Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Five Golden Rules to Keep Your Players Happy
1. Play games, don't use lots of drills.
There is a place for drills in youth soccer coaching when introducing new skills or techniques. But they should be used sparingly.
The coaching sequence should be: warm up, demonstration (five minutes), then unopposed or 1v1 practice for another five minutes. If appropriate, continue with small group activities (groups of three or four players for 10 or 15 minutes). Then set up a conditioned small-sided game (SSG).
What's a conditioned SSG?
It's simply a 3v3, 4v4 or 5v5 match where you change the rules to allow your players to practise a skill or technique in a game-like situation. For example, if you've been working on improving your team's goal kicks, play a SSG where every time the ball goes out of play, the game is re-started with a goal kick.
Note: Don't forget to finish every session with a free for all match with no coaching from you. Playing soccer is what your players came to do!
2. Use age-appropriate activities.
Young soccer players should always be challenged to improve, but you have to be realistic.
Don't expect six-year-olds, for example, to master the wall pass! Equally, 12-year-olds who play to a good standard should not be spending too much time practising the side foot pass. They need to be working on more advanced skills. Combination plays (for example, overlapping runs) and more advanced skills, such as step overs, should be on the agenda for these guys.
3. Be aware of relationships.
Young players are not just learning soccer skills at your sessions. They are learning social skills - how to interact with one another, self control and how to resolve conflicts. This inevitably leads to situations where children will be seen to fall out with one another.
Emerging egos and raised hormone levels can also lead to bullying. And that's not easy to spot if you're totally focused on what your players are doing with their feet. The child who no one passes to, or is always the one no one wants in their team, is being bullied and you have a duty to do something about it.
So be sensitive to what is going on around you. If you feel that cliques are being formed and some players are being left out in the cold, it's time to take action.
Talk to your players about teamwork, why they should be nice to one another ("treat others as you would like them to treat you"). Split groups of friends up when you play SSGs and end-of-session matches.
4. Treat your players with respect.
Children are people, with feelings and emotions. Just like you! You wouldn't be happy if you were being ordered around and expected to do things without being told why. So don't treat your players like that!
Explain to your players why you want them to play a certain game and invite their feedback. Ask them if they are enjoying your coaching sessions, what they like best and what they don't like. Then act on what they say.
5. Smile a lot!
If you try to follow these guidelines you will have a happy bunch of players, I assure you. And, ultimately, that's what youth soccer coaching is all about... happiness.
(excerpt from FOOTY FOR KIDS)
There is a place for drills in youth soccer coaching when introducing new skills or techniques. But they should be used sparingly.
The coaching sequence should be: warm up, demonstration (five minutes), then unopposed or 1v1 practice for another five minutes. If appropriate, continue with small group activities (groups of three or four players for 10 or 15 minutes). Then set up a conditioned small-sided game (SSG).
What's a conditioned SSG?
It's simply a 3v3, 4v4 or 5v5 match where you change the rules to allow your players to practise a skill or technique in a game-like situation. For example, if you've been working on improving your team's goal kicks, play a SSG where every time the ball goes out of play, the game is re-started with a goal kick.
Note: Don't forget to finish every session with a free for all match with no coaching from you. Playing soccer is what your players came to do!
2. Use age-appropriate activities.
Young soccer players should always be challenged to improve, but you have to be realistic.
Don't expect six-year-olds, for example, to master the wall pass! Equally, 12-year-olds who play to a good standard should not be spending too much time practising the side foot pass. They need to be working on more advanced skills. Combination plays (for example, overlapping runs) and more advanced skills, such as step overs, should be on the agenda for these guys.
3. Be aware of relationships.
Young players are not just learning soccer skills at your sessions. They are learning social skills - how to interact with one another, self control and how to resolve conflicts. This inevitably leads to situations where children will be seen to fall out with one another.
Emerging egos and raised hormone levels can also lead to bullying. And that's not easy to spot if you're totally focused on what your players are doing with their feet. The child who no one passes to, or is always the one no one wants in their team, is being bullied and you have a duty to do something about it.
So be sensitive to what is going on around you. If you feel that cliques are being formed and some players are being left out in the cold, it's time to take action.
Talk to your players about teamwork, why they should be nice to one another ("treat others as you would like them to treat you"). Split groups of friends up when you play SSGs and end-of-session matches.
4. Treat your players with respect.
Children are people, with feelings and emotions. Just like you! You wouldn't be happy if you were being ordered around and expected to do things without being told why. So don't treat your players like that!
Explain to your players why you want them to play a certain game and invite their feedback. Ask them if they are enjoying your coaching sessions, what they like best and what they don't like. Then act on what they say.
5. Smile a lot!
If you try to follow these guidelines you will have a happy bunch of players, I assure you. And, ultimately, that's what youth soccer coaching is all about... happiness.
(excerpt from FOOTY FOR KIDS)
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
REHYDRATION and FOOD
Rehydration and Food
Fluid absorption
There are two main factors that affect the speed at which fluid from a drink gets into the body:
• the speed at which it is emptied from the stomach
• the rate at which it is absorbed through the walls of the small intestine
The higher the carbohydrate levels in a drink the slower the rate of stomach emptying. Isotonic drinks (Powerade, Gatorade) with a carbohydrate level of between 6 and 8% are emptied from the stomach at a rate similar to water. Electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium, in a drink will reduce urine output, enable the fluid to empty quickly from the stomach, promote absorption from the intestine and encourage fluid retention.
What's wrong with water?
Drinking plain water causes bloating, suppresses thirst and thus further drinking. It stimulates urine output and therefore is inefficiently retained. A poor choice where high fluid intake is required. Water contains no carbohydrate or electrolytes.
Sports Drinks
There are three types of Sports drink all of which contain various levels of fluid, electrolytes and carbohydrate.
Type Content
Isotonic Fluid, electrolytes and 6 to 8% carbohydrate
Hypotonic Fluids, electrolytes and a low level of carbohydrate
Hypertonic High level of carbohydrate
Which is most suitable?
Isotonic - quickly replaces fluids lost by sweating and supplies a boost of carbohydrate. This drink is the choice for most athletes - middle and long distance running or team sports. Glucose is the body's preferred source of energy therefore it may be appropriate to consume Isotonic drinks where the carbohydrate source is glucose in a concentration of 6% to 8% - e.g. Gatorade, Powerade, Sport.
Hypertonic - used to supplement daily carbohydrate intake normally after exercise to top up muscle glycogen stores. In ultra distance events high levels of energy are required and Hypertonic drinks can be taken during exercise to meet the energy requirements. If used during exercise Hypertonic drinks need to be used in conjunction with Isotonic drinks to replace fluids.
Want to make your own?
Isotonic - 200ml of orange squash (concentrated orange), 1 litre of water and a pinch of salt (1g). Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled
Hypotonic - 100ml of orange squash (concentrated orange), 1 litre of water and a pinch of salt (1g). Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled.
Hypertonic - 400ml of orange squash (concentrated orange), 1 litre of water and a pinch of salt (1g). Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled.
Why is sport nutrition or diet important in soccer?
1. Food provides us with energy for our muscles, brain and other organs. Football requires plenty of exercise, and therefore it is important to have energy available to us during the game. The energy available to us at any particular time depends on our blood sugar levels.
2. If we over-eat, we become over-weight. The heavier we are, the more work our muscles have to do to take us the same distance. This reduces our stamina, and our ability to accelerate quickly. If we under-eat, we can become weak and our overall health can decline, because we are not getting enough nutrients.
3. A healthy diet improves our general level of health, and can help us recover more quickly from injuries.
4. Along with a program of fitness training, our diet can help us develop stamina and improve athletic performance.
5. Diet is essential for our growth, and development.
What to eat and when to eat it
The timing of the meals you consume is important. On the day of a match the intake of fat and protein should be restricted, as these nutrients require a relatively long time to be digested. Plan to have your pre-competition meal 3-4 hours before the match. Your pre-competition meal should be: high in carbohydrate (this is the fuel that your body needs to perform at the highest level), low in fat, low in protein, low in fibre, not too bulky, and easy to digest. You should consume foods such as:
• breakfast cereal with low fat milk,
• toast or bread with jam/honey,
• sandwiches with banana/honey/jam,
• pasta/rice with low fat sauce, muffins,
• baked potato,
• fruit, energy bars, and orange juice.
A snack high in carbohydrate may be eaten about 2 hours before the match, however the time reference is only a guideline as there are great individual differences in the ability to digest food. It is a good idea for you to experiment with a variation of foods at different times before training sessions. Foods such as toast, bread or crumpets with jam/honey, sweetened cereal and low fat milk, muffins, orange juice and jelly sweets could be consumed.
Once the game is over, fluids should be replaced and carbohydrate should be consumed as soon as possible to promote recovery of glycogen stores. During the cool down you should consume fluids and small snacks, such as jelly sweets, twinkies and oatmeal cookies. As soon as possible you should aim to consume a meal which is high in carbohydrates. Foods such as pasta, spaghetti, rice, noodles, low fat pasta sauce, bread, potatoes, and baked beans should be consumed during this period.
Carbohydrate rich foods must be the main source of your diet. Table 1 lists foods, which contain a lot of carbohydrate. You should aim to consume the main bulk of your diet from complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates should not be consumed in large quantities and are more useful as snacks between workouts, or to top up your energy intake. The carbohydrate you consume should be balanced with a healthy intake of protein, low fat and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Fluids
We’ve done good food and we’ve looked at what snacks can boost the body during and after a match or training session. Now lets look at what you should drink.
The water lost from the body during sweating needs to be replaced to stop you getting tired quickly, and also speed up the recovery process – that means feeling fitter and sharper afterwards a lot sooner.
What's best to drink?
For footballers, the best fluid to drink is a diluted carbohydrate/electrolyte solution. In plain English, that’s the kind of stuff you’ll find in stuff like Gatorade.
When should I drink?
Ideally, it’s best to drink before, during and after a training session, as well as drinking frequently during a match.
How much should I drink?
Only a little – but often. If you drink too much too quickly, you run the risk of getting a stomach upset.
Article researched and edited. Footyfor kids.
For more on Gatorade and Powerade see link:http://www.karinya.com/sportsdrinks.htm
Fluid absorption
There are two main factors that affect the speed at which fluid from a drink gets into the body:
• the speed at which it is emptied from the stomach
• the rate at which it is absorbed through the walls of the small intestine
The higher the carbohydrate levels in a drink the slower the rate of stomach emptying. Isotonic drinks (Powerade, Gatorade) with a carbohydrate level of between 6 and 8% are emptied from the stomach at a rate similar to water. Electrolytes, especially sodium and potassium, in a drink will reduce urine output, enable the fluid to empty quickly from the stomach, promote absorption from the intestine and encourage fluid retention.
What's wrong with water?
Drinking plain water causes bloating, suppresses thirst and thus further drinking. It stimulates urine output and therefore is inefficiently retained. A poor choice where high fluid intake is required. Water contains no carbohydrate or electrolytes.
Sports Drinks
There are three types of Sports drink all of which contain various levels of fluid, electrolytes and carbohydrate.
Type Content
Isotonic Fluid, electrolytes and 6 to 8% carbohydrate
Hypotonic Fluids, electrolytes and a low level of carbohydrate
Hypertonic High level of carbohydrate
Which is most suitable?
Isotonic - quickly replaces fluids lost by sweating and supplies a boost of carbohydrate. This drink is the choice for most athletes - middle and long distance running or team sports. Glucose is the body's preferred source of energy therefore it may be appropriate to consume Isotonic drinks where the carbohydrate source is glucose in a concentration of 6% to 8% - e.g. Gatorade, Powerade, Sport.
Hypertonic - used to supplement daily carbohydrate intake normally after exercise to top up muscle glycogen stores. In ultra distance events high levels of energy are required and Hypertonic drinks can be taken during exercise to meet the energy requirements. If used during exercise Hypertonic drinks need to be used in conjunction with Isotonic drinks to replace fluids.
Want to make your own?
Isotonic - 200ml of orange squash (concentrated orange), 1 litre of water and a pinch of salt (1g). Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled
Hypotonic - 100ml of orange squash (concentrated orange), 1 litre of water and a pinch of salt (1g). Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled.
Hypertonic - 400ml of orange squash (concentrated orange), 1 litre of water and a pinch of salt (1g). Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled.
Why is sport nutrition or diet important in soccer?
1. Food provides us with energy for our muscles, brain and other organs. Football requires plenty of exercise, and therefore it is important to have energy available to us during the game. The energy available to us at any particular time depends on our blood sugar levels.
2. If we over-eat, we become over-weight. The heavier we are, the more work our muscles have to do to take us the same distance. This reduces our stamina, and our ability to accelerate quickly. If we under-eat, we can become weak and our overall health can decline, because we are not getting enough nutrients.
3. A healthy diet improves our general level of health, and can help us recover more quickly from injuries.
4. Along with a program of fitness training, our diet can help us develop stamina and improve athletic performance.
5. Diet is essential for our growth, and development.
What to eat and when to eat it
The timing of the meals you consume is important. On the day of a match the intake of fat and protein should be restricted, as these nutrients require a relatively long time to be digested. Plan to have your pre-competition meal 3-4 hours before the match. Your pre-competition meal should be: high in carbohydrate (this is the fuel that your body needs to perform at the highest level), low in fat, low in protein, low in fibre, not too bulky, and easy to digest. You should consume foods such as:
• breakfast cereal with low fat milk,
• toast or bread with jam/honey,
• sandwiches with banana/honey/jam,
• pasta/rice with low fat sauce, muffins,
• baked potato,
• fruit, energy bars, and orange juice.
A snack high in carbohydrate may be eaten about 2 hours before the match, however the time reference is only a guideline as there are great individual differences in the ability to digest food. It is a good idea for you to experiment with a variation of foods at different times before training sessions. Foods such as toast, bread or crumpets with jam/honey, sweetened cereal and low fat milk, muffins, orange juice and jelly sweets could be consumed.
Once the game is over, fluids should be replaced and carbohydrate should be consumed as soon as possible to promote recovery of glycogen stores. During the cool down you should consume fluids and small snacks, such as jelly sweets, twinkies and oatmeal cookies. As soon as possible you should aim to consume a meal which is high in carbohydrates. Foods such as pasta, spaghetti, rice, noodles, low fat pasta sauce, bread, potatoes, and baked beans should be consumed during this period.
Carbohydrate rich foods must be the main source of your diet. Table 1 lists foods, which contain a lot of carbohydrate. You should aim to consume the main bulk of your diet from complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates should not be consumed in large quantities and are more useful as snacks between workouts, or to top up your energy intake. The carbohydrate you consume should be balanced with a healthy intake of protein, low fat and plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Fluids
We’ve done good food and we’ve looked at what snacks can boost the body during and after a match or training session. Now lets look at what you should drink.
The water lost from the body during sweating needs to be replaced to stop you getting tired quickly, and also speed up the recovery process – that means feeling fitter and sharper afterwards a lot sooner.
What's best to drink?
For footballers, the best fluid to drink is a diluted carbohydrate/electrolyte solution. In plain English, that’s the kind of stuff you’ll find in stuff like Gatorade.
When should I drink?
Ideally, it’s best to drink before, during and after a training session, as well as drinking frequently during a match.
How much should I drink?
Only a little – but often. If you drink too much too quickly, you run the risk of getting a stomach upset.
Article researched and edited. Footyfor kids.
For more on Gatorade and Powerade see link:http://www.karinya.com/sportsdrinks.htm
Monday, April 5, 2010
SOCCER CLEATS ADVICE
Summer Soccer is here and you have to go shopping for a soccer boot. Your child expresses I want, Nike, Umbro, Red Boot, Blades, Adidas Predator, Side laces etc.
Summer Soccer program can be very demanding on kids and so having the right equipment that fit right and feel comfortable to get maximum enjoyment is important. For our Surrey /Vancouver weather please consider some of these facts before running to Walmart, Sportmart and Soccerwest for your next purchase.
FACTS:
Most U6-U9 will be playing their weekend games on Turf and practice on grass or Turf.
Teams will play about 15 weekend games, 25-30 practices on average. That’s a lot of soccer in summer.
BOOTS (CLEATS):
Today soccer shoes(cleat) is a big style business. You can spend expect to spend $35.99 to $99.99 on some high end stuff.
Consider these before buying:
Soccer shoes labeled as Firm ground boots (FG) use moulded or short bladed outsoles which can be used on firm natural grass surfaces that have become too hard for a traditional stud or long blade to sink into. These boots are generally used through the spring/summer months, or end of season
Soccer shoes labelled as Hard ground (HG) boots are for very hard natural surfaces. These outsoles will have a multiple stud configuration which consists of short low rubber studs which are very close together and normally will cover the whole sole; these are non removable. This boot should be worn on fields where there is very limited give in the surface unlike firm natural surfaces which still has a reasonable degree of softness to allow a stud to sink in. With the design of low profile studs, they will not fully penetrate the ground, but the playing surface is still roughly pitted and textured, so the studs find their own grip on the surface of the pitch. These Hard ground boots are also suited for Turf also.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The greater the number of studs the better the stability of the foot over a wider area. This can also reduce the pressure on the foot as the weight is distributed more evenly, especially if the studs or blades are short and are positioned right to the edge of the sole. Whatever your boots, make sure they are maintained. After playing, remove all mud and wipe them clean with warm water. Always let the boots dry naturally, with newspaper stuffed inside to help absorb the water and keep the shape of the boot. Putting them in a furnace room or in dryer will dry them far too quickly, cracking the leather, and making them hard and uncomfortable to wear.
Make sure you feel comfortable in your boots to get maximum enjoyment from the game.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT BUY SOCCER CLEATS TOO BIG TRYING TO GET 12 MONTHS OUT OF IT.
In my opinion this UMBRO DIAMOND BACK HG pictured here offers good value, comfort and performance. Please talk to your coach for specific advice.
UMBRO DIAMOND BACK HG $29.99 – $34.99
Classic design soccer shoe incorporating new diamond design direction
Soft synthetic upper
Moulded rubber conical
Multi - Stud outsole
Superb playability
Visa terry collar liningall Stud
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