Comments for Soccer Coaching Blog | Professional Soccer Coaching Advice

Comment on One skill leads to another… by Lance from California, USA

Lance from California, USA — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:13:14 +0000

Drag back or Pull back. Very effective move, and yes, to be truly effective, it requires the player to be able to explode “out” of the move. Agility is a key ingredient to performing this move to benefit from losing a defender.

Comment on One skill leads to another… by rick sewall

rick sewall — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:55:33 +0000

Dribbling is fine, but the lack of instruction in the power kick by professional coaches is a real problem. When it is taught it is taught improperly in several ways. For example, i’ve never seen instruction in locking of the hip, a critical element of the kick because if it’s done a player won’t cross his legs in the follow through and will get the full use of the hip joint , thereby maximizing power . Lock the ankle, lock the hip, learn how to swing the kicking leg, learn the magic hop followthrough , don’t land first on the kicking leg when learning [ it happens when approaching the ball at speed], and any player will improve a lot. The technique,nonetheless, is difficult to learn. Why is it that arguably the most important soccer technique is taught the least? Probably because teaching it requires knowledge in teaching, a step by step and somewhat painstaking method and the technique itself, as well as a lot of patience and hard work. Most coaches stay away from this style . Too bad because it really works. Rick Sewall

Comment on 2-0 up and under the cosh – how to defend a lead by ryan mccreadie

ryan mccreadie — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:40:52 +0000

Love the blogs mate and well done.

Comment on Puyol, we love your labour by Martin Upson

Martin Upson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:37:17 +0000

rumour has it he cut his hair once and in the next 3 months, suffered a complete loss of form and confidence until it grew back. Puyol demonstrates everything you’d want in a centre-back. Pace, power, bravery, teamwork. His mental approach is first class and expects the same from every one of his team mates. His theatrics are a little desperate at times, similar to Lucio. A friend of mine summed up his attitude quite well after seeing another totally committed tackle – “Puyol says NO!”

Comment on My top five box to box players by Sami Khedira

Sami Khedira — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:10:22 +0000

[...] [...]

Comment on The next 6 best football (soccer) songs ever by Enrica Dale

Enrica Dale — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:10:17 +0000

P.S. Forgot to mention, most of my boys come from children’s homes or single parents homes, and absolutely and totally LOVE soccer.

Thanx, Enrica

Comment on The next 6 best football (soccer) songs ever by Enrica Dale

Enrica Dale — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:58:46 +0000

Hi there. I’m the manager of my now U13 boys, from Edenvale Football Club in SA. My boys have come far since we started 4 years ago, and doing so well, even almost winning the Eastern’s Junior plate last year, loosing by one point. The problem is I cannot find a reliable coach!! In four years they have had 7 coaches. I’m seriously thinking of coaching as I am there all the time and do the fitness with them anyways. The only problem is I don’t know the first thing about soccer, also I do not see any female coaches. Can you please help in some training methods or point me in the right direction.

Thanking you Kindly
Enrica Dale

Comment on The right response to an under pressure referee by rick sewall

rick sewall — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:22:14 +0000

I would discuss with my team any bad,unsportsmanlike behavior by an opposing team at halftime,and I tell them not to respond to it in any way, because doing so takes their focus away from defending and scoring and other aspects of proper play. After the game I would discuss the opposing teams behavior with the proper league officials. I have done this in the past and have been very satisfied with subsequent actions of the league officials. Responding during a game to bad behavior can lead to the game falling apart. It has happened more than once.

Comment on The right response to an under pressure referee by coachdaddy

coachdaddy — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:30:09 +0000

Very interesting take on this. I am conflicted, as I have always told my players not to initiate conversation with officials unless it was extreme circumstance. You’re making me reconsider this! I always felt it was most respectful to just accept the decisions, to wait for them, even, but it’s tough, when the opposition lays claim to every call, right?

Comment on Your coaching focus should be on technique by Jodi Murphy

Jodi Murphy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:54:38 +0000

I think it’s a great resolution. Without great technique, natural talent is eventually wasted. When you can hone in on what a player is great at and make it perfect, you’ll have one amazing player by the end of the season.