Self-Training 101

As summer gets closer, it's time to start talking about training at home. Self-training can help to accelerate soccer improvements by simply getting more training hours in.

Understand that intensity in training enables you to be the margin of victory,
so get after it when you train.

I am offering the girls help designing a soccer workout routine that can help them improve their skills, confidence and performance. But they have to take the initiative and ask for help.

Here are a few tips when coming up with a training routine that will help you improve:

There is only a certain amount of time in each day. Organize your time to achieve peak performance. Understand what is important for your soccer development and what is not; what to do first, what to do last; what to do once a week; what to do everyday; what to do on days you have training and how much more you can do on days you don't. Have a clear vision of how you are training and what it will help you improve. Envision that you are a coach trying to get you, as a player, to be the best you can be. Intensity matters. When training alone, work as hard as you can during your drills and take a full rest period (no less) between tough exercises. And don't train longer then 1 hour, 15 minutes - you can burn yourself out.

Players, contact me either at training or through email if you need help designing a self-training session. Get a clear idea of what you want to get better and I will help you get there.

I want to help, but you have to want to help yourself first.

Training Monday May 30th Optional 5:30-7pm at Granite

Training tomorrow is optional.

5:30-7pm Finishing & Striking technique.

Making the training opportunity available for those that are interested.

TvGolo: End of May Addition

Howto: Strike a ball with pace, power, swerve and accuracy

By Carlos Tevez:



The first replay from behind the goal shows how amazing this shot is.

Best Goals from the last seven days

April Goals of the Month: EPL

TvGolo: May I Goal

Howto: Build Speed and Endurance

Want to be fast like Ali Riley?

espnW gives us an inside look into Ali's speed-building workout!

Howto: Create Space and getting behind the defense

We talked a lot this past week about creating space for yourself and reading each other's movement. For example, if your first movement is towards the ball, this could be a decoy movement to draw a defender, and what you really want is a ball played in front of you to run onto.

Here a great example of that player movement from the Champions League Semi-Final.



The #9 makes a decoy run to the ball, then darts behind the defender. The #7 recognizes the movement and waits to deliver an inch perfect pass splitting the defense. Finally the #8 is on his bike to get into the box for the easy tap in.

SoccerHW: Captain Attributes

Hi Everyone,

Here is the list of qualities of a Captain/Leader that you came up with on Monday.

I think it's a great list.

For HW, please read and think about which qualities you believe are the most important and be ready to talk about your choices.

• Inclusive
• Communicator
• Outspoken
• Listener
• Friend to everyone
• Role Model on/off the field
• Organizer
• Composure
• Confident
• Positivity
• 100% effort
• Play as hard in practice as they do in games
• Team Player
• Strong Player
• Understanding of the game and her fellow teammates
• Motivating
• Helps everyone on/off the field
• Teaches
• Be a cheerleader
• Get players focused
• Makes decisions based on what is best for the team
• Nice
• Willing to help
• Strong willed
• "Go team" spirit
• Takes charge
• Responisble

Summer Soccer Reading List

I know summer is just around the corner for many of the girls and that mean one thing... summer reading! OK so I'm pretty sure that's not the #1 thing on your mind, but if it is I have a great book list for you.

Recommended Reading List

Parents:

• 101 Ways To Be A Terrific Sports Parent by Dr. Joel Fish
• The Sports Parenting Edge by Rick Wolff
• Brilliant Orange, The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football by David Winner
• The Coaching Philosophies of Louis Van Gaal and The Ajax Coaches by Henny Komeklink and Tjeu Seeverens
• You'll Win Nothing with Kids:  Fathers, Sons and Football by Jim White
• Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin
• Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
• Game On by Tom Farrey
• Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
• Bounce by Matthew Syed <---- Brand new out on paperback and very worth it.
• Brain Rules by John Medina

Kids:   

• Playing Out of Your Mind, Developing Mental Toughness by Dr. Alan Goldberg
• The Vision of A Champion by Anson Dorrance
• The Champion Within, Developing Women Soccer Players by Lauren Gregg

Howto: Possession, Attacking and Movement off the ball

Here is a good YouTube video of several Barcelona FC at their best: in possession.

"Offer, Recieve, Pass, Offer" is their philosophy.

They have achieved such great success because they recognize and help each other with good supporting positions. When one player makes a darting forward run, another fills the space that was created. This constant movement creates confusion in opponents defense and gives Barcelona chances to score.



Bonus: Notice how the #2 and #5 are really attackers in the Barcelona/Sac Utd system and how eager they are to get forward. Something to think about.