he doesn’t want to pass it, he wants to kick it around a bit.

I’ve come to this conclusion about the development of the youngest players. I want them to love the game of soccer. I want them to love to have the ball at their feet. If they have a passion for soccer, then tactics will come in their own time and can be introduced a piece at a time.

U12s Are A Different Matter

U12s, however, are a different ball game. By this time, players are able to perform the fundamentals with increased coordination. If you give them a good demonstration, they are able to duplicate it with some effort. The players have more confidence and are better able to look up from time to time while playing.

Petra Imports is online cum retail store with all kinds’ soccer products and you can also experience return for your pay for the products you purchase. At Petra imports you can find the soccer products with high quality and at whole sale price. Petra Imports always keep all of the new soccer balls with preeminent quality and accessories in stock for customers. You can now buy Soccer game equipment’s browsing the item online or by visiting nearest Petra imports store either ways. Our Soccer equipment’s are compatible and more reliable.

Soccer goals and Soccer balls at Petra imports

Soccer goals

Petra imports have the soccer goals according to world cup style which is most popular design worldwide now, size: 8’H x 24’W, constructed of 4- round heavy-guage aluminum uprights and crossbars, with no hardware on face of Soccer goal. Net is attached in the back with two galvanized steel stanchions set 6.5′ back. Soccer Goal includes: uprights, ground sleeves of uprights, crossbars, back stanchions, ground sleeves for stanchions, ground sleeve caps, net attachments and hardware. Goal weights 250 lbs, is semi-permanent or permanent. NOT for portable use. Sold in pairs. Nets sold separately.

Few of the Soccer Goals included at Petra Imports Stores are Soccer goals-6’x4′ Feet Strong PVC Tubes; New! Large Soccer Goal-25mm Steel Tubes; Heavy Duty Large Soccer Goal-Penalty Training Steel Tubes; New 6×4 Soccer Goal, made from strong PVC Tubbing; PASS Pop up Soccer Goals 4 footers Pair w/Case;. PASS Pop up Goals 5 footers Pair w/ Case; PASS Pop up Soccer Goals 6FT Portable w/Case.

Soccer balls

Petra imports store is filled with speckled kind of soccer balls. The soccer balls are very rough and tough you can play and enjoy. And are assorted soccer balls with printing and qualities which are international canons.

Few of the Soccer Balls included at Petra Imports Stores are Hand Sewen Soccer Balls, Official size and weight #4; Premium Soccer Balls, size 5, Hand Sewn + Handpump; Quality Soccer Balls, size 4, Wholesale,+ Handpump; Quality Soccer Balls, size 5, Hand Sewn + Handpump; size 4 Soccer Balls Hand Pump wholesale; Premium Soccer Balls size 5 Hand Sewn +Handpump.

First step in purchasing soccer ball is determining the proper size for your age group. Many soccer coalitions have different size requirements, so be sure to check with your coach or organization to find out which is the proper size for the age group that the ball will be used with. For match use they come in three different sizes which range from size 3 to size 5

At Petra imports soccer balls are available for all age groups

Size 5 Ages 12 and up

Size 4 Ages 8 and 12 years

Size 3 under 8 years

Size 2 and 1 Promotional soccer balls

Size 3 balls are the smallest balls and are generally used for children under the age of 8

These balls are generally 23-24 inches in circumference and weigh between 11-12 ounces

Size 4 balls are used for players between the ages of 8-12

Size 4 balls weigh between 12-13 ounces and have a circumference of 25-26 inches

This is the international standard match ball for all ages 12 and older, including all adult

The size 5 ball weighs between 14-16 ounces with a circumference of 27-28 inches

Author Bio:

Head coach for Power Giants soccer club playing in second division league in France, has experience in training young kids to be future stars for the club and the country,Is know for improving personal skills of the players.He is popular among players for training them using state of art soccer equipment. For more information please visit: http://www.petraimports.com/

Soccer shin guards are protective equipments used by soccer players in the game to protect the shin. The shin is that part of the body below the knee and above the ankle. They protect against very vast serious leg injuries of which the commonest is kicks in the shin. After the invention of shin guards, it has been modernized to carry out protective measures as well as aesthetic purposes in soccer.

These accessories are produced with different synthetic materials varying in strength of the material. The commonest are the fiberglass, which offer protection and at the same time are light in weight. The players wearing shin guards from fiber glass have an added advantage over the person with polyurethane made shin guards. These ones are heavy and most often weigh down on the bearer.

However, the polyurethane made shin-guarding items offer complete protection from leg injuries. In addition, there are items made from plastic materials. These ones offer the least protection in comparison with others. To their credit, they are lightweight and can make the owner feel like he or she is wearing nothing. Finally in the materials of shin guards are the foam rubber soccer shin guards.

They are lightweight and offer protection. Their level of protection is however not as high as the fiber glass. Shin-guarding items cover the whole leg with an exception to one or two inches. Irrespective of the material it is made from these accessories are for protecting and not hinder the performance of the athletes. Soccer players therefore go for the best option of protection and effective performance shin guards.

For goal keepers and strikers, they usually use the lightest weight shin guards because of their need to move fast in the course of the game. Midfielders are however the ones that need the heaviest of soccer shin guards this is because of their constant tackling. Defenders get shin guards as they can manage and are comfortable with. Shin guards are necessary because the tibia one of the bone of the legs, lie directly under the skin and is not surrounded by cushioning muscles and flesh.

Therefore, a hit in the bone can result to a closed fracture. Shin-guarding products have been made compulsory for most clubs in order to manage the players well by the reduction of injuries. As an added advantage to soccer shin guards provision for ankle, protection has been made and attached to them. This comes as a source of aid to the players; especially since modern day, boots are cut below the ankle.

It has been recorded that some players have used the shin guard and ankle pads to avert an early end to their careers. One of such is goal keeper Joe Anvon. He claims that the shin guard and the ankle support saved his leg after a very forceful collision that resulted to a broken leg. He believes that without the soccer shin guards that the chances of saving that leg without amputation were not feasible.

Founded in 1948 and registered in 1949, Adidas AG is one of the leading sport apparel manufacturers around the Globe. It is founded by 1948 by Adolf Dassler after his spilt from his partnership with his elder brother, Rudolf in Gebrder Dassler Schuhfabrik. Since its establishment in 1949, it has manufactured various signature and best-selling products and soccer cleats are one of its gold-medal products.

There are four types of soccer cleats namely hard ground (HG), firm ground (FG), soft ground (SG) and artifial turf (AT) for different soccer settings and players preferences. In 2010, Adidas has introduced the ultra-light (5.8 ounces) F50 Adizero TRX FG Soccer Cleat and Adidas F50 adizero TRX TF Messi III Soccer shoes for the FIFA World Cup 2010 which had received overwhelming responses from World-class player, Lionel Messi. The super light-weight cleats and shoes which made of SPRINTSKIN synthetic upper, sprint frame design and its signature TRAXION FG outsole have enabled the players to play the game at the top speed, just like how a ball rolls. The soccer cleats also come in 7 different colors combinations that reflect elegant, vigorous, active and energetic themes; for instances cyan and black-sun.

Besides that, Adidas also launches Adidas Absolado X TRX FG BECKHAM Soccer shoes, and ABSOLADO PS TRX FG F50 and Football Boots for firm ground and New World Cup SG Soccer shoes for soft ground. Meanwhile, it also launches Copa Mundial TF Soccer Shoes, and Adidas Mundial Team Astro TF indoor soccer shoes for artificial turf or indoor soccer.

Adidas which consistently engaged in its research and development to improve its soccer cleats and shoes promise you the best quality, comfort, stability and light-weight enabling you to perform best at the top of speed in any game that you play. Adidas soccer cleats simply allows you the best kick!

Brazil world cup 2014 will be memento. The twentieth FIFA World Cup will be begun from 12 this summer to 13 this summer 2014. Brazil Team five-time world cup champions, Maracana ground is definitely going to be a football fan’s desire place to look at the giant occurrence on this planet. South Africa has already amazed the World by an important organization of the hitch-free tournament; they provided actual outstanding features that contain the eight quality arenas, conventional streets, telecom services, remaining at resorts, vacationer areas, protection, etc.

The huge selection of nation is well following system in its attentiveness The famous event, according to FIFA assistant common Jerome Valcke. Valcke has verbalized issue at the slowly enhancement proven by the huge selection nation of the 2014 tremendous event. Be lacking in of enhancement has been most popular in Sao Paulo, where a new ground is under manufacturing. The ground that was developed to be used in the 2014 world cup packages is implausible to be prepared. As originally organized, the ground was to be up in a chance to huge selection the Confederations Cup to be organized in that season.

World Cup Ticket For all the football lovers reliable knowledge is that roughly 3million tickets are available for the 64 suits, world cup tickets are always issues of concernment for lovers of football so this season in order to keep out any deficiency of tickets Worldwide Federation of Association Soccer has provided a new and better process for promoting the 2014 tickets. They said to the planners for Brazil world cup 2014 would absolutely increase the number of tickets available for genuine football consociate.

Cheap Hotel available for Football lovers World cup 2014 Resort in Brazil gives many features for visitors. This nation is of the most democratic holiday locations in the south. There is several visitor location, and affordable hotel features, available here. Brasilia is the investment. Brasilia is an actual field for its structural structures. In case you are planning for air tickets and need to eyewitness the eye-catching locations in this town, you can source online for hotel housing. A lots of hotel cope sites provide and provides provide for giant discount rates on their hotel resorts. Brazil has an impressive. It means there is no need and do not to fear regarding moment your World Cup When it Brazil provides a variety of recipes that are widely known in the area. Everybody’s has enwrapped for future World cup 2014.

Regardless of its immense popularity all around the earth, soccer has never ever actually captured the imagination of sports followers in the US. The reasons for that might array from its very low-scoring nature or because the guidelines look difficult. But for severe sports activities bettors, soccer represents an untapped option to make cash, specifically throughout the Entire world Cup when soccer fever is at its highest pitch and the sports books are undertaking good company taking wagers on the numerous teams. If you are involved in generating a sports activities bet on soccer, right here are a number of fundamentals you will need to know.

Simply because of the very low-scoring nature of soccer, sports activities books don’t use level spreads to handicap the two teams. As a substitute, they use cash lines that require the bettor to make a more substantial wager if they are betting on the preferred. To illustrate, let’s say the UK is playing Germany with Germany becoming the favourite. Therefore the dollars line is Germany -1.2 UK +1.5. This signifies that if you bet on Germany, you have to bet $120 to win $100. On the other hand, if you wager on the UK, you win $150 for each and every $100. As opposed to in stage spread bets, the bettor merely bets on which group he believes will win, regardless of the last score.For much more details about “sportsbet”, you need to go to: sportsbet/a>

For tournaments this kind of as the Planet Cup, you can pick from two-way or three-way betting. In two-way bets, you simply wager on which group you believe will win and the payoff is based on the cash line. If there is a tie, your wager is returned. On the other hand, in a 3-way bet, you can wager on the sport getting a tie. A money line is also set for the tie alternative. When the tournament reaches the knockout stage, when teams are eradicated, you can just bet on which group will advance to the up coming stage. Nonetheless, if the sport proceeds to a shootout, your wager is a loss considering that a shootout win is not viewed as a purpose.

Finally, there are also total or around/underneath bets in soccer, with the complete commonly set by the oddsmakers at two or 2.five.
How to Make a Winning Sports activities Wager on Soccer

Author Bio

For many years, soccer has been a world famous game with a fan base that is unmatched to any other game so far. In the beginning the game was predominantly played by men, this trend has however changed in the recent past giving rise to wide female participation in the game. In many communities, the introduction of soccer skills to the younger generations has always been an automatic affair since many kids start playing soccer as soon as they are old enough to run around on their own.

As is currently evident across the world soccer has become a major contributor to the economic well being of so many people forcing the stakeholders to reanalyze their perception as well as management of the game. This strategy and attitude change has seen the introduction of football academies in several soccer-loving communities entrusted with the sole responsibility of training and drilling new soccer players to professional status. Just as the game has become completely commercialized, the standards have similarly gone up and soccer drilling is therefore not as simplified as it used to be. The trainings have become quite rigorous and target oriented because nothing can be left to chance. The modern soccer coach is faced with the challenge of formulating a team that plays professionally and blends together perfectly giving both the desired results as well as spectacular viewing for any fan.

A standard soccer team must have four complementary segments to fulfill their objective. These segments are the defenders, mid fielders, wingers and strikers or forwarders. All these must blend well in team spirit to drive the ball to its target. Many people can play soccer; however getting a winning team requires some level of expertise especially on the training of the team. Although individual flare is very important and can play a very pivotal role in a teams performance, it should be understood that football is a team game and one man cannot play the ball alone from goal to goal, teamwork is therefore of paramount importance in the constitution of a winning soccer club. The game of soccer is an art and any form of art relies heavily on the individual creativity and tact of the artist to emerge top. In a soccer team, the coach has an expensive task of ensuring the different talents from the various artists are put together without conflict.

Each soccer player is intentionally given a position in a soccer game; this position defines the players job description, as he has to fulfill some specific duties pertaining to the position to make a working team. It is up to the coach to be able to pick out players talent and assist him or her in getting the position that best suits their abilities with much ease. Placing the right player in the right position gives the coach an easy time in drilling the team. There are several factors to consider when positioning players in a soccer team; this may include the players endurance and stamina, the sprinting speed, their physique, personal orientation such as left or right-handedness among many more.