Category: players

  • When a Goal is not a Good Goal

    It is important for players to know and coaches to reinforce good scoring habits. The ideal areas of the goal that players should aim for are the two lower corners of the goal. Goal production is sure to go up.

  • Want to Get Noticed at a Tryout? Try a Bicycle Kick

    The key to a soccer tryout is to get noticed, preferably for something good. One sure what to get noticed and turn heads is to perform a successful bicycle kick.

  • Responding to an Embarrassing Loss: Learn from the San Jose Sharks

    No one likes to get blown out in a game. It is embarrassing. However it can be much easier to get over this type of loss compared to a hard-fought and perhaps unlucky 2-1 loss. A blow-out loss is easier to forget.

  • Simple Tips that will Significantly Impact Games

    I have written 20 articles for coaches who tend to over-coach, place too much importance on the X\’s and O\’s, and don\’t let their players go out and have fun and make mistakes. Since the articles were written during the first few months of the blog, they don\’t get the visibility they deserve. The articles…

  • Don\’t Retaliate

    Life and soccer are not fair. It always seems like the retaliator, and not the perpetrator, is getting punished for his/her actions. While it is easier said than done, don\’t retaliate.

  • Responding to an Own Goal: Learn from Dan Boyle of the San Jose Sharks

    Scoring an own goal in soccer is inevitable. There is no way to avoid it. It is important to respond in a positive manner when it does happen. Respond like Dan Boyle of the San Jose Sharks did when he scored in his own goal in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

  • Size Does Not Matter

    In American football, size does matter. In soccer size does not matter. Some of the best players of all time–Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, and Pele–are short. But boy, do and did they play big.

  • 2010 Soccer MVP: Inside-of-the-Foot … Ease of Learning

    The inside-of-the-foot won five of six disciplines during the MVP tournament, validating that it is the MVP (most valuable part) in soccer. Too bad \’Inside\’ could not win the last discipline, \’Ease of Learning\’.

  • 2-4-6-8 Who Do We Appreciate?

    Everyone knows the \’2-4-6-8-Who-Do-We-Appreciate\’ cheer. Modified slightly, this is a great end-of-the-season cheer a team can use to give the players the opportunity to recognize and thank their parents.

  • Making Players More Vocal

    Most young players are not vocal on the soccer field. This is natural. However, the sooner they become more vocal, the better players they will become. After all, soccer is much more than just kicking the ball around and scoring goals.