Do you watch soccer games? Or do you WATCH soccer games?

Believe it or not, there are two different ways to watch soccer games whether it's live from the stadium or from the comfort of your own home on the television. The first is very basic and it's what 95% of people do while viewing a game. You follow the ball as it rotates from player to player in an attempt to score. This is fine if you are simply a fan of the sport and want to enjoy the game. The second way is for the serious player looking to pick something up and learn from the game. You watch the player who plays your position regardless of where the ball is. You watch him defend, you watch his movement off the ball, you study him and compare what he is doing to what you do yourself. This is such an incredible way to learn! There's a reason why those players on television are there, why not try and pick up pointers from them. Try both approaches and see which you like better.

Always Consult a Professional Before Starting a Weight Training Program!

This article goes out to my fellow 5'7, 145 lb players out there. A lot of small or skinny players think the solution to their problem is to rack up 180 lbs on the bench press and push out 2 reps. Well I have news for you, not only will you still be small in the grand scheme of things, you just made yourself slower as well! My advice is to consult with a personal trainer or any sort of fitness specialist before starting a weight program. Just like everything else regarding training for soccer, there's a specific, unique way for soccer players to lift. Keep the weights moderate to light, keep the reps high, and go through functional movements. For example, instead of doing squats with 150 lbs on a bar for 5 reps; hold a 10 lb medicine ball over your head and do 3 sets of 10 squat jumps. See how your legs feel after that! Working out with weights can be extremely beneficial when done properly, just seek the proper assistance if you're not sure.

Why Soccer Specific Stadiums Don't Have Tracks!

I never understood the purpose of having teams run around the track. Most training sessions are only an hour and a half long. Why take a portion of that time and use it on running which players can do by themselves? All fitness should be done with a ball. Soccer is not a sport where you can go long periods of time running at one pace. It's constant bursts of speed, constant changes of direction. Track running can be very useful in the offseason to develop power and strength in your legs. But when you have a group of 15-18 players together, you have to make use of the numbers. Do a circuit with the ball, even better, play short sided games where the loser has some sort of punishment. Compare the way you feel after running a 6 minute mile on the track to how you feel after playing 6 straight minutes of intense 5v5 in a moderate space. Not only are you increasing your VO2 max, you're also becoming more comfortable on the ball.

The Lost Art of the Simple Soccer Pass

I've noticed the way people think about youth development in America has drastically changed since I was growing up playing….and that wasn't really that long ago! Everywhere I go kids are being taught to do drag backs, Cruyff turns, Step-overs, and all sorts of moves/tricks. What happened to the inside of the foot pass? The most basic fundamental and most commonly used technique in an actual game is vastly overlooked in the development process. Don't get me wrong, all the above moves I listed are very useful in the right situation…but soccer is an 11 person game so if the young players can't simply pass the ball to each other, what's the point!? I feel the inside of the foot pass is almost a lost art in the youth development process and it's time for it to be brought back!