The following article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine. Was written by Marco Stoini, Director of Coaching for San Luigi Calcio Trieste and Techncial Director of the Ascoli Soccer Academy from the Italian Professional Soccer League and translated by Antonio Saviano.
It is been said that the role of the goalkeeper is a single role, but as we know it is always a child that is in the goal and that will become a man through the frequent goalkeepers development stages. The program of the goalkeeper’s technical work can be divided in two great age groups:
1. From 6-12 years old
2. From 12 years old up
From 6 to 12 Years Old
In reality the very young goalkeeper is not a complete goalkeeper yet. The child playing in the goal does not have the mental and physical structure characteristics in order to be a goalkeeper as an adult would. We are dealing with a child that must be developed and we must stabilize his motor and coordinative abilities, which in many cases are harder for a goalkeeper than a field player. Example of some coordinative abilities:
- Trajectories to save
- Agility
- Relation – ball – ground
- Relation – body - ground
- Relation – eyes – hands
- Relation – eyes – hands – body
- Etc.
Furthermore the physical structure can often prevent the correct execution of many technical fundamentals (sometimes it can also be impossible): for example, the simple size of the hands will not allow easy stops, it will not allow an easy re-start play and so forth.
With these premises it is logical that under the 12 years of age (and in particular until 10 years old) the goalkeeper follows a program integrated with the team, therefore the program should have a general broad activity necessary to all the players on the team and that has objectives to reach based on the age we are working with.
Perform normal practices that all teammates benefit, one of them should be using the feet, which in part is very important under most useful ways. However, at least two times per week the activity should be provided, in specific part, to the particular of the goalkeeper and divided in groups of at least 3-4 goalkeepers and for a duration of approximately 90 minutes. As for all the roles of the soccer players as well as for the goalkeepers the techniques must be placed in first place when training. When speaking about goalkeepers, especially "strong ones” we often refer to goalkeepers with solid technical bases developed from a younger age, and that are like a strong foundation for the rest of their career.
The young goalkeepers psychological side is also very important. Much attention goes to those activities that should not exceed the actual abilities of the student, in order not to create failure feelings, having the young goalkeepers overcome fears that begin with the contact body-ground and development of body movement.
To free their strength is a physiological necessity of the children, but to let them have fun and satisfaction, but also have a feeling of authority and prestige, it is a primary task of a good instructor.
The young goalkeepers see and admire some champions on TV who rise to be their idol, they may have and wear their jerseys, may be their caps or gloves, but for sure will not be able to copy the technical movements, because their mental and learning abilities will prevent them from making does decisions. The instructor should remember this important information and convey to the young goalkeepers in a simple way.
From 12 Years Old and Up
At this age the young goalkeepers begin to assume the abilities of the "true goalkeeper". Now the techniques can and must be learned and without any limitations, they can and they must be repeated to the intend to create the complete necessary development that will stabilize the specific abilities. Now, the mental and the tactical aspect of the development can also be trained:
- Concentration
- Subsequent choices – understanding the game
At this stage, the athlete training will be able to assume greater weight in the activity: for the role of the goalkeeper the strength is the base to support the major part of typical body movements (jumps, quick sprint, executions, etc), the agility, the flexibility and the acrobatic training are an integral part of the development.
The aerobic component should cover the importance of general conditions.
Regarding Strength:
- High expressions: (fast – maximum resistant)
- Under expressions: (flexible volatile - reflected flexible volatile - resistance to the maximum strength - resistance to the instantaneous strength)
- Types of reduction: (concentric - eccentric - isometric – ply-metric)
All of the above has to be taken into consideration with a specific development, but at the same time we should be careful to the structure of a body that is still unbalanced and in a developing stage. In fact the speed or the rapidity is influenced from the strength level of the goalkeeper and are naturally unavoidable qualities. In the training the complete development aspect of the goalkeeper can not be neglected: it is true that the standardized repetitions are important for the reflex, but is also true that if we work in different situations, it will be possible for the athlete to decompose the technical body movements and to use only those parts that time to time will be necessary for that specific need.
I would like to point out that with two-three weekly training sessions of approximately 80 minutes each, we should attain good results.
With the goalkeeper who by now, at this age has exceeded the evolutionary phase, it is moreover fundamental to work on the specific errors. The instructor must maintain a direct contact with his own goalkeeper students. Because it is important to have a direct contact, it is better not to have many goalkeepers for training. But the instructor must also be careful, along with the head-coach, not to isolate the group of goalkeepers from the team, something that happens more then we think.
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.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Role of the Goalkeeper (Part 1 of 4)
The following article (Part 1 of 4) was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine. Was written by Marco Stoini, Director of Coaching for San Luigi Calcio Trieste and Technical Director for Ascoli Soccer Academy.
While it is right to speak about field players attaining general understanding of and tactical insight into the game, it is important to talk about a different type of understanding for the role of the goalkeeper.
The role of the goalkeeper is specific and unusual and needs to be addressed in a specific way. Generally speaking, it is true that the goalkeeper must be a complete soccer player, (especially in today’s game, much more than in the past, because of the new rules of the game), but it is also true that the techniques and the typical actions of the goalkeepers are very different from the other roles/positions of soccer players and we cannot expect to simply develop a goalkeeper by just shooting in the goal.
The Goalkeeper could be defined a "super-soccer player": all technical skills must fully be developed.
For example:
- If a goalkeeper receives a pass back from a teammate and he does not manage the ball well with his feet he could loose trust from his teammates;
- If he lacks tactical understanding of the game (i.e.: offside) the entire strategy of the team could fail;
- If the physical size and physical qualities (strength and quickness) are not above average then we could find ourselves simply with an incomplete goalkeeper;
- If the mental capacities, psychological and personality capacities are not strong, then we could have inconstancy.
Some mistakes may be overlooked for field players but can not be the same for goalkeepers!
The goalkeeper does not carry the number 1 on the back of his jersey for no reasons, the number 1 must be managed and carried with absolute confidence.
For more information click here! - 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.
While it is right to speak about field players attaining general understanding of and tactical insight into the game, it is important to talk about a different type of understanding for the role of the goalkeeper.
The role of the goalkeeper is specific and unusual and needs to be addressed in a specific way. Generally speaking, it is true that the goalkeeper must be a complete soccer player, (especially in today’s game, much more than in the past, because of the new rules of the game), but it is also true that the techniques and the typical actions of the goalkeepers are very different from the other roles/positions of soccer players and we cannot expect to simply develop a goalkeeper by just shooting in the goal.
The Goalkeeper could be defined a "super-soccer player": all technical skills must fully be developed.
For example:
- If a goalkeeper receives a pass back from a teammate and he does not manage the ball well with his feet he could loose trust from his teammates;
- If he lacks tactical understanding of the game (i.e.: offside) the entire strategy of the team could fail;
- If the physical size and physical qualities (strength and quickness) are not above average then we could find ourselves simply with an incomplete goalkeeper;
- If the mental capacities, psychological and personality capacities are not strong, then we could have inconstancy.
Some mistakes may be overlooked for field players but can not be the same for goalkeepers!
The goalkeeper does not carry the number 1 on the back of his jersey for no reasons, the number 1 must be managed and carried with absolute confidence.
For more information click here! - 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.
Friday, February 1, 2008
What you don't know about Soccer?
This article featured on CrazyDetails Blogpost! - click here!
Soccer has become increasingly more popular in the United States in the last 30 years, with nearly 3 million children between the ages of 5-19 now playing in youth soccer leagues throughout the nation.
Soccer began in England in the mid-1800's, and was originally played by the higher, more aristocratic English classes in their boarding schools and private clubs. The ease and inexpense of the sport quickly moved it ahead as a sport for the masses however. Today soccer is ranked as one of the world's leading sports for commoners.
The London Football Association was founded and 1863 and is responsible for standardizing game rules throughout Europe. In less than 20 years, professional players and teams were hitting the field.
Soccer began to spread throughout Europe almost immediately, with Spain, Germany, Italy, and France all taking up the game b the early 20th century. As interest in the sport grew throughout the world, so did an interest in formal competition. In 1900, the first soccer game was played at the Olympics, with medals introduced just eight years later. Professional players, however, were exempt from competition in the Olympic Games for more than 80 years.
In 1904, The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), was formed, followed by the first World Cup international competition in 1930. A round-robin style tournament that pits teams from individual nations against each other every four years, the World Cup has grown into an international affair, with nearly 200 teams now seeking admittance. Only 24 are permitted to compete.
Although it took the United States years to enter the soccer arena on a widespread basis, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) was formed in 1913. Unfortunately, most Americans preferred watching (and playing) a different form of the sport -- American football -- until a Brazilian named Pele, (considered to the greatest soccer player of all time), joined the N.Y. Cosmos team in 1975. With such an amazing player to watch in America, popularity of the sport grew throughout the states, until his retirement in 1977, when soccer once again took a backseat to football. Following Pele's retirement, the North American Soccer League slowly lost fan support, finally dissolving in 1985.
It wasn't until the men's World Cup competition, was held in the United States in 1994, that soccer interest was renewed among American youth. The Major League Soccer (MLS), was founded in 1993, and began its first season in 1996 with 10 teams and 32 regular season games. More than 3 million fans watched the playoffs that year. By 1991, women were finally allowed to play on a professional level, when the Women's World Cup competition was introduced for the first time.
The interest in youth soccer remains strong throughout the United States today. Sports teams and leagues are now available in nearly every American community. From pee-wee players who aren't even in school yet, to semi-professional high school teams, players of all interest and abilities are now hitting the soccer field for both spring and fall competition. The U.S. Youth Soccer, a division of the USSF, now includes nearly 3 million official players.
#1. Soccer is called football in other countries besides America.
#2. Major League Soccer set all-time attendance record for a United States-based professional soccer league game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on June 16, 1996. That day, 92,216 fans watched the Los Angeles Galaxy win a 3-2 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
#3. His real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, But the soccer world knows him as Pele. A native of Brazil, Pele retired as a player in 1977 but is still considered by many the greatest soccer player who ever lived. Since his retirement, he has been a worldwide ambassador for his sport. Wherever soccer is played, the name of Pele will always be magic.
#4. A standard soccer ball is made of leather and is between 27 and 28 inches in circumference. Unlike basketball, young players can use a smaller ball. For kids 8 years old or younger, a ball of 23 to 24 inches in circumference is recommended. For kids 9 to 12, a ball of 25 to 26 inches is often used.
Soccer has become increasingly more popular in the United States in the last 30 years, with nearly 3 million children between the ages of 5-19 now playing in youth soccer leagues throughout the nation.
Soccer began in England in the mid-1800's, and was originally played by the higher, more aristocratic English classes in their boarding schools and private clubs. The ease and inexpense of the sport quickly moved it ahead as a sport for the masses however. Today soccer is ranked as one of the world's leading sports for commoners.
The London Football Association was founded and 1863 and is responsible for standardizing game rules throughout Europe. In less than 20 years, professional players and teams were hitting the field.
Soccer began to spread throughout Europe almost immediately, with Spain, Germany, Italy, and France all taking up the game b the early 20th century. As interest in the sport grew throughout the world, so did an interest in formal competition. In 1900, the first soccer game was played at the Olympics, with medals introduced just eight years later. Professional players, however, were exempt from competition in the Olympic Games for more than 80 years.
In 1904, The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), was formed, followed by the first World Cup international competition in 1930. A round-robin style tournament that pits teams from individual nations against each other every four years, the World Cup has grown into an international affair, with nearly 200 teams now seeking admittance. Only 24 are permitted to compete.
Although it took the United States years to enter the soccer arena on a widespread basis, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) was formed in 1913. Unfortunately, most Americans preferred watching (and playing) a different form of the sport -- American football -- until a Brazilian named Pele, (considered to the greatest soccer player of all time), joined the N.Y. Cosmos team in 1975. With such an amazing player to watch in America, popularity of the sport grew throughout the states, until his retirement in 1977, when soccer once again took a backseat to football. Following Pele's retirement, the North American Soccer League slowly lost fan support, finally dissolving in 1985.
It wasn't until the men's World Cup competition, was held in the United States in 1994, that soccer interest was renewed among American youth. The Major League Soccer (MLS), was founded in 1993, and began its first season in 1996 with 10 teams and 32 regular season games. More than 3 million fans watched the playoffs that year. By 1991, women were finally allowed to play on a professional level, when the Women's World Cup competition was introduced for the first time.
The interest in youth soccer remains strong throughout the United States today. Sports teams and leagues are now available in nearly every American community. From pee-wee players who aren't even in school yet, to semi-professional high school teams, players of all interest and abilities are now hitting the soccer field for both spring and fall competition. The U.S. Youth Soccer, a division of the USSF, now includes nearly 3 million official players.
#1. Soccer is called football in other countries besides America.
#2. Major League Soccer set all-time attendance record for a United States-based professional soccer league game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on June 16, 1996. That day, 92,216 fans watched the Los Angeles Galaxy win a 3-2 shootout victory over the Tampa Bay Mutiny.
#3. His real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, But the soccer world knows him as Pele. A native of Brazil, Pele retired as a player in 1977 but is still considered by many the greatest soccer player who ever lived. Since his retirement, he has been a worldwide ambassador for his sport. Wherever soccer is played, the name of Pele will always be magic.
#4. A standard soccer ball is made of leather and is between 27 and 28 inches in circumference. Unlike basketball, young players can use a smaller ball. For kids 8 years old or younger, a ball of 23 to 24 inches in circumference is recommended. For kids 9 to 12, a ball of 25 to 26 inches is often used.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Coaching Youth Soccer
It is important to understand the reason youth players choose to participate in any sport. Sometimes players do not come to sport by their own choice, but rather by the choice of the parent’s. As a result, instructors need to give youth players something to get excited about. 
We need to keep in mind that at a very young age learning to play soccer is secondary to most other things in their lives.
Let’s look at some things that we can do to energize youth players and hopefully get them to the point where they will learn enthusiastically.
Sessions should be geared around touching the ball as many times as possible. Involve the ball in each activity. Movements such as running, skipping, hopping, jumping, rolling, etc. must be emphasized to build coordination and athleticism. Players must develop the physical capacity to perform technical skills.
Training sessions should not last for more than 60-90 minutes. Physical fatigue is a factor and attention span is a consideration. Train once or twice a week.
FUN is the emphasis while working with the young age groups. Always remember the players’ physical and mental maturity. Each activity should accommodate the players’ level of understanding.
Team play and passing is a psychological threat for younger players. The player feels that if they pass the ball, they may never get it back.
Sometimes you will notice that teammates will steal the ball from each other. Frustrating to the coach for sure but normal behavior and logical if you understand things from the child/player’s perspective. The coach must understand and accommodate this perspective.
This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine
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.
We need to keep in mind that at a very young age learning to play soccer is secondary to most other things in their lives.
Let’s look at some things that we can do to energize youth players and hopefully get them to the point where they will learn enthusiastically.
Sessions should be geared around touching the ball as many times as possible. Involve the ball in each activity. Movements such as running, skipping, hopping, jumping, rolling, etc. must be emphasized to build coordination and athleticism. Players must develop the physical capacity to perform technical skills.
Training sessions should not last for more than 60-90 minutes. Physical fatigue is a factor and attention span is a consideration. Train once or twice a week.
FUN is the emphasis while working with the young age groups. Always remember the players’ physical and mental maturity. Each activity should accommodate the players’ level of understanding.
Team play and passing is a psychological threat for younger players. The player feels that if they pass the ball, they may never get it back.
Sometimes you will notice that teammates will steal the ball from each other. Frustrating to the coach for sure but normal behavior and logical if you understand things from the child/player’s perspective. The coach must understand and accommodate this perspective.
This article was featured in the Scuola Calcio Magazine
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.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Don Fabio, What To Expect England!
This article is featured on "Vital Villa Forum" - click here!
Monday he starts his new job. I doubt the English people are very clear on what the next four years of national football will bring them. The media sure don`t.
They don`t seem to have a clue, as usual. After all the cries for only an Englishman can manage England they got McClaren and that silenced those cries. (For now).
Fabio Capello will be the highest paid national coach, quite possibly the highest paid coach period. Which means there is no reason to moan about his pay. A major newspaper issue with Sven Göran Eriksson. Even if Capello too is forced away the severance pay will ensure that Wembley will be leased out to just about anything thinkable so that the FA will make the dough.
Don`t expect attractive, creative, attacking football a la Nike`s joga bonito. Capello will not, as Grant, even pretend to offer that. If you thought José Mourinho had a set system of how football is to be played, then you will not be able to imagine how Capello does it. Capello will literally run over the Queen to get England to play his football. Whatever the press says. Capello has never ever failed in proving that his way is the right way. If you want to win.
The media will hate him (love him for the abuse they can throw at him). As he will in no way bow down to them as the last couple of managers have. Capello will not listen to the media, nor will he let the media pick the players. He will not offer up any nice scandals by being caught with his zipper down as Eriksson (especially not with that infamous Ulrika). He will infuriate the press I think.
Don Fabio has an idea about what football is. That idea is; it is all about winning. I repeat; It is all about winning! That is the beauty, the meaning and the purpose of playing football. Fabio Capello is the guy you turn to if you want to win. It can be beautiful and it can be ugly, but it will be winning. It will be effective, it will utilise the talent of the players whether that pleases or not pleases the audience. He will enjoy the feared England boo-boys. If he plays Lampard no audience in the world can make him change his mind.
Something I think England desperately needs!
The English media is used to running the national team and with Capello they wont. (Absolutely everything I write is however dependant on the guts and courage of the FA, and around that serious doubt can be raised. So for the sake of argument let us pretend they will stand firmly behind Capello! Not that that is all that likely, we all know how the media can turn coach and management on each other, Chelsea is just another example.)..............read more!
There is much more to read, to continue reading this article visit "Vital Villa Forum" - click here!
Monday he starts his new job. I doubt the English people are very clear on what the next four years of national football will bring them. The media sure don`t.
They don`t seem to have a clue, as usual. After all the cries for only an Englishman can manage England they got McClaren and that silenced those cries. (For now).
Fabio Capello will be the highest paid national coach, quite possibly the highest paid coach period. Which means there is no reason to moan about his pay. A major newspaper issue with Sven Göran Eriksson. Even if Capello too is forced away the severance pay will ensure that Wembley will be leased out to just about anything thinkable so that the FA will make the dough.
Don`t expect attractive, creative, attacking football a la Nike`s joga bonito. Capello will not, as Grant, even pretend to offer that. If you thought José Mourinho had a set system of how football is to be played, then you will not be able to imagine how Capello does it. Capello will literally run over the Queen to get England to play his football. Whatever the press says. Capello has never ever failed in proving that his way is the right way. If you want to win.
The media will hate him (love him for the abuse they can throw at him). As he will in no way bow down to them as the last couple of managers have. Capello will not listen to the media, nor will he let the media pick the players. He will not offer up any nice scandals by being caught with his zipper down as Eriksson (especially not with that infamous Ulrika). He will infuriate the press I think.
Don Fabio has an idea about what football is. That idea is; it is all about winning. I repeat; It is all about winning! That is the beauty, the meaning and the purpose of playing football. Fabio Capello is the guy you turn to if you want to win. It can be beautiful and it can be ugly, but it will be winning. It will be effective, it will utilise the talent of the players whether that pleases or not pleases the audience. He will enjoy the feared England boo-boys. If he plays Lampard no audience in the world can make him change his mind.
Something I think England desperately needs!
The English media is used to running the national team and with Capello they wont. (Absolutely everything I write is however dependant on the guts and courage of the FA, and around that serious doubt can be raised. So for the sake of argument let us pretend they will stand firmly behind Capello! Not that that is all that likely, we all know how the media can turn coach and management on each other, Chelsea is just another example.)..............read more!
There is much more to read, to continue reading this article visit "Vital Villa Forum" - click here!
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