Best Soccer Websites

One of the ways I keep connected with the soccer world and relate to my international players is by cruising soccer websites every day. Of course I keep up with my beloved Red Devils,

but I also take the time to check out all things soccer around the world.

Parents, this is also a good way to get your kids involved in the game away from the field and to connect with your kids on something that is not school or chores.  And hey, they're reading - can't knock that!

Here are some of my favorite soccer websites.  Tell me what you think and suggest more sites if you have them.

1) Goal.com - my favorite site with quick updates on Premier League, La Liga, MLS, and other leagues around the world.  Good pieces on US players playing abroad too. The Full English (no, not what you think) is my favorite weekly piece on the BPL. 
www.goal.com
2) ESPN Soccernet - another comprehensive site for any league you follow in the world.  Great commentary pieces and timely connection.  If you can't watch it live, they also have a good gamecast of most matches.
ESPN Soccernet
3) Yanks Abroad - I've always kept track of the US players playing overseas, and this it the ULTIMATE site to do so.  Insightful articles on players in almost every country.  I swear the USMNT keeps track of their players on this site, and identify the obscure ones here before anyone else knows they are eligible to play for the US.  Favorite part about the site is the commentary pieces on the home page, especially the "23 Tickets" pieces for all of the USMNT cups and Olympic teams. 
Yanks Abroad

What are your favorite soccer websites?  I've love to add to my daily surf.

1v1 Moves for Youth Soccer Players

This week, we'll cover the basics of taking on players 1v1 on the dribble. This builds on last week's "changing direction on the dribble" practice. In today's modern game, every player (including the keeper if he/she is outside the box) needs to be able to make a move to beat an opponent and create space to either shoot, pass, or dribble.

Many times, players get too fancy and try to be the next CR7, but if you ever watch the world's best, like Messi, you'll see that the best moves are simply meant to unbalance the defender while keeping your own balance. Watch this video of Messi at his best to see how he does this (PARENTS:  you may want to mute b/c of lyrics in video).

The Moves:

1. Feint - the simplest of all the moves, and incorporated in all of the other moves below. Attacker drops a shoulder one direction and goes the opposite. Coaching Point (CP): go the OPPOSITE direction of your feint (watch moves around :9 and :15 seconds on the Messi clip above).
2. Stepover/Scissor - starts with the feint above, but adds an inside/out step over the ball to further sell the defender that you are going that direction. When defender leans, push the ball the opposite direction with outside of foot. CP: always go inside/out, and go the OPPOSITE direction of your feint.
3. V Pull Back - start with another feint to a side, push the ball slightly that direction, but stop it with bottom of foot (see last week), pull it back, and redirect the ball in the opposite direction in one fluid move. CP: sell this will a shoulder feint.
4. Hesitation Pull Back - Looks the same as the V Pull Back, but after you stop the ball and look like you're doing the V move, push the ball in the same direction you originally were going. CP: look for space behind before you do this move and try the other moves above FIRST to get a defender guessing.

With these simple moves, you can be on your way to becoming the next Messi or Marta. Remember: no ballerina soccer (spinning on the ball and exposing it to the defender). Keep it simple silly (KISS!).

Sample U-6 Practice – Taking on Defenders:

1.      Cone Heads – scatter cones throughout a confined area and teach each of the moves (depending on skill level).  Players then go at each cone and make a move around Mr. Conehead on the coach's command. Variation:  make a game out of it and have players count every move they make in a :30 second time period.

2.      Follow the Leader – each player dribbling a ball in a line; the front player goes up to a cone and calls out the move he/she wants and then does it.  Other players have to do the same move.  Switch leaders after each move is completed.  Variation:  if a player does not make the correct move, he/she has to step out of line and do five star jumps.

3.      Goblin 1v1 – Set up two lines (to reduce line time) facing one small goal.  The coach (goblin) stands between the two lines and the goal.  Also place a Conehead (flat cone) 5 yds. in front of each line.  Both players start dribbling towards the goal, but the coach (goblin) chooses only 1 to defend.  That player has to make a move to confuse the goblin.  The other player makes his/her move on the Conehead.  After both beat their defender, they take a shot on goal, retrieve their ball and go to the end of their line.

4.      Small Sided Game – praise players only for their 1v1 moves in the game and encourage them to go at and beat defenders.

Sample U-10 Practice – Taking on Defenders:

1.      Cone Heads – scatter cones throughout a confined area and teach each of the moves (depending on skill level).  Players then go at each cone and make a move around Mr. Conehead on coach's command.

2.      Burned You! – same as above, but half of the players with a ball now, and half without.  Players with a ball dribble (attackers) around and make eye contact with one without (defender) and go at the player and beat them with a move.  Stress to defenders not to steal the ball.  Switch after one minute.  Variation:  after they get comfortable, defender can try to steal the ball.

3.      1v1 to Goal – ½ of the players with a ball on one of the goal posts (defenders); ½ of the players behind a cone around the 18 yd. line (attackers).  Defender knocks a ball to the attacker and then runs out to defend.  Attacker has to get by the defender with a move, and then shoot low and far post on goal (coach can be passive goalie).  Switch lines on the outside of box.

4.      Small Sided Game – Play a normal game, but give teams 1 pt. each time they beat a player 1v1 with one of the prescribed moves (not just running by them) and 2 pts. for a goal.

Youth Soccer Coaching Basics #1

Dear Parents, Coaches, and Players,

Today marks my first attempt at blogging and I hope you enjoy the weekly (hopefully more) installments I put on the blog.  Everything here will be soccer related - coaching, matches, or just musings.

Last week marked the beginning of my sons' soccer seasons at the NTC (National Training Center) in Clermont, FL.  As their coach this year (U6 and U10), I have decided to post sample practices each week for you to see and comment on. 


The first installment of these drills will be for all youth levels and are great skills to teach your players at the beginning (first 5-15 minutes) of each training session.  The skill covered today will be on changing direction with the ball off the dribble to create space.  Some will be too advanced for the very young (U4), but others can be used by all levels.  By the way, I also use these same skills at the high school level, but reduce time and add pressure on the more elite players.


When I was a kid, these moves were referred to as Coerver Drills, named after the famous Dutch coach, Wiel Coerver.  They focus on getting the player comfortable with manipulating the ball with all parts of the foot and creating "muscle-memory" so that they can be done without thinking in pressure situations.

Sample Practice - Changing Direction - U6 (all players with a ball)

1. Mr Freeze - Set up a confined area and have players dribble around and "freeze" when you point at them.  Freezes should be with bottom of foot.  Variations:  dribble with only one foot
2. Boo! - Teach the pull back (see video above).  After players are "comfortable" with it, have them dribble in a confined area with cones randomly scattered throughout.  Tell the players to go up to a cone (a sleeping goblin) and stop the ball with the bottom of their foot, yell "Boo!", and then pull back and accelerate away.  Variation:  coach becomes a walking goblin and confronts players.
3. Goblin Soccer - In a larger grid, put 1/2 the players one one side of the square and the other 1/2 on the oppposite side.  1 or 2 coaches ("Goblins") in the middle.  Players are supposed to dribble across to the other side, but if a coach lumbers toward them, they have to execute a pull back turn and go back to safety line.  Variation:  if coach tags a players, they freeze and have to be tagged by another player before they can continue.
4. Red Light, Green Light, U-Turn - variation of the popular game.  Same larger grid as above; all players on one side.  Coach calls out green light (dribble), red light (stop with bottom of foot), or U-turn (pull back move).  If any player takes more than 2 seconds to execute command, they "crash" and fall down on the field dramatically.
5. Two Many Choices (for more advanced players) - 2 players start out in middle of grid with two small goals on opposite sides of grid.  One player with ball (attacker); other player facing him/her without a ball (defender).  On coach's command, attacker dribbles toward either goal, with defender pursuing.  If defender gets position, attacker can change direction and dribble toward other goal.  Go for 15-30 seconds (depending on players) or until a goal is scored.

Sample Practice - Changing Direction - U10 (all players with a ball)

1.  Land Mines - scatter cones around a confined grid; teach players the 3 moves above in video and have them practice dribbling around and going at a cone (defender) and executing each of the

moves.  If they touch a cone, they "blow up" and have to yell "boom!" and do a star jump.

2.  Relays - Set up lanes with 3 or 4 cones and split players into lines of no more than 3 per line (to reduce down time).  Variation #1 - players run without ball, and go around each cone and then race back and tag; Variation #2 - Each player performs a ladder run, going to each cone, executing a move, going back to start line, and then repeating to each cone.  Next player begins when ball is stopped on start line with bottom of foot; Variation #3 - Player 1 takes a ball from the start line and places it on each cone, next player then runs out and retrieves each ball and places it on the start line, and continue cycle until last player goes.

3.  Run the Gauntlet - In the middle of same lanes above, one player on start line with a ball, and one player in each grid.  Player with ball has to dribble successfully through all of the grids without going out of bounds or getting ball kicked away/stolen by each defender.

x                                   x                                         x                                                 x

P1/ball -->                                      Def                                            Def

x                                    x                                         x                                                 x

4.  Small Sided Game - Instead of goals to shoot on, create end zones that players have to dribble into and stop the ball with the bottom of foot for a "goal".  First team to 5 wins; losers pick up the field.