Explosive Change of Direction for Soccer Players

In order to change direction quickly and explosively, a soccer player must learn how to stop properly, effectively and safely. The most dangerous soccer player on the field isn't always the fastest one, but the one one that can stop the fastest and then explode in a new direction.

There are several things to consider and do in order to achieve this success. In order for a soccer player to stop quickly, as a player approaches the spot where they need/want to stop, they will want to take smaller steps and start to drop their hips. By doing this, they are effectively lowering their center of gravity. By lowering their center of gravity, this will allow them to move in a new direction quickly.

To effectively stop however, a soccer player should step into that stopped position rather than jumping into it. When they come to a stop, their feet should be pointed forward and they should be in an athletic stance. (Athletic stance is their feet are about shoulder width apart). They will want their heels slightly off the ground (allow a piece of paper to go between their heel and the ground)and they are balanced on the front part of the feet ready to explode in a new direction.

So to summarize, as a soccer player approaches where they want to stop, take smaller steps, start to bend their knees and drop their hips and stop by stepping into an athletic stance with them balanced on the front part of their feet.

Work on this efficient and safe stop and then work with them on their next explosive first step in a new direction.

I have a new DVD coming out soon on change of direction, showing a coach or a player how to stop and explode properly and many drills to enhance that movement skill...keep your eyes open for it or go to my website www.soccerandspeedcoach.com and register to learn when this DVD is coming out.

Thanks and have a great day!

Gary
www.soccerandspeedcoach.com

Increasing a Soccer Players Soccer IQ

The conventional wisdom around teaching soccer players to get better and better is to work with them on their soccer skills. Coaches that teach soccer skills are helping their players develop. If a soccer player can collect any type of pass flawlessly, or if their shot has been struck well with pace and accuracy....possessing skills like that will go a long way in developing a soccer player.

Lately, coaches are seeing the wisdom in helping players get more athletic too through speed and agility training. Speed training helps soccer players in so many ways from possession, to defending to scoring goals. Working with them on all of these aspects will help a player get better.

But another way to help a soccer player get better is for them to understand the game better too. One way in which to do that is for them to watch the game played at a higher level.

Getting youth soccer players to watch high level soccer games teaches them many things and can increase their soccer knowledge or soccer IQ. They might see some moves that they can try and emulate on the field, or they might notice how players are working off the ball to get in position to receive a pass, or even still they can observe how defenders channel the offensive player away from the goal.

Watching and observing and then ultimately mimicking better players can lead to a soccer player getting better and more dangerous out on the soccer field.

Have a great day!

Gary
www.soccerandspeedcoach.com

Check out this video about a soon to be released DVD from soccerandspeedcoach.com

Not Your Conventional Soccer Cross into the Box!

While there are many occasions for a player out on the flank deep into their offensive third to loft or drive a ball into the goal mouth, I wanted to discuss another cross that many times does not get used that can be very effective.

The cross I am referring to is something we call BANGU....which stands for Baseline, angled pass back on the ground.

In other words, have your flanked player attack the baseline and dribble the ball towards the near post of the goal. Most times, the Goalkeeper will hug the near post to protect the goal, the offensive player now looks to slot an angled ball back for one of their strikers or midfielder to simply one touch into an open net.

This move is very hard to defend and often times results in an easy goal.

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!

Have a great day!

Gary Christopher
www.soccerandspeedcoach.com

How to guess correctly on a Penalty Kick

Making a save on a PK can be a huge moment in a game or even in a season. Below is a way to take a lot of the guess work out of it.

Not that it happens all the time in a game, but preparing your goalkeeper to make
a save on a penalty kick could turn out to be huge for a team.

As we all know, most times GK will not stop a PK. While I agree it can be a guessing game, if the player taking the PK is unknowingly tipping off
where he/she is going to shoot the ball, shouldn't we take advantage of it
and use that information?

I agree, we should!

In talking with several respected goal keeper coaches, one thing they teach
their GK is this...

The longer the player takes to run up to strike the ball, the chances are they
are going to shoot the ball across their body to score. As an example a
right footed player with a long build up run will try and hit the ball
towards the left post.

A shorter run up to strike the ball usually means he/she is going the other way.
As an example, a right footed player with a shorter run up will many times
open the hips up and shoot for the right post.

Pass this secret along to your GK's and see if that helps them stop
the next PK they face. That save could turn your season around!

Have a great day!

Gary

Soccer Player's Center of Gravity

If soccer players can shift their center of gravity quickly from one side to another, this will enable them to very explosively and quickly create separation from themselves and their defenders. This is equally true for defenders trying to stay with their marks!

By quickly shifting their center of gravity, a soccer player can now explode in a new direction faster, more economically and safely.

For starters, soccer players need to also start by lowering their center of gravity. The best way to do that is to simply bend their knees and drop their hips.

Here is a simple drill for a player to better understand how they can change their center of gravity thus allowing them to change direction more quickly.

Have them stand with their feet about shoulder width apart and toes pointing straight ahead. Next have them lean to the right and place about 80% of their body weight onto their right leg. Once they do that, they should have their arms in a running position where their left hand is raised to the height of their left shoulder socket (arm at a 90 degree angle) and their right arm is also at a 90 degree angle but it is positioned so that the players looks like they are reaching into their right back pocket.

Then have them shift sides where now their body weight (80%) is on their left leg and their right hand is raised to the height of their right shoulder socket and their left hand is reaching back for their left back pocket.

Have them go back and forth like this (shifting weight from one leg to the other) and switch their arms as well. Once they learn this movement, they will be able to change direction more fluently and quickly.

I hope you enjoyed this training nugget. Should you want more detail on changing direction explosively, look for my new DVD coming out in about 30 days. Go to www.soccerandspeedcoach.com and register to find out when this is coming out. Or view the sample below.



Thanks and have a great day!

Gary
www.soccerandspeedcoach.com

Soccer Players Need to eat Breakfast

For any soccer team that has some tournaments coming up this summer, you may want to let your players know about this...

I was talking to a sports nutritionist (who also happens to be a friend of mine) the other day about performance of athletes and since we were on the soccer field, specifically about soccer players. We got onto the subject of breakfast, and how breakfast for a soccer player is so key to their performance.

What she said was this, when athletes wake up in the morning, they are nutritionally deficient. Many times they have gone more than 12 hours without eating. Their energy levels are thus low and their body needs to be fed with excellent nutrients for them to perform at a high athletic level. Many players however, will not eat well in the morning and this will cause lower productivity for these soccer players. Breakfast high in good carbohydrates will make a lot of sense for any player who will be playing a morning game or have a morning practice.

So get some good carbs in ya and have a great day!

Gary
www.soccerandspeedcoach.com

PS If you go to my website and register, I will let you know when our championship foods report is coming out. This free report outlines what the best normal foods, beverages and friuts are to have before games/practices and AFTER games too to enhance athletic performance.