The English Premier League (EPL) is one of the best soccer leagues in the world. In terms of prestige and money involved, the EPL certainly can boast itself as the best in the world. Many of the world's top players and coaches are plying their trade in the EPL. Here are 4 title contenders for the incoming 2009/10 EPL season:
1. Manchester United. As the defending champion, Manchester United is predicted to once again finish at the top of the Premier League table at the end of this season. Manchester United is one of the most successful clubs in England with 18 EPL titles and 3 UEFA Champions League titles to its credit. With the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson at the helm, Manchester United is once again a strong favorite to win the EPL.
2. Liverpool. Liverpool is one of the most decorated soccer clubs in England with 18 EPL titles and 5 UEFA Champions League titles. Finishing second in the 2008/09 season, Liverpool certainly wants to go one step further this time around and unseats its great rival Manchester United as the Premier League champion.
3. Chelsea. Owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Chelsea has broken into the top tier of England's soccer clubs in the last few years. They won consecutive Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, adding to the title they won in 1955. Finishing third last year, Chelsea is considered a strong contender for the EPL title this season.
4. Arsenal. With 13 EPL titles to its credit, London-based Arsenal is one of the most successful soccer clubs in the Premier League history. Coached by Arsene Wenger, Arsenal is famous for its free-flowing, attacking soccer and emphasis on young players. And even though Arsenal hasn't won a lot lately, it's still considered a strong favorite to win the EPL title in the 2009/10 season.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Soccer Training Aids - What Are Your Best Options?
To be excellent at something, you must practice regularly and you must use everything at your disposal to improve yourself. The same is true with soccer players. Practice makes perfect and if a player really wants to excel in every aspect of the game of his chosen sport, then he should be willing to spend time and exert effort in doing drills and practicing every aspect of the game. Apart from performing drills though, players should also take advantage of the existence of soccer training aids which can help them maximize their experience during practice.
Old School
Some "old school" players and coaches do not believe in the use of soccer training options and stand by their belief that one can become an excellent soccer player through practice alone. But ignoring the benefits of soccer training aids is like ignoring the advantages of a computer over a typewriter for someone who likes to write. Sure, a soccer player can improve his skills through practice alone but he could do it faster and with less effort through the help of soccer training aids.
Designed by Players
What soccer training systems do is remove the guessing game from every practice. The best soccer training ideas available are those that are designed by players and coaches. The most progressive coaches in the world today are all using training aids in order to get the most out of their players. With the use of training aids, players and coaches can reduce practice time significantly. The price of most aids is a small price to pay for the benefits they provide.
Players and coaches must keep in mind though that soccer training options are called as such because they are only here to help players become better. It is wrong to rely solely on these aids in order to develop your skills. Nothing still beats good old fashion soccer training drills to instill skills in players. The key to using training aids is to strike a balance between modern technology that provides ease and convenience and traditional methods that are already proven effective by players and coaches alike.
More Information
Soccer training aids can be bought in specialty soccer and sports shops and online through various websites about soccer. Ensure the quality of the training aids that you are going to buy in order to be sure that you will get the most of it.
Bryan Bean has been a soccer player and coach for over 10 years. His specialty is fitness and soccer strategy which allows he players to improve their game by 55%. Bryan has completed a free 10 day mini course available here, Soccer Tips. Also, go here for more information about Soccer Training Aids and more great soccer discussion.
Old School
Some "old school" players and coaches do not believe in the use of soccer training options and stand by their belief that one can become an excellent soccer player through practice alone. But ignoring the benefits of soccer training aids is like ignoring the advantages of a computer over a typewriter for someone who likes to write. Sure, a soccer player can improve his skills through practice alone but he could do it faster and with less effort through the help of soccer training aids.
Designed by Players
What soccer training systems do is remove the guessing game from every practice. The best soccer training ideas available are those that are designed by players and coaches. The most progressive coaches in the world today are all using training aids in order to get the most out of their players. With the use of training aids, players and coaches can reduce practice time significantly. The price of most aids is a small price to pay for the benefits they provide.
Players and coaches must keep in mind though that soccer training options are called as such because they are only here to help players become better. It is wrong to rely solely on these aids in order to develop your skills. Nothing still beats good old fashion soccer training drills to instill skills in players. The key to using training aids is to strike a balance between modern technology that provides ease and convenience and traditional methods that are already proven effective by players and coaches alike.
More Information
Soccer training aids can be bought in specialty soccer and sports shops and online through various websites about soccer. Ensure the quality of the training aids that you are going to buy in order to be sure that you will get the most of it.
Bryan Bean has been a soccer player and coach for over 10 years. His specialty is fitness and soccer strategy which allows he players to improve their game by 55%. Bryan has completed a free 10 day mini course available here, Soccer Tips. Also, go here for more information about Soccer Training Aids and more great soccer discussion.
5 Tips That You Really Need to Become a Freestyle Soccer Player
Are you curious about freestyle soccer? Need a way to start your freestyle journey? Then here are 5 tips to begin your journey in freestyle soccer whether to make it as your career or as a hobby. But first, freestyle soccer is simply the ability to not just juggle the ball but to combine those tricks with your juggling that makes it enjoyable for people to watch!
1. Proper Gear and Equipment
Equip yourself with a proper gear that gives you the "feel good" factor. It doesn't matter what others think but more importantly is that you feel comfortable and ready to play freestyle soccer. Typically freestyle players prefer three quarter pants and a t-shirt along with a pair of 5-aside shoes or trainers.
2. Warming-Ups
It's crucial to warm-up yourself starting with a light jog, normally 2-3 rounds on court before practicing freestyle. You'll gradually loosen up those muscles through jogging and stretching to prevent from any injuries and improve your overall performance in freestyle.
3. Juggle the ball
The first step to your freestyle is to go back to basics, juggling a ball. Simply by throwing the ball at waist height and kick it as it falls. Repeat the same steps and try to do it without throwing the ball in the air. You should improve your touches, balance and coordination with the ball.
4. Plant the ball
The next hard thing is to balance the ball on any part of your body, known as planting or stalling a soccer ball. Various techniques from planting with foot, thigh, shoulder and head. Practise by placing the ball on your foot and balance it for as long as you can.
5. The First Soccer Trick
Once you've mastered the first two. Now it's time to learn a simple soccer trick in freestyle. I'd recommend the "ATW", known as Around the World, done by rotating your knee over the ball from a foot plant and kick the ball as you complete the rotation. It's simply a step over of juggling, only you're doing it while juggling instead of on the ground.
Follow these 5 steps carefully and you should be raring to go. Enjoy it and welcome to freestyle soccer!
Still confused in freestyle soccer? Heikal Suhaili has created a mini guide "11 Days to Freestyle Soccer" that teaches you freestyle soccer tricks with 3 simple steps. Find out more at http://11daystofreestylesoccer.com/recommend
1. Proper Gear and Equipment
Equip yourself with a proper gear that gives you the "feel good" factor. It doesn't matter what others think but more importantly is that you feel comfortable and ready to play freestyle soccer. Typically freestyle players prefer three quarter pants and a t-shirt along with a pair of 5-aside shoes or trainers.
2. Warming-Ups
It's crucial to warm-up yourself starting with a light jog, normally 2-3 rounds on court before practicing freestyle. You'll gradually loosen up those muscles through jogging and stretching to prevent from any injuries and improve your overall performance in freestyle.
3. Juggle the ball
The first step to your freestyle is to go back to basics, juggling a ball. Simply by throwing the ball at waist height and kick it as it falls. Repeat the same steps and try to do it without throwing the ball in the air. You should improve your touches, balance and coordination with the ball.
4. Plant the ball
The next hard thing is to balance the ball on any part of your body, known as planting or stalling a soccer ball. Various techniques from planting with foot, thigh, shoulder and head. Practise by placing the ball on your foot and balance it for as long as you can.
5. The First Soccer Trick
Once you've mastered the first two. Now it's time to learn a simple soccer trick in freestyle. I'd recommend the "ATW", known as Around the World, done by rotating your knee over the ball from a foot plant and kick the ball as you complete the rotation. It's simply a step over of juggling, only you're doing it while juggling instead of on the ground.
Follow these 5 steps carefully and you should be raring to go. Enjoy it and welcome to freestyle soccer!
Still confused in freestyle soccer? Heikal Suhaili has created a mini guide "11 Days to Freestyle Soccer" that teaches you freestyle soccer tricks with 3 simple steps. Find out more at http://11daystofreestylesoccer.com/recommend
5 Ways to Become a Better Footballer (Soccer Player)
Football (or soccer as the 'non-Brits' refer to it as) is the most popular sport in the World. Millions of people play, at various levels, every single day. Most people play for fun, others professionally, however the aim of the game is almost always the same - WIN! During the course of the article I am going to suggest ways to becoming a better footballer (and thus increasing your and your teams chances of winning matches). All the suggestions made will result in improvements in your game, however some will take longer than others to 'flourish'. Here goes:-
FITNESS:
Watch the top footballers and you will notice that they produce a lot of movement during the 90 minutes, often running 10-15km in the process. To do this requires high levels of cardiovascular fitness. To gain such fitness requires dedication and discipline. Another sport where participants have very high levels of fitness, probably more so than footballers, is boxing (maybe not always the heavyweights!). Therefore, my suggestion to improve your fitness would be train like a boxer! Not in sparring etc, but by rising early (ideally between 5-6am) and putting in a session. This should ideally include a distance run followed by cardiovascular activities such as skipping, star jumps etc. Add to that push-ups, crunchies and sit-ups and your fitness will begin to improve significantly. Ideally I would suggest your session should be no less than 1 hour, at least 4-5 times a week. Training so early will kick-start your metabolism for the day plus psychologically it will give you a sense achievement which should motivate you day ahead.
GOAL! Rise at 5.30am, 5 times a week and complete a 4-5Km run followed by 5 x 20 push-ups, 5 x 20 crunchies, 5 x 40 star jumps, 5 x 20 burpees, then hold the PLANK POSITION for as long as possible. TIP: This will seem difficult at first, but once you are into a routine it becomes easy. Have training clothes next to your bed and focus your mind so that you get out of bed immediately when your alarm goes off. Don't think about what your about to do, JUST DO IT!
DIET:
You are what you eat / drink. You wouldn't put the incorrect fuel into your car, so why put it into your body? Your performance will be affected by what you eat / drink - in the short term and in the long term. Therefore, your overall diet should be well balanced with large potions of green vegetables and salad. Avoid junk food which you know to be detrimental to you - I don't need to list these foods, you know them already, but they just taste too good! Right? 'Garbabge' - they taste good at time of consumption, but how do you feel afterwards once your taste buds have returned to state - I'm guessing it's not great! Improving at anything requires discipline and often sacrifice. Give up the junk food and the benefits which follow will be far in excess of the 'quick fix' pleasure these foods provide.
Your water intake should be high - you should never actually feel thirsty as this is an early sign of dehydration. Replace consumption of fizzy drinks, tea and coffee with water. Drink a minimum of 2 litres and maximum of 5 litres (dependant on body size and intensity of exercise(s) performed) each day. Carry water with you at all-times, don't leave dehydration any invitations into your body!
GOAL! Drink 2-5 litres of water everyday , whilst avoiding fizzy drinks, tea and coffee. Eat portion(s) of green vegetables / salad or fruit with every meal. Snack every 2-4 hours on fruit / salad / vegetables or nuts. Eliminate junk food from your diet completely. TIP: Discipline and dedication are again the key. You don't become an extraordinary footballer by doing ordinary things!
TEMPERAMENT AND FOCUS:
Temperament and focus before, during and after a match is a key ingredient to making a footballer better. Before a match you should focus on what the overall aim is. That focus must remain strong and constant throughout. This should not make you fearful or nervous, but ultimately guide you towards achievement. If you make an error or wastes an opportunity, this should not affect your focus as your goal is still the same. It is unlikely that your overall aim was to score at that particular moment or not to make that error at that exact time. Therefore, concentrate on what you can achieve in the remaining time, there will be plenty of time to review performance after the match has finished.
Finally, once the match has ended focus on winning or losing with dignity. This will not just make you a better footballer, but a better person. GOAL!: Before a match spend 15-30 minutes focusing on what you actually want to achieve. Be clear of your outcome. So often people fail because they don't know exactly what they are wanting to achieve.
DO THE SIMPLY THINGS WELL AND OFTEN:
Not every footballer can do the things Cristiano Ronaldo, Zindine Zidane or Lionel Messi can do. But, all footballers can learn to do the simple skills often and well. I'm not trying to banish 'flare' and extravagant skill, rather dilute it. Learning to play short passes accurately and directly 100% of the time is an enormous advantage to any player. Great players, such as Paul Scholes and Claude Makele, are experts at doing the easy things well. This is something all players should adopt.
GOAL! Practice short passes, correct positioning, striking off the ball, tackling etc often and for a long period of time. Many players believe because they have mastered a technique they don't have to practice it any more - when in fact mastery and improvement comes from repeatedly practising an already learned skill. This sort of dedication and commitment ensures that in the crucial moments of a game when performing a skill or technique is vital you will be prepared.
LEARN FROM THE BEST:
Why re-invent the wheel? If you want to become a top footballer, benchmark a top footballer. They may have natural skill, but to get to the level they have achieved is not by chance. If you want to get to the level of a certain player(s) copy what they do on a regular basis (the beauty of benchmarking is you can take the positives and eliminate any negative routines the player may have!). With footballers living their life in the media spotlight and all sorts of data being openly available on the internet, it's never been easier to benchmark.
GOAL! Chose a World Class player(s) you admire both on and off the pitch. Collect information regarding their diet, training methods and fitness ideas. Study their movement and all-round play in a number of games. Record games which they have played extremely well and analyse their qualities. Possibly contact them directly for advice and hints - if done elegantly, with your reasons for contacting them clearly stated, they should be more than happy to oblige.
Combine all the above with belief and you will most definitely become a better footballer.
My background is very sport, health and fitness orientated, not in my profession but in my lifestyle. I have been a keen sports player since school. My current interests include the 'complete ergonomic solution' PostureMinder, http://www.postureminder.co.uk, and the sport based social networking site - http://www.competitiveurge.com/
FITNESS:
Watch the top footballers and you will notice that they produce a lot of movement during the 90 minutes, often running 10-15km in the process. To do this requires high levels of cardiovascular fitness. To gain such fitness requires dedication and discipline. Another sport where participants have very high levels of fitness, probably more so than footballers, is boxing (maybe not always the heavyweights!). Therefore, my suggestion to improve your fitness would be train like a boxer! Not in sparring etc, but by rising early (ideally between 5-6am) and putting in a session. This should ideally include a distance run followed by cardiovascular activities such as skipping, star jumps etc. Add to that push-ups, crunchies and sit-ups and your fitness will begin to improve significantly. Ideally I would suggest your session should be no less than 1 hour, at least 4-5 times a week. Training so early will kick-start your metabolism for the day plus psychologically it will give you a sense achievement which should motivate you day ahead.
GOAL! Rise at 5.30am, 5 times a week and complete a 4-5Km run followed by 5 x 20 push-ups, 5 x 20 crunchies, 5 x 40 star jumps, 5 x 20 burpees, then hold the PLANK POSITION for as long as possible. TIP: This will seem difficult at first, but once you are into a routine it becomes easy. Have training clothes next to your bed and focus your mind so that you get out of bed immediately when your alarm goes off. Don't think about what your about to do, JUST DO IT!
DIET:
You are what you eat / drink. You wouldn't put the incorrect fuel into your car, so why put it into your body? Your performance will be affected by what you eat / drink - in the short term and in the long term. Therefore, your overall diet should be well balanced with large potions of green vegetables and salad. Avoid junk food which you know to be detrimental to you - I don't need to list these foods, you know them already, but they just taste too good! Right? 'Garbabge' - they taste good at time of consumption, but how do you feel afterwards once your taste buds have returned to state - I'm guessing it's not great! Improving at anything requires discipline and often sacrifice. Give up the junk food and the benefits which follow will be far in excess of the 'quick fix' pleasure these foods provide.
Your water intake should be high - you should never actually feel thirsty as this is an early sign of dehydration. Replace consumption of fizzy drinks, tea and coffee with water. Drink a minimum of 2 litres and maximum of 5 litres (dependant on body size and intensity of exercise(s) performed) each day. Carry water with you at all-times, don't leave dehydration any invitations into your body!
GOAL! Drink 2-5 litres of water everyday , whilst avoiding fizzy drinks, tea and coffee. Eat portion(s) of green vegetables / salad or fruit with every meal. Snack every 2-4 hours on fruit / salad / vegetables or nuts. Eliminate junk food from your diet completely. TIP: Discipline and dedication are again the key. You don't become an extraordinary footballer by doing ordinary things!
TEMPERAMENT AND FOCUS:
Temperament and focus before, during and after a match is a key ingredient to making a footballer better. Before a match you should focus on what the overall aim is. That focus must remain strong and constant throughout. This should not make you fearful or nervous, but ultimately guide you towards achievement. If you make an error or wastes an opportunity, this should not affect your focus as your goal is still the same. It is unlikely that your overall aim was to score at that particular moment or not to make that error at that exact time. Therefore, concentrate on what you can achieve in the remaining time, there will be plenty of time to review performance after the match has finished.
Finally, once the match has ended focus on winning or losing with dignity. This will not just make you a better footballer, but a better person. GOAL!: Before a match spend 15-30 minutes focusing on what you actually want to achieve. Be clear of your outcome. So often people fail because they don't know exactly what they are wanting to achieve.
DO THE SIMPLY THINGS WELL AND OFTEN:
Not every footballer can do the things Cristiano Ronaldo, Zindine Zidane or Lionel Messi can do. But, all footballers can learn to do the simple skills often and well. I'm not trying to banish 'flare' and extravagant skill, rather dilute it. Learning to play short passes accurately and directly 100% of the time is an enormous advantage to any player. Great players, such as Paul Scholes and Claude Makele, are experts at doing the easy things well. This is something all players should adopt.
GOAL! Practice short passes, correct positioning, striking off the ball, tackling etc often and for a long period of time. Many players believe because they have mastered a technique they don't have to practice it any more - when in fact mastery and improvement comes from repeatedly practising an already learned skill. This sort of dedication and commitment ensures that in the crucial moments of a game when performing a skill or technique is vital you will be prepared.
LEARN FROM THE BEST:
Why re-invent the wheel? If you want to become a top footballer, benchmark a top footballer. They may have natural skill, but to get to the level they have achieved is not by chance. If you want to get to the level of a certain player(s) copy what they do on a regular basis (the beauty of benchmarking is you can take the positives and eliminate any negative routines the player may have!). With footballers living their life in the media spotlight and all sorts of data being openly available on the internet, it's never been easier to benchmark.
GOAL! Chose a World Class player(s) you admire both on and off the pitch. Collect information regarding their diet, training methods and fitness ideas. Study their movement and all-round play in a number of games. Record games which they have played extremely well and analyse their qualities. Possibly contact them directly for advice and hints - if done elegantly, with your reasons for contacting them clearly stated, they should be more than happy to oblige.
Combine all the above with belief and you will most definitely become a better footballer.
My background is very sport, health and fitness orientated, not in my profession but in my lifestyle. I have been a keen sports player since school. My current interests include the 'complete ergonomic solution' PostureMinder, http://www.postureminder.co.uk, and the sport based social networking site - http://www.competitiveurge.com/
How to Become a Pro Soccer Player
Millions of soccer followers aspire to play like pro soccer players. Soccer, the most watched sport in the world for many years now is being played by thousands of athletes in different countries. The most notable legends of the sport include Pele, Maradona, Ronaldo, and David Beckham. These legends have become symbols of the sport and have established superstar and multi-millionaire status.
But soccer is a game that requires years of training, practice, hard work, and patience. It is also a sport that employs techniques which are crucial in making sure that the player maintains a conditioned physical and mental capability. Many promising players have failed to live up to the expectations of their followers due to lack of practice, discipline, and techniques.
There are various things an aspiring player needs to know first before he can become an excellent soccer player. One thing to consider is the shoes to wear during a game. It is recommended that a player wears lightweight and well designed shoes in order to keep up with the fast and heavy pace of the game. Another step in making one's dream of becoming a pro soccer player possible is reading the latest magazines and articles on the sport or watching video clips of the most memorable games. Playing or training with competent and knowledgeable soccer players is also one of the most effective ways to achieve expertise of the game as getting used to the most challenging conditions of soccer makes one a stronger athlete. Lastly, an aspiring player must also employ strength and endurance exercises to maintain competitive muscles and thereby allowing excellent body strength.
Learn more about pro soccer.
Watch Live Soccer on your PC.
But soccer is a game that requires years of training, practice, hard work, and patience. It is also a sport that employs techniques which are crucial in making sure that the player maintains a conditioned physical and mental capability. Many promising players have failed to live up to the expectations of their followers due to lack of practice, discipline, and techniques.
There are various things an aspiring player needs to know first before he can become an excellent soccer player. One thing to consider is the shoes to wear during a game. It is recommended that a player wears lightweight and well designed shoes in order to keep up with the fast and heavy pace of the game. Another step in making one's dream of becoming a pro soccer player possible is reading the latest magazines and articles on the sport or watching video clips of the most memorable games. Playing or training with competent and knowledgeable soccer players is also one of the most effective ways to achieve expertise of the game as getting used to the most challenging conditions of soccer makes one a stronger athlete. Lastly, an aspiring player must also employ strength and endurance exercises to maintain competitive muscles and thereby allowing excellent body strength.
Learn more about pro soccer.
Watch Live Soccer on your PC.
Secrets to Become a Professional Soccer Player
Almost every soccer fanatic aspires to become a professional soccer player. The other fans just want to be spectators of the game. With the increasing popularity of soccer, lots and lots of sports enthusiasts are getting hooked to this contact sport. Soccer, for others, means more than just a sport. It is a language which all ethnicities, race and skin color understand, watch and know of. This soccer fever paved the way to the introduction of soccer as a sport for young athletes. All of the modern day soccer superstars are honed through hard work. Becoming a soccer player by profession requires a great deal of dedication and discipline. People from various walks of life consider soccer as an expression of oneself and a sport that makes them aspire for something better.
Practice makes perfect. Although such a statement may be a long-sold cliché, constant practice really makes a difference. Regular schedule of soccer practice is truly beneficial. Routines and skills on how to handle the ball can be mastered through practice. An unstructured environment is helpful in perfecting the instincts of the player in handling situations in the outfield.
A professional soccer player has the right attitude towards soccer. The appropriate mindset towards practice, sportsmanship and discipline can motivate the player. Sacrifices should be done in order to sharpen the skill of playing the game. The aspiring player should concentrate well on the training process as well as in every game he/she plays. A naturally persevering personality and state of mind is a great advantage in the sense that it can make the player bring out the best in him/her in every match and in every practice session.
Watch Videos about professional soccer player.
Practice makes perfect. Although such a statement may be a long-sold cliché, constant practice really makes a difference. Regular schedule of soccer practice is truly beneficial. Routines and skills on how to handle the ball can be mastered through practice. An unstructured environment is helpful in perfecting the instincts of the player in handling situations in the outfield.
A professional soccer player has the right attitude towards soccer. The appropriate mindset towards practice, sportsmanship and discipline can motivate the player. Sacrifices should be done in order to sharpen the skill of playing the game. The aspiring player should concentrate well on the training process as well as in every game he/she plays. A naturally persevering personality and state of mind is a great advantage in the sense that it can make the player bring out the best in him/her in every match and in every practice session.
Watch Videos about professional soccer player.
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