Going to college is extremely important in order for young adults to have the freedom to design their own path in life. All parents encourage their teenagers to attend college, and those four years are honestly some of the best years of your life. For a majority of people however, at the conclusion of those four years, you realize that you now have to pay off all those student loans you accumulated! Why not go to college for free?
Keeping your grades up is crucial to getting into a good college, but soccer can be a great avenue as well. Being a very good athlete can get you a scholarship to go to a well-recognized University that under normal circumstances, you wouldn't be able to afford! So my advice to all the young players out there is do your homework early, and once your done, make sure you go into the backyard and spend some time with your ball. Your time and effort now can save you over $100,000 in the future!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ginga:
Ginga is a word used to describe 'The Soul of Brazilian Football!' (Aka soccer!) It is not a commonly used term in the United States. To me, Ginga stands for a lifestyle and an attitude. It's having a love for what you do and the people around you. If you watch Brazilian's play, there's a style that goes along with their game that makes them so entertaining to watch. They have a smile on their face, a care-free love for the sport! Soccer is part of the culture in Brazil and it is evident with the comfort on the ball shown by the vast amount of professional players that come from there. The best way to gain mastery of the ball is to spend as much time with it as possible. My advice, get a little more "Ginga" in your life, and your game will see drastic benefits!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Are you mentally tough?
Mental toughness is a very common phrase for those of us who have played college soccer. Whether you're struggling to finish a 6 mile run in preseason, lifting weights that are too heavy to be lifted, or playing through a ripped muscle, mental toughness is always the solution. These are extreme cases, but to be completely serious, mental toughness is crucial to success in sports and even more importantly, success in life.
I feel it is very important when coaching, especially with young kids, to find a good balance of instilling confidence and mental toughness. You always want to celebrate the kids when they do something correct, but not to the point where every little thing is a spectacle. At the same time, you want to correct them when they are wrong, but not to the point where you are shattering their confidence.
A lot of the life lessons I have learned (a vast majority actually!) have come from experiences on the soccer field. At the U.S. Premier Soccer Academy, we strive to develop mentally tough players, as well as mentally tough people.
I feel it is very important when coaching, especially with young kids, to find a good balance of instilling confidence and mental toughness. You always want to celebrate the kids when they do something correct, but not to the point where every little thing is a spectacle. At the same time, you want to correct them when they are wrong, but not to the point where you are shattering their confidence.
A lot of the life lessons I have learned (a vast majority actually!) have come from experiences on the soccer field. At the U.S. Premier Soccer Academy, we strive to develop mentally tough players, as well as mentally tough people.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Cristiano Ronaldo
The player that is being highlighted this week is none other than Portugal's own Cristiano Ronaldo. If this is a new name to you, I strongly suggest going on to YouTube right now and watching some highlight tapes before you even continue with this blog…
…Ok, now that you have seen him in action we can continue. This guy is over 6 feet tall, has rapid pace, is a force in the air, finishes with both feet, he does it all! He also happens to play for my favorite team, Manchester United!
Every time he touches the ball, you can feel a sense of expectation. What is he going to do next? To me, his 1v1 ability is second to none. The tricks he does in games are unheard of. He is the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and scored over 40 goals in all competitions last year. Some people are just born to do things, please take a chance to watch this rare talent compete.
…Ok, now that you have seen him in action we can continue. This guy is over 6 feet tall, has rapid pace, is a force in the air, finishes with both feet, he does it all! He also happens to play for my favorite team, Manchester United!
Every time he touches the ball, you can feel a sense of expectation. What is he going to do next? To me, his 1v1 ability is second to none. The tricks he does in games are unheard of. He is the reigning FIFA World Player of the Year and scored over 40 goals in all competitions last year. Some people are just born to do things, please take a chance to watch this rare talent compete.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Manchester United
I recently decided that since I talk about a different player every week in this blog; why not talk about a team as well. It would only be appropriate for me to start with my favorite team of all time, Manchester United!
The Red Devils play out of the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford Stadium. Their roster boasts some of the most talented, highest paid players in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes….I can name the whole roster!
They are the reigning English Premiership Champions in addition to being the reigning UEFA Champions League Champs (more information about the UEFA Champions League to follow).
Manchester United is currently top of the table in England and still competing in the Champions League, take some time to check out their games and support them. Come on United!
The Red Devils play out of the Theatre of Dreams, Old Trafford Stadium. Their roster boasts some of the most talented, highest paid players in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes….I can name the whole roster!
They are the reigning English Premiership Champions in addition to being the reigning UEFA Champions League Champs (more information about the UEFA Champions League to follow).
Manchester United is currently top of the table in England and still competing in the Champions League, take some time to check out their games and support them. Come on United!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious competition, in my opinion, in European soccer. The top teams from every country in Europe compete to see who the best of the best is.
To qualify, teams have to finish either at the top of the table in their domestic league, or in the top few teams for the power house countries like England, Italy, Spain, and Germany. These teams are then broken into groups and play each other twice to see who moves on.
After the initial group stages, the top 2 teams from every group are put into another group stage and continue to compete. After this group stage is complete, the teams move into a playoff style tournament with games home and away against each other. The team with the better aggregate score moves on with away goals being the tie breaker.
The mighty Red Devils of Manchester United are the current Champions. The 2008-2009 Champions League is in the Semi Final Stages with only Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona left. The games play on ESPN2 so definitely take the time to watch some of the best players in the world perform!
To qualify, teams have to finish either at the top of the table in their domestic league, or in the top few teams for the power house countries like England, Italy, Spain, and Germany. These teams are then broken into groups and play each other twice to see who moves on.
After the initial group stages, the top 2 teams from every group are put into another group stage and continue to compete. After this group stage is complete, the teams move into a playoff style tournament with games home and away against each other. The team with the better aggregate score moves on with away goals being the tie breaker.
The mighty Red Devils of Manchester United are the current Champions. The 2008-2009 Champions League is in the Semi Final Stages with only Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona left. The games play on ESPN2 so definitely take the time to watch some of the best players in the world perform!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Fresh Air and Fun for the Family
Watching games on television can be a very good learning experience as I have mentioned in an earlier blog. You know what an even better way to watch soccer is? IN PERSON! Go check out a local game in your area whether it's an MLS game, USL game, or PDL game. USL (United Soccer Leagues) makes up the second and third division of professional soccer in the United States. PDL (Premier Development League) is a summer league that all the top college players compete in to get in shape for their upcoming season.
While you're in the stadium you can see just how quickly the players move the ball, how athletic the players are, and hear the constant communication that takes place during a game. At the same time, it's a great chance to spend time with the family and be part of a great sports atmosphere! Schedules of local games can be found on www.mlsnet.com or www.uslsoccer.com.
While you're in the stadium you can see just how quickly the players move the ball, how athletic the players are, and hear the constant communication that takes place during a game. At the same time, it's a great chance to spend time with the family and be part of a great sports atmosphere! Schedules of local games can be found on www.mlsnet.com or www.uslsoccer.com.
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