The Need For Speed In Soccer

Soccer players are athletes, but unlike a 100m runner where there is explosive speed for 10 seconds in a straight line, there are many other abilities that soccer players need to develop.

Here are 5 key soccer related speed abilities that you should develop in your players.

#1 - speed of thought

Soccer players have a great deal to concentrate on. There senses are constantly being blitzed with information, which they need to quickly decipher. Here are some examples:

- Where opponents are positioned

- Actions of their team mates

- What's infront of them and their peripheral vision

- The conditions of the pitch and the weather

- The noise from team mates, crowd, coaches and opponents

- Their tactical position and the strategy of the team

#2 - speed of anticipation

Some players have a great reading of the game. I have a friend who although he is now in his late 40's early 50's still plays regularly and competes well with players half his age!

How does he do this... because he's played soccer all his life at professional and international level he has built a huge database in his brain of playing situations, player characteristics, tactical situations etc. and he is able to draw on this which gives him superb speed of anticipation.

Sure for explosiveness and reaction times the younger players would win every time, but as the old saying goes..."the first couple of yards are in the head!".

So here it is important that players develop a knack of interpreting the actions of the opponents and what that means to the games development.

#3 - speed of reaction

As mentioned in the last bullet, speed of reaction is vital.

Anticipation is one thing, being able to react quickly is another.

Consider the role of the goal keeper, their reaction time to a sudden shot, deflection, switch in angle of attack, flight of the ball must be very acute.

But how does a goal keeper react and what to? In this instance, the goal keeper will react to a number of external stimuli, here's a list:

- The visual element of the opponent with the ball, are they carrying it, have they got backlift as if ready to strike the ball, is the opponent in space and is their a clear line of sight on goal

- The auditory element, do they hear the strike of the ball, is it fizzing, does it take a deflection of a player (thud), a shout from a team mate, maybe a close opponent barracking the goalie " he's going to shoot!"

All of these stimuli will have an effect on the player.

Once stimulated the player should choose the best option available to them to react to that situation.

Again we will use the goalie;

If a shot is fizzing towards them low and hard, the pitch is wet and quick, and there are a number of players the ball has to go through before hitting the target, do they get down low anticipating a clear strike on goal, have quick feet and get their body in line with the expected flight path, do they dive towards the ball, kneel or hack the ball?

The answer to this question lies in the ability, confidence and experience of the player.

#4 speed of feet

Here we are talking about the basic running / sprinting motor skills.

Initial explosion and acceleration are vital to covering the ground quickly. speed of feet is without the ball, and since it is without the ball it is rarely in a straight line.

Therefore, as a players progress is often inhibited by other players they must adjust and change direction in relation to their team mates actions and those of the opponents.

Explosive speed is generated from the leg muscles stretching and contracting to achieve maximum power, but good running technique, driving through the arms and co-ordination are also vital.

#5 Skill speed

Watching a player run at pace and carry the ball is a truly awesome sight.

Sprinting full out while keeping possession and holding off any challenges from opponents to dribble and create an opportunity to shoot at goal is a tremendous ability.

This key skill though is still built on the last point which is speed of feet.

However, while a player may be very quick is only advantageous if their ball manipulation and technical skills are as up to speed as their pace (pardon the pun).

So, what can you do to help coach the 5 key speed principles?

#1 speed of thought - enable players to make their own decisions, that means give them lots of opportunites to make choices. Condition games so that it forces them to think.

Play soccer games with them, don't just do drill work. By playing games they will also gain experience which help them build their database from which to draw on.

Keep them motivated, players will not think unless they are motivated and stimulated to do so. Finally, let them be free of any fear and stress of making wrong decisions.

#2 speed of anticipation - play more soccer, coach them through the game.

Ask plenty of questions on how they are reading the game development.

Offer your insights into positions they have taken up in relation to opponents advances, both strengths and weaknesses.

#3 speed of reaction - use reaction balls, have goal keeper starting positions with their back to play and react to shots, play rebounds off walls.

Try not to use your whistle or command as the key for the reaction as this wouldn't happen in a real game so don't practice this way.

#4 speed of feet - always, always warm the muscles up before doing any speed work!

Do some sprints, keep it high intensity with short sharp bursts. Develop good running technique with the use of speed ladders and hurdles.

Try using some different starting positions to like standing, from a jump and land, on their back, on their stomach, incorporate turns, feints and directional changes.

#5 Skill speed - make your training as game related as possible, focusing on speed with the ball, movement, game related distances and challenge.

Hopefully this has given you some good food for thought, enjoy your training!

Fusion Pilates Yoga Studio Laguna Beach

Grooved Golf Swing Series - A Further Article About Hitting From Difficult Lies

How do you get on hitting your ball from hard pan? Goodness, I used to lose some shots from his type of lie. I just didnt have a clue. Then, one day, I read how to do it and it became easy.

That is what I want to tell you today.

The first thing to do is to hit down onto the ball. If you hit your shots in a scooping motion, you will have great difficulty from such a lie. It is not a difficult shot as long as you know how to go about it. Set up with your ball opposite your right big toe. You have to hit down on the ball and make sure your pinch it cleanly between the club and the ground. Setting your ball so far back in your stance makes it easier to hit down on the ball and hit it cleanly.

Keep you head still and watch the ball. This is vital.

This will get the ball up and flying. The important factor is to let the loft of your club get the ball into the air. As mentioned, if you try to scoop, you will fail. You know how you keep your hands in front of the ball when you make a chip. Well, you follow the same mechanics here.

You make sure your keep your hands in front of the club face during contact and until after you have hit your ball.

Keep your wrists firm, as you do when you chip. When you do this, you havent got to think of the hard lie. You just have to change your technique a little and the result will be as desired.

Practice it a bit and you should soon add this shot to your arsenal.

Now you have to hit your ball over some trees to get out of your trouble spot. There are a couple of minor adjustments to allow you to get your ball up quickly.

The first thing, of course, is to use a club with enough loft to clear the obstacle. Dont be greedy and try for more distance than is reasonable.

Always remember, it is most important to get your ball back into play with no dropped shots.

open your club face slightly, and be prepared for a fade as a result. The more you move the ball forward in your stance, the quicker and steeper it will rise. So, move the ball forward in your stance and make sure you get your club face under the ball.

If you are really close to a bush and have to get your ball into the air quickly, have the ball opposite your left big toe, and hit with your wrists to get the club head under the ball. The ball will go almost straight up into the air. You will get over, but you will not get much distance obviously. What about when you are in a situation in the trees, or near some bush on the side of the fairway where you have a very restricted swing? You know that if you make good contact with the ball you will be able to hit it far enough to get it back onto the fairway and into play.

However, the problem is making good contact. Obviously, the most important thing is your swing and not the lie of the ball in this situation.

The first thing you have to establish is how far back you can take your back swing. Once you are confident about this, having rehearsed several times, you can start to concentrate on hitting the ball.

I find it a good idea to take my stance and then make my back swing and stop here. Then making sure I watch the ball, make an unhurried down swing making sure I keep my body still.

It is important not to rush. Be as smooth as you can be both during the back swing, the slight pause and then the down swing. It is so easy to lift your head before you hit the ball due to anxiety about the outcome of the shot. Be very conscious of this and make total effort to keep your head still.

Bill Maitland is a thinking, inventive golf guru. He thought out and developed simple techniques and tips which enabled him to lower his handicap from 25 to 18, then from 18 to 15, and finally from 15 to 12. He is a passionate golfer, and delights in helping others with their game should they want his help. To receive a valuable weekly golf tip go to his web site http://www.onlinegolfershandbook.com and subscribe to his free Hole In one news Letter. You will be so glad that you did.

Author of On Line Golfers' hand Book. An e-Book that takes you step by step to being the best golfer that you can possibly be. The basics in great detail. To learn about his tips and simple techniques and order his book, visit his web site

http://www.onlinegolfershandbook.com

sign up for his free news letter and receive a wealth of great tips every time. He really tries to tell you everything and leaves nothing out as so often happens. When you sign up, receive his free chapter from his book on bunker play.

Florida Yoga Teacher

Golf Vacations

Where are you going on vacation with your family this year? There are many places that you could go - beaches, resorts, theme parks, big cities, tourist traps - but one option that you may not have considered is a golf vacation. this type of vacation can offer a lot for families - and not just golf!

Of course, one of the main reasons to go on a golf vacation is play golf - and we all know why you like to do that - great courses, the great outdoors, and most of all a great game. A secondary reason to go on golf vacation is to learn to play (or existing players can improve their standard of play) - as many golf resorts offer coaching or facilities for beginners. If you love to play golf, but your spouse is not into the game, you may find that a golf vacation is in fact a perfect opportunity to introduce them to the game, and involve them in your hobby.

One thing to remember though is that even if you are a family of golf fanatics, you are unlikely to spend every second of your vacation on the golf course. Much as you might love golf, you will need some other activities to be available. And this is especially true if your spouse or kids are not quite as keen on golf as you are. Fortunately, most golf vacation resorts are very accommodating, and many provide a lot more than just golf!

The United States of america is fortunate in being blessed with many beautiful golf vacation resorts with truly excellent facilities and accommodation for families. There are in fact golf resorts all over the country, including in Hawaii, so you and your family can enjoy a fabulous golf vacation in whichever part of the country you choose. So why not get thinking, discuss it with your spouse, and before too long, you and your family could be enjoying a fabulous golf vacation.

For a guide to family-friendly golf vacations in the USA, please visit http://www.guide2golfvacations.com/

For a guide to improving your golf fitness, please visit http://www.guide2golffitness.com/

If you have a golf web site, click the "Affiliates" link at the bottom of the page to earn great commissions promoting either of these guides.

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