Category: players

  • Cheating Referees

    According to many young players, referees cheat. This seems to be a more prevalent sentiment when that team loses. However, it is highly unlikely that referees cheat. But they do make mistakes, like all of us. It is part of the game.

  • Spring Forward and Prosper

    Besides an easy way to remember which way to move the clocks for daylight savings in March, \’spring forward\’ into open space to receive a pass is a great way to get more touches on the ball.

  • Players: Be Vocal at Tryouts

    Communication is a critical soccer component. During tryouts, players should not hesitate or be afraid of being vocal, as long as the communication is positive. Rewards will usually come to those who are vocal.

  • Soccer’s Magic Cube

    Soccer’s Magic Cube will help young players learn and understand with which foot and with which surface of the foot a ball should be stopped when it is passed to the left or right side of the body.

  • Want to Play College Soccer? What is your GPA?

    What soccer player does not think about playing professional soccer? Only a few lucky players will get this opportunity. College is certainly an option but, again, players need to be fantastic to have such an experience. Or do they? Excellent grades can be and oftentimes are more important than soccer ability.

  • Playing Out-of-Position is Good

    There is a lot of truth to the saying, \”Good forwards make the best defenders and good defenders make the best forwards\”. Players should welcome an opportunity to play out-of-position. Coaches have a responsibility to provide this opportunity. Players and the team will benefit.

  • Player, Parents, and Coach Soccer Evaluations and Meetings

    Much like school where progress reports are regularly sent home and parent/teacher conferences are routinely offered, soccer players, parents, and coaches will benefit greatly from player evaluations and player/parent/coaches meetings. While the evaluations and meetings will require the coach to spend many extra hours to complete, it will be well worth the effort.

  • Four Eyes Are Better than Two

    It is extremely important for players develop eyes-in-the-back-of-the-head. This demonstration will teach players the importance of developing these eyes in a fun and memorable manner.

  • Coin Toss Alternatives

    A recent study dispels the notion that a coin toss is a 50-50 proposition especially when you know which side is up when the coin in tossed. This got me thinking about alternatives to the coin toss.

  • Good Captain Examples

    A number of qualities go into being a good captain. Athletic ability, good sportsmanship, and looking out and caring for teammates are some qualities that are highlighted in the following examples. It would be great if others shared their examples.