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.
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:
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).
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.
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.
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.
