Thursday, March 27, 2008

Youth Italian Soccer Language Program

After the success achieved the last two years, Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School in collaboration with Georgia Coast FA and Savannah International Soccer Academy (SISA), will once again be giving the opportunity to all youth soccer players to participate in the Italian Soccer-Language Program held on Jekyll Island, GA this coming June.

The Italian Soccer-Language Program is organized annually by Scuola Calcio, Italian Premier Soccer School and SISA. The Scuola Calcio Program is well-known mostly for not just promoting Italian soccer but also Italian language so youth soccer players can get the full immersion experience of the Italian cultural side. This is a two week program during the summer months where many youth players from all over North America will be participating.

The Scuola Calcio, SISA and Georgia Coast FA are inviting all North America players aged between 10 and 16 to this event which consists mainly of a daily Italian soccer training and Italian language lessons on the beautiful Jekyll Island, GA.

Players will have the opportunity to train under the guidance of professional Italian coaches and be assessed individually during training sessions and small sided games. Every participant will be receiving a certificate of attendance, a training kit to use during training sessions and all material needed to study and learn the Italian language.

Apart from learning the Italian Soccer Methodology and the Italian Language, players will engage in other social activities organized through out the two weeks such as bike rides, long walks on the island, visit the NASA Space Center, beach soccer, swimming, etc. Players will also be enrolled in the 3vs3 National Qualifier Tournament. All players who are successful in reaching the finals will be invited to Disney over the weekend of July 26th & 27th to take part in the National Championships.

The dates for this exclusive and fantastic event will take place between June 22nd and July 7th, 2008.

Log on to www.soccerkix.com or www.Georgiacoastfa.com to read the complete itinerary for this unique program.

Total cost for two weeks: $1895 - Payment can be made over 4 easy payments

Space is limited. Coaches or parents can also join the group as chaperones. For more information you may email info@soccerkix.com

Monday, March 24, 2008

Del Piero Sets Out Challenge

Alessandro Del Piero has not given up hope on making the Italy squad for 2008 despite being ignored by coach Roberto Donadoni once again.

The Juventus star will not feature when the Azzurri face Spain in a friendly on Wednesday despite turning back the clock to help tear the Inter defence apart in the 2-1 win on Saturday evening.

The 33-year-old said: "The coach has made his decision but I still hope to be at Euro 2012."

On his present form the striker should be confident of making the trip to Austria and Switzerland as he tied Nerazzurri defender Marco Materazzi in knots as well as setting up David Trezeguet for the second goal.

The captain also equalled legendary Juve defender Gaetano Scirea's club record of 552 official games in a Bianconeri shirt and he added: "I would have loved to have scored myself but I wasted a great chance in a move with Trezeguet.

"We have to keep aiming to improve and keep setting our sights high."

The Turin side's win further cemented their third place and a step closer to Champions League qualification in their first season back in the top flight.

This article was featured on SereA.tv. Click here to go directly to the site.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Instructor’s Responsibilities and Duties

Soccer programs should be offered to youth players of all ages, with the emphasis on fun, fitness, and skill building in an environment in which winning is not the sole focus.

Every child must have the opportunity to participate in every game.
An instructor should be able to define the needs of his youth players. The growth process should emphasize the development of sound skills that can be enjoyed. Players should experience fun and enjoyment every time they come to the soccer field. The instructors should also be able to adapt to each player’s personality, talk to them in a positive manner, lead by example and teach the players to conduct themselves in a controlled manner on the field.

Players need the opportunity to play their own game. Therefore as instructors, we should limit sideline coaching. Teaching should be done at practice rather in games.

Developing a strong sense of self-esteem is as fundamental as a solid technical foundation. It is of great importance that instructors provide an atmosphere of a strong team where players can develop a love of the game as well as environment where players can respect each other.

If we can step back and say to ourselves that our players are developing respect, trust, confidence and a desire to remain actively involved in soccer, then we can honestly say we are doing our job!!!

This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine - The article was written by Antonio Saviano.

Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed to improve youth players from the age of 5 and up. Every activity will be specifically targeted to the appropriate age group.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Pato Takes Charge

Alexandre Pato is already beginning to leave his mark at AC Milan.

The 18-year-old has played ten games and scored six goals so far this season to help earn the Rossoneri 23 points from a possible 30 available.

In fact, the San Siro giants have garlanded the same number of points over this period as the in-form AS Roma and two more than league leaders Inter.

The teenager's arrival at the club in January mirrors that of Ronaldo's move from Real Madrid at the same time last season.

Then, the 31-year-old scored five goals to fire coach Carlo Ancelotti's side towards a Champions League place.

With Ronaldo's career on hold as he recovers from his recent to repair a ruptured knee ligament and fellow-frontman Filippo Inzaghi sidelined with a hernia, the former Internacional starlet is set to play an even greater role in the chase for a Champions League spot.

This article was featured on SereA.tv. Click here to go directly to the site.

Monday, March 10, 2008

The Fundamentals of The Goalkeeper (Part 4 of 4)

The following article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine. Was written by Marco Stoini, Director of Coaching for San Luigi Calcio Trieste and Technical Director for the Ascoli Soccer Academy. The article was translated by Antonio Saviano.

The concept of the psychological and technical FUNDAMENTALS of today’s goalkeepers should have a solid base for “attacking the ball”. What ever movement is put into effect, the idea must never be to endure the ball, but to foresee the ball direction, either in a cognitive sense as well as in a geometric sense; the advantages should be visible, from different points of view.

While the technical fundamentals are easily noticed, for the tactical fundamentals to be noticeable, coaches would have to look at the goalkeepers attentively. The tactical decisions goalkeepers make are different from technical executions.

In general, it can be said that every time the goalkeeper makes a decision (i.e.: position in goal, body position on the field, where to send the ball with his feet or when to come out to clear the ball, how to psychologically condition the opponent and help teammates in their positioning on the field, etc.), he performs a tactical behavior that often alone can save a goal. All this may not seem to influential, because many goals are avoided and because most of the time the intelligent and careful goalkeeper makes good decisions.

Just as the technical qualities make a difference, the tactical and attentive aspects also make the difference between goalkeepers. There are many goalkeepers teaching schools and each one of them has a clear and very specialized connotation on how to teach: it is sufficient to look the significant differences of the technical formulation between goalkeepers, in particular between those coming from various areas.

Obviously, all body movements need to be developed because they are part of that technical base, of which it cannot be absolutely left out. The only applicative limitation in the course of the years is constituted by the age of the student, but at the end, the adult goalkeepers must manage all the technical abilities and possibly have good tactical understanding.

The following is a review of the technical and tactical base fundamentals for the goalkeepers. In many of the following seven points you will find different tactical elements. In particular in the following points: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.


This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine.

Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Napoli Halt Inter Run

Napoli produced a wonderful performance to defeat Inter 1-0 and end the champion's unbeaten league record.

The home side, roared on by a packed San Paolo stadium, took the lead within three minutes.

Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar was forced to rush from his goal to make a hurried clearance but could only direct the ball to Marcelo Zalayeta who lobbed into the empty net.

Ezequiel Lavezzi was causing the Nerazzurri all sorts of problems with his mazy runs.

After firing just wide, the Argentine striker nearly caused Marco Materazzi to put through his own net but Julio Cesar clawed the ball off the line.

Napoli poured forward after the break and only a sharp save kept Marek Hamsik from doubling the scoreline.

Zalayeta missed a golden opportunity to increase the lead when Julio Cesar saved the Uruguayan's penalty after the keeper was adjudged to have tripped midfielder Walter Gargano.

The defeat means that Inter's lead has been reduced to six points over AS Roma.

This article was featured on SereA.tv. Click here to go directly to the site.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

The Fundamentals of the Goalkeeper (Part 3 of 4)

The following article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine. Was written by Marco Stoini, Director of Coaching for San Luigi Calcio Trieste and Ascoli Soccer Academy Technical Director and translated by Antonio Saviano.

The concept of the psychological and technical FUNDAMENTALS of today’s goalkeepers should have a solid base for “attacking the ball”. What ever movement is put into effect, the idea must never be to endure the ball, but to foresee the ball direction, either in a cognitive sense as well as in a geometric sense; the advantages should be visible, from different points of view.
While the technical fundamentals are easily noticed, for the tactical fundamentals to be noticeable, coaches would have to look at the goalkeepers attentively. The tactical decisions goalkeepers make are different from technical executions.

In general, it can be said that every time the goalkeeper makes a decision (i.e.: position in goal, body position on the field, where to send the ball with his feet or when to come out to clear the ball, how to psychologically condition the opponent and help teammates in their positioning on the field, etc.), he performs a tactical behavior that often alone can save a goal. All this may not seem to influential, because many goals are avoided and because most of the time the intelligent and careful goalkeeper makes good decisions.

Just as the technical qualities make a difference, the tactical and attentive aspects also make the difference between goalkeepers. There are many goalkeepers teaching schools and each one of them has a clear and very specialized connotation on how to teach: it is sufficient to look the significant differences of the technical formulation between goalkeepers, in particular between those coming from various areas.

Obviously, all body movements need to be developed because they are part of that technical base, of which it cannot be absolutely left out. The only applicative limitation in the course of the years is constituted by the age of the student, but at the end, the adult goalkeepers must manage all the technical abilities and possibly have good tactical understanding.

The boxes (above rigth - click on it to enlarge) are a review of the technical and tactical base fundamentals for the goalkeepers. In many of the following seven points you will find different tactical elements... in particular in the particular points: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.


This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine.
Scuola Calcio Coaching Magazine is aimed and dedicated to providing first class soccer information for instructors at all levels throughout the North America and the World.