Improve your passing with wall ball!
Parents and Friends,
When traveling abroad you’ll see kids playing pickup soccer games everywhere and anywhere.
Pickup is essentially street soccer and all the youngsters need is a ball, some space and they’ll use their school bags, jackets etc. for goals.
Jumpers for goalposts!
It’s fantastic because they’re getting lots of touches and being creative in an environment where they’re free to express themselves.
That kids elsewhere are getting more touches on the ball outside of practice is something that’s not really acknowledged in U.S. soccer.
But it’s certainly one of the challenges!
That’s why I always encourage kids to TRAIN ON THEIR OWN and show them exercises such as passing off a wall.
Some players call this wall ball and these are my top 7 exercises for a great workout:
- Receive with the inside of the foot, pass with the inside of the foot.
- Receive with the outside of the foot, pass with the inside of the foot.
- Receive with the...
Building a player (why I give homework!)
Parents and Friends,
Working with many families and young players over the years one of the first things I mention is that we do weekly soccer homework.
The response is frequently what could that possibly be!
I am always quick to explain that if they want help then homework is a CRUCIAL and integral part of that process.
Why? Because practice time is limited to a few hours a week (or less!) and I want to have an input on what players are doing outside of those trainings.
It's also an opportunity to be productive and get ahead especially when soccer kids these days are often IDLE for months on end. Sometimes for whole seasons.
The content of the homework can vary but typically it will be based on learning a new skill and increasing a player’s Soccer IQ.
I recently had the kids working on the backheel and they had to…
1) Study a technical handout on backheels.
2) Watch a video of Alexis Sanchez’s backheel assist against Brighton.
3) Answer five questions based...
Getting better on your own (4 great exercises!)
Parents and Friends,
We’ve all observed kids practicing on their own at the fields and they are nearly always doing the same thing… they’re taking shots.
Then they chase the ball down to take another.
Sure, it’s fantastic they’re out there having fun but it’s pretty much useless in terms of quality technical training.
It’s essentially wasted time because it’s not PRODUCTIVE.
When chatting with new families one of the main concerns they have is their child doesn’t know how to practice on their own
Their kid has never been encouraged to do so nor been given guidelines on how to individually improve their game.
At Soccer 1:1 every player in the program receives a handout on footwork, fundamentals and ball mastery exercises specific to practicing on your own.
And I make it a requirement that they follow through.
How? The kids maintain soccer journals with their practice days and I read them at every session.
This makes players...
