GoaldenThe idea for Goalden is to help other soccer players of all ages improve the many different aspects of their game. We began coaching youth teams and watching youth soccer all over Ontario. We watched semi-professional and professional teams and noticed how far the game still has to develop here. From that, we decided we want to help others obtain the best information as early as possible in their soccer careers. We want to educate readers about the game of soccer and the fine details that are often overlooked by coaches in North America.
Looking to improve your touch on a soccer ball?
In order to have more time on the ball and to have the essentially slow down for you need to have the best touch on the ball. The best and most elite players have a great touch on the ball. This allows them to play the game and make better decisions without having to spend time controlling the ball and reacting to situations around them.
Unlike many other sports where set plays are drawn up and practiced in advance in the hope of implementing them in game-time situations (with stoppage play), soccer is a game of decision making where the majority of the decisions are taken by the players on the field in real time with no stoppage play. In a 90-minute game, the game will constantly evolve based on where the ball is on the field and what scenarios are presented to the players. A coach’s job is done in the weeks and days prior to the game, not during a game. Therefore, players need to have a well-developed soccer IQ in order to make proper decisions in split seconds over and over again. With that being said, how do you develop your soccer IQ? Below are certain strategies you can try-out with the aim of improved decision making in a game-time situation.
The topic of injuries and tibia/fibula fractures has come for front again in professional sport as well as through personal inquiries. That being said, I thought of sharing a few updates as to how my sporting life has been in the recent years since my tibia fibula fracture.
What has changed and or remained the same:
It may be difficult to realize but there are hardly any differences in how I feel or compete in sports. I do, however, feel tingles at odd times on the side of my leg.
It took some time to regain my quickness but the bone healed and with no muscle or ligament damage I was able to recover all the quickness from before. Thanks to even more cardio training, I am even in better shape today than at the time of injury. Already being in shape and young when the injury happened did give me an advantage coming back into sport.
It was hard to believe at the time but the surgeon and physio were both correct in assessing the recovery of such an injury. I was eventually able to return to action 100% intensity in around a little over a year after the break.
Finally, I have noticed some discomfort in the leg when I go skiing in the winter, most likely due to the cold weather but this doesn’t last longer than a single session on the trails.
There is no doubt that today in team sports I play less aggressive than before. It is not about fear of injury but more so that it could happen again and there is really little to gain. Therefore, it just isn’t worth going through the same or similar ordeal all over again.
I chose more now where and when I go into challenges and tackles. Many players today will willingly throw themselves into any challenge but as far I am concerned those days are behind me. Finally, it may sound obvious, but the top players are doing the same thing. They are picking and choosing the right moments to enter any challenge on the field of play. It is important to know what is at stake (tournament, major competition, recruitment, money etc.) and If it isn’t worth taking that risk.
Today, I have replaced club soccer with running, cycling, cross-country skiing and recreational sports on the side. I am still heavily involved in soccer coaching five days a week through our school program. It has worked out to be a great balance both physically and mentally. In addition, eating healthy and staying fit on a daily basis has worked wonders for my motivation, self discipline and pursuit of sporting development.
Though this blog was short, I can confidently say that many years after such an injury one can return to a healthy and steady dose of sporting competition. It can be done but be truthful to yourself. It will require enormous effort, dedication and self discipline.
Depending on what province or state you are in there are different approaches to taking your coaching certifications to the next level. In Ontario, The Ontario Soccer Association, offers numerous courses which range from introductory classes which include Soccer For Life to more in depth certificates such as your provincial licenses A, B and C amongst others. Each certificate ranges from a two day session to much longer. There are also different forms of evaluations depending on the certificate you are enrolled in. That being said, do not be intimidated by these programs. The courses can all be attained in a relatively short period of time by those willing progress in the sport.
With the 2014 World Cup now over it is time to reflect on soccer in Canada. As a Canadian it dawned on me that no Canadians spoke of Canada or its lack of participation in the tournament. Instead, the question was which country are you cheering for?` Canadians in general talk about how the sport is growing but the growth for our own players, development and national team as a whole has a long way to go. That shift in mentality for the average citizen and Canadian sports fan has a long way to go. Is it bad to cheer for another country? By all means no…but that sort of support does not happen in other parts of the world.
I watched the world cup as a soccer fan but there was no overall cheering for one country over another. I was excited at goals, individual brilliance and great teams plays. Even with many European roots and family still in Europe I still could not cheer for one country. Jumping on board for one team never seemed as a solution. However, most Canadians that did this could not even name the starting line-up or better yet a handful of players for the team they supported.
Then I heard about an article from Declan Hill, author of the Fix: Soccer and Organised Crime. Hill, shares an interesting view on the subject of soccer in Canada. Whether you agree or disagree it certainly would be interesting to see out some of his ideas. Click here or copy the link below to have a look at his article.
Declan Hill: Why Canada cheers other countries in the World Cup
I’ve been reading Sir Alex Ferguson’s autobiography and wanted to shed light on this book. But before I begin, much has already been written about this book and the wave of interest has gone by for many. However, a great deal can be learned from this man who won so much over his career and managed some of the biggest personalities in world football.
You’re playing on a new team with new players, a different coach and they play a different system. Now you have to force your way into the line-up. How do you do it? Unless you’re a clinical goal scorer and can impact the game greatly, you’ll likely play where the team asks you to play. And yes, this could be in a position where you’re greater strengths are not as highlighted as before. This does not have to be a bad thing but now you have to do your best to understand your teammates, your opposition and communicate this as a unit. Here are three ways you can do so:
Over the years, I have worked with all kinds of kids in soccer and the comments that I overhear at times are surprising. Many feel that they are on their way to professional careers in soccer. The «big show» if you will. Nothing is wrong with dreaming. And if you’re going to dream you might as well dream big. Yes some players are good but it goes far beyond that to play at the next level. In terms of planning your soccer future it is so very cliché but one must have other career options in their back pocket and that can start with a solid academic base. And if you don’t have that academic base it’s not the end of the world either. There are always options.
A famous sports psychologist beautifully illustrated the physiology of what happens when we are under pressure. Place a 12 foot long 2 X 8 piece of wood on the ground, and ask one of your players to run across it. What happens? That player doesn’t even think twice. He or she says, “No problem,” and runs across the board with ease and enjoyment. Now take this same 2 X 8 and raise it 8 feet by stretching it across two ladders and ask that same player to run across. What happens?
Winning is everything in soccer…or is it? Of course winning is important in soccer. After all, you want a competitive team that can go as far as possible in all competitions. But when it comes to kids between the ages of 10-14 in particular, I believe that player and team development is far more valuable to the learning experience than simply winning a game.
After recently playing with a variety of new teams in a new city, I was surprised of the level of talent floating around Canada. More and more players are learning skills on their own and practicing tricks they’ve seen online. Not that long ago players had to learn tricks other ways but now thanks to youtube and other such social media tools, this footage is more readily available than ever before. However, what has also become more clear is we are developing many individually skilled players that have little to no idea how to play the game as a team.
The Ontario Soccer Association has taken a step in the right towards putting a greater emphasis on player development at the youth level. Changes will be mandatory at youth level soccer for 2014.
Mandatory implementation for the 2014 season include the following:
* No promotion and relegation from U12 and below