Troy Smith signed Ohio State red custom jersey (Sz 52). All name and numbers are sewn-on. This was signed at our Private Signing and comes with a Schwartz Sports credit card certificate of authenticity (COA) which includes an image of the item and matchinFew things make a parent happier or more proud than seeing their children have fun and succeed at sports. Participation in sports is an integral part in any child's life, and parents play a central role in their child's success.
While not indigenous to America, soccer has always been popular throughout the world and is increasingly the sport of choice for young people today. Parents across the world watch as their children prepare to someday join the game at a higher level. Someone somewhere is practicing their soccer skills right now - you can count on it. Yet not all training can be done with a team. Expertfootball.com says, "Individual training should be an integral part of the life of any aspiring soccer player." [1] Even if you know little about the game, parents can offer much help and practice for their children at home. Parents can help their children improve their skills and make it fun at the same time. Here are four essential soccer skills and fun ways to practice them in your own backyard.
Dribbling - Of all the essential soccer skills, dribbling is the first and most necessary ability. Dribbling is simply moving the ball with your feet. The best soccer players around the world are capable of using every part of the foot and even every part of their with incredible efficiency and ease. Whenever you practice dribbling, you should encourage your children to use all different parts of their feet until they are comfortable in any situation.
A simple game of one on one focuses on dribbling skills because each player has no one to pass the ball to. Using only one goal and tightening the area of play can provide greater challenges. Individual dribbling skills can be practiced and improved by dribbling through and around cones and various obstacles. Practicing with miniature soccer balls or even tennis balls can enhance dribbling ability with a regular soccer ball. More than in any other area of the game, you should encourage creativity and innovations as they produce a natural connection with the ball and keep the game fun.
Ball Control - Ball control is a skill closely related to dribbling. The Touch and Technique soccer program says, "Nearly all top level players are known for having fluent control over the ball." [2] This skill has two aspects, namely receiving and trapping the ball. A player traps the ball to stop movement and gain control. This can happen when dribbling, receiving a pass or intercepting the ball. The best way to practice trapping is to kick or throw the ball for your child to trap with their legs or chest. A solid wall also provides a good opportunity for the child to practice both kicking and trapping the ball as it rebounds.
Receiving is the art of preparation. A player receives the ball when they want to set up a quick shot or pass. Usually the foot or head receives the ball. Because receiving prepares the player for a shot, access to a soccer net greatly improves this training. To practice receiving, you can pass or throw the ball at your child as was done with trapping. The player should then transition to shoot the ball at the net or move to pass the ball back to you.
Shooting - Few things in soccer can break a player's (or parent's) heart like seeing a great effort squandered by a bad shot. Perhaps after so many minutes of play an opportunity to take the lead presents itself and the shot sails high or hooks wide or doesn't make it to the net at all. You don't want to take an excessive amount of time practicing ball-handling skills without practicing how to finish the play and shoot with accuracy.
Two things are important when it comes to shooting: power and precision. Practice can be done with a moving ball but should begin with a stationary ball. As in dribbling, shots can be taken from any part of the foot, but the top part of the foot (or laces of the shoe) provide the most power. In order to generate the most power, the player must have a good approach and follow-through. When your child practices shooting, you can advise them to approach from a slight angle and follow through low for a steaming worm-burner or high for a rising shot. After the child develops good technique and confidence, you should incorporate other skills with a moving ball.
While many children across the world train with trees or rocks for goals, the advantages of practicing with a soccer net are extremely beneficial. Having a soccer net of any size in your own back yard saves time and creates a realistic game environment. Power shooting drills can be practiced from any range, and precision shooting can be helped in a unique way as a net provides specific areas to shoot for.
Many companies make targets that can be hung in a soccer goal. These targets can either hang from the posts or fill the net leaving holes to shoot at. Of course, homemade target options are virtually limitless. Many people create targets with paper plates or cardboard and attach them to the net at the desired mark. For a more explosive effect, balloons or jugs filled with air or water can be attached to the goalposts. Creating targets with your child is enjoyable and adds a fun dimension for the players as they try to hit their target.
Goaltending - Should your child be interested in the goaltending position, the necessity for a net at your home becomes even more important. The more time spent practicing game-like goaltending situations the better. Because the goaltender is the last line of defense, their position is vital to the success of any soccer team. As with any other position in soccer, the basics are the main thing that should be practiced.
A goalkeeper must always be aware of his position relative to the goal for several reasons - after all, their job is to keep the ball out of it. Goalkeepers should rarely stand close to the net itself as this opens up more of the net for the shooter to aim for. Imagine when you survey a tree line. From a distance you can see all of the trees. Yet the closer any one of those trees appears in your line of vision, your horizon shrinks and the tree blocks the majority of your view. Encourage your child to come out of the net and toward you as you approach and shoot. This will take away much of your shooting angle and give the goalkeeper a greater chance at blocking the shot.
As your child practices goaltending, you should change your angle of shooting. Make sure that your child stays directly between the ball and the net when you move from side to side. Having a net in your backyard can illustrate these positioning disciplines for your child.
Goalies also need to practice their kicking and throwing skills. Many situations during a soccer game require the goalkeeper to kick the ball to half-field or throw the ball a great distance. Because most yards aren't the size of a regulation soccer field, having a soccer net can allow children to practice these essential skills at home. Children can conveniently kick and throw the ball as hard as they can into the soccer net and not have to chase the ball across the yard.
In an age when most kids sit around playing video games or watching TV, the opportunity to practice and play sports at home promotes exercise, health and fun. Certainly, if any young player wants to gain the competitive edge, they must be able to practice their skills on their own. Practice produces the skills that can accomplish great plays from start to finish, and few things in life are as satisfying as helping a child succeed and enjoying watching the results.
Paul Galla, President
[1] https://www.expertfootball.com
[2] http://www.touchandtechniquesoccer.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=47
Paul Galla, President
U.S. Netting
http://www.usnetting.com
