Sports Fans...Trade in the boring old computer mouse you are using and have the Houston Dynamo design-R-Mouse soccer in the palm of your hand while you work. For home or office this "to scale" soccer computer mouse allows you to stay in touch with your favorite sport. The Houston Dynamo Design-R-Mouse Optical Soccer computer mouse is compatable with either PCs and Macs, has a USB 2.0 connection, an 800 dpi optical resolution with a 1 year warranty.
The Spanish team won Euro 2008 because every player had better technical ability, played as a team throughout the whole park, and used their subs wisely. I'm going to break each of these down and look at why these combined made a significant difference.
Technical ability provides the following benefits:
1. More time on the ball, which means more time to make decisions, more time to assess positions of players and choices, greater accuracy in the next move whether it is passing, shooting (more balance).
2. Confidence, greater confidence to attempt passes to players in difficult but perhaps better positions to shoot. Confidence is contagious, for other players in your team and felt by your opponents adding tot heir level of anxiety and ability to react quickly and make good choices.
3. Possession. With more possession and more secure possession a team controls the ball and so opportunities to attack and prevent the other team attacking. With the ball you can do anything, without it, you can do nothing.
4. Options. With better control you have somany more options, inside or outside of the foot, backheal, toe, back, head, knee, thigh, chest, no-look passes, passing at perfect pace to one of your team mates to shoot with time, taking a shot that without good or great technical skills you wouldn't have time for or be able to even attempt!
5. Hard to tackle. This means the defender is more likely to give you more room which gives more time and so on... or will foul you and give your team an advantage.
Team Work: This is not easy to measure and can seem to some coaches as like grasping clouds, yet if you can create or get it, it makes a huge difference to overcoming all number of obstacles.
A. Players who enjoy each others company play better together
B. Players who have a respect for the ability of their team mates are more likely to pass more and create more opportunities
C. Teams that are most likely to win in any situation have the following characteristics; They understand their coaches strategy and their own roles within it; players have a high technical ability and get on as team mates; they have a desire to succeed, that is; a reason and passion to win for individual reasons and secondly for team/club. Internal motivation should not be underestimated.
D. Finally, A team that has fun, can overcome most obstacles.
Using substitutes wisely: While they may not win a game, substitutes can and have had a significant impact on games and team moral. Here are some basic do's and don'ts. -Do communicate your philosophy on substitutions to your team, and follow through. -Do change this AND communicate if there is a good reason. -Don't play subs for the last 5 minutes on a regular basis, it becomes demoralising. -Don't promise one thing and not deliver, trust will be affected. -Know why you are making a substitution and be able/ prepared to explain it to them afterward. -Don't react too quickly to making subs unless it is an injury or situation the player cant or is unable to respond to. If this is the case, be sure to address it at practice. -Do ensure they know the role they will play as clearly as if they were starting (if you want to maximise their input into the game). -Remember this, players train harder if they know there is a realistic chance for selection, as opposed to little or no chance no matter how much they improve or compete. Developing teams and team spirit is very important at all levels. Sometimes to win, sometimes to ensure everyone is enjoying belonging and playing (this is one of the main reason most young people play the game!).
These things can help. (some are age dependent but can be utilised in another way) A player of the day trophy or prize Team hot chocolates after the game. A meal and Dvd night or meal and whiteboard session at someone's house (more meal, less whiteboard). One coach I had paid a 'win bonus' that was really our lunch money on away trips but it worked! Build a season theme that different players or groups of players are responsible for developing or having fun with. Try and avoid negative punishments or derogatory penalties.
Remember it is all about having fun and improving trust.
Enjoy your game Your coach, friend and fan Richard Kerr-Bell
Your friend and fan
Richard Kerr-Bell
http://www.becomeasoccerstar.com
richlife@xtra.co.nz
Good Ab Workouts Arent Good Enough
The officially licensed 25-inch x 35-inch Premiership soccer poster features a glossy color image of the team logo and the Arsenal Stadium Highbury.