The beaches of Brazil are looking awfully inviting for the American soccer team - (Photo: Thecityfix.com)

June has become a very successful month for the American Men’s National Soccer team.  After a frightening loss in a friendly against Belgium in late May, the team resurrected a strong and exciting response to defeat Germany.  Since then, the confidence inspired from that victory has pushed the team to win two key World Cup qualifying matches against Panama and Jamaica. These victories have put America in the top of the qualifying group and if they can manage a win against Honduras tomorrow, America will have one foot on the plane to Brazil next summer.

The crucial moment for me came early in the friendly against Germany, when Jozy Altidore put in this spectacular volley in for the goal:

Altidore hadn’t scored for the USA in over a year, and the goal clearly revitalized his confidence, as well of that of his teammates.  Since that moment, Altidore has gone on to open the scoring in both of the consecutive matches and is finally looking to be the striker that America has needed.  These summer games have been a delight for the player and have certainly cemented his role as the team’s first choice player up top.

Other players have emerged and put in fine displays, like DaMarcus Beasley who has fit in at left back and put in positive showings.  Another interesting inclusion was Geoff Cameron, the usual center back, who filled in for Jermaine Jones at defensive midfielder in the match against Panama.  Playing well, Cameron made a beautiful assist to Eddie Johnson for the game-sealing goal.

Now America is nearly on the brink.  The match against Honduras will be no easy meal, as Honduras actually inflicted a defeat upon the United States in the group’s first game.  The team is loaded with talented players from top leagues including Roger Espinoza and Wilson Palacios.  However, with this match being played on America soil, we can expect a positive outcome this time around.

The way that the group is shaping up means that this match is extremely important.  Should Honduras win, they would go level with America at the top of the group with 10 points, and qualification would once again be thrown into question heading into the fall.  If America wins, they would move 6 points ahead of Honduras and the sketchy playoff position, meaning that America would probably qualify for the World Cup regardless of the final group matches in September and October.

Therefore, tomorrow’s match will be one where America needs to step up and make a statement.  Confidence has been shaky in this squad ever since the regretful 4-2 Gold Cup Final loss in 2011 to Mexico.  This month has seen a sort of revival within the squad, and they are looking stronger and more united with each match.  With the World Cup a year out, our players need to be coming together, and it looks as if they are doing just that.  A final win against Honduras would mean a month of June with 4 straight wins.  What more could American soccer fans hope for?

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Run hard at practice! - (Photo: Oncentral.org)

In trying to understand how professional soccer star become so great, many people have surmised that talent alone does not lead to success.  What results in soccer players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Gareth Bale is deliberate practice.  It’s not enough to just head outside with a soccer ball and kick it against the garage door for 20 minutes a day.  A true mastermind of the game practices like they play, with a dedication and intensity that pushes them to the next level, no matter where they are at during the present.

Most young soccer players bring their “A-game” to actual matches.  With the soccer jersey on and with parents and friends (and perhaps even college scouts) watching, a player will surely put in the extra effort needed to make plays and go for the win.  But while such heart and strive is wonderful, the best players give their all even in practice, when the score doesn’t really matter.

By consistently playing with dedication and desire, you will really understand what the “passion” of soccer is.  Professional soccer players become one with the ball and know how to control its every move.  When there is a supreme focus during practice, a player is improving their relationship with the ball and learning how to best play the game.

The transition to playing an actual game therefore becomes natural.  Likewise, a young soccer player will begin to see large strides in their abilities and skills.  Contrast this with a player who lazily goes through the motions at soccer practice.  Such a player doesn’t really improve because they are saving it all for “the big game”.  In actuality though, that player will never make it to a real big game because they will never reach the skill level required because of a lack of persistence.

Soccer practice is actually the best time to give it your all.  Because practice doesn’t “mean” anything, players can try out new moves and see what types of plays work.  With little pressure about winning or impressing the scout, a soccer player can truly develop.  The games are where you showcase your skills.  The practices are where those skills are learned.

Another reason to take soccer practice seriously is for all the time that a player will spend practicing.  Most soccer teams will play one or two games a week.  However, the days spent practicing are probably three or four.  Likewise, each practice involves way more time on the ball than any particular game.  Therefore, practice is where players spend most of their time with the soccer ball at their feet.  Use this time wisely.  Yes, the thrill of a victory isn’t quite as strong as it is in an actual game, but you must understand its overall importance in improving your skills.  By practicing hard, you will be better prepared for those eventual moments where you do have the opportunity to win a game.  Practice truly does make perfect, so next time you head out to an evening practice, instead of lazily loafing around the field show some intensity and work hard to improve.  This is your time!

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Happy girls having fun playing soccer - (Photo: Healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com)

A great life lesson to learn is to be happy in everything you do.  Many people don’t understand this aspect of living and are often totally focused on their lofty long-term aspirations, which leads to a constant frustration with their current situation and a generally unhappy disposition.  Such an attitude is not going to help you improve in your game and will probably not result in you ever reaching your professional soccer goals.  Instead, young soccer players should focus on having fun while playing the game.

Being happy while playing soccer will help you lead to doing good, positive things on the field.  Happiness will also boost your confidence.  This will make you more likely to hit that long-range shot, or help find your overhead pass reach its intended target.  When you have fun playing the game, you will make good things happen.

Also, when you play happy you are actually enjoying yourself and having fun.  When you constantly worry about achieving a goal-per game average or are trying to be a perfect player, you don’t have fun.  Also, when certain goals aren’t met you will actually lose confidence and perhaps become a worse player than before.

Having fun playing soccer also simply enables you to just have fun.  Don’t stress about whether or not you will become the next Lionel Messi, because in actuality, you will probably never be as good as Messi, so when you add this pressure to yourself and fail to live up to the hype that you’ve created, you are setting yourself up for severe disappointment.  Additionally, you will never simply just enjoy the beautiful game.

Another issue you may run into is that you will begin to worry about whether or not you really are that great player you’ve imagined in your head.  When you try to make a dazzling run past two defenders but trip over the ball, self-doubt will creep into your head.

Meanwhile, the kid who has fun will attempt the tricky play, fall on his face, and get up and try it again, where he might actually succeed.  Or, he will go home and practice the move until he gets it right and then try it again.  This happens because the player is enjoying playing soccer.  He will succeed because he is having fun.

If you cannot enjoy yourself in the sport, perhaps you should consider a new sport or a totally different hobby to take up.  You need to enjoy the things that you do, and when you stress about other things, you can never have as much fun.  Therefore, take a deep breath and make a point to simply have fun and play the sport.

I love going by a park where you see a pick-up game of soccer being played.  Pick-up games are organized because people simply love playing the game and want to enjoy it.  There’s no fans screaming names of players, there’s no real glory and scouts from colleges checking you out.  There is just soccer; simple, beautiful soccer being enjoyed by a group of people looking to have fun.

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The goalie is usually open - (Photo: Article.wn.com)

For outfield soccer players, there are times when none of your teammates are presenting a decent outlet for a pass.  You can do one of several things in these moments.  You can heave the ball downfield in the hopes a teammate latches onto it (although the more likely scenario is that your opponent will collect the blind pass), you can try to single-handedly find space yourself at the risk of losing possession in a dangerous part of the field, or you can pass the ball back to your goalie.

Passing the ball back to the goalie helps your team keep possession and re-organize itself for a new attack.  However, passing the ball back to your team’s goal comes with its fair share of risks and must be done carefully.  Opponents can jump onto lazy passes and end up scoring goals.  Or, your goalie may lose possession of the ball, resulting in the opponent scoring a goal.  Anyone who watched the USA-Germany friendly yesterday will long remember this failed back pass:

Here are some tips to make sure that when you do pass back to the goalie that you are doing so wisely:

Keep your head up.  You need to make sure that passing the ball to your goalie really is the only safe option.  Perhaps a fellow defender or midfielder is running to an open space for a safer pass.  You may want to look around and see what options are on the table.

Looking up is also crucial in determining whether an opposing player might be lurking in the path of your intended back pass.  If your pass is weak or slightly off-target, a sneaky striker might just intercept it and tear off towards your goal on a breakaway.  You absolutely do not want that to happen.  This is typically something that happens when a player doesn’t look up before making that pass to the goalie.  Therefore, make sure you are aware of your surroundings before making that pass.

Also, make sure the pass is a solid one that reaches your goalie.  You want him or her to receive the ball in an easy fashion without having to make too much of an effort to retrieve it.  Try to keep the pass on the ground because goalies are not allowed to use their hands in collecting a back pass.

Another thing to remember is the weather.  If the field is wet from rain and the ball is skidding around the field, you probably should avoid passing the ball back to your goalie, because you run the risk of scoring an own goal if an awkward bounce tricks your keeper.  Sometimes losing possession in your own half is actually a better option than sending a tricky ball into the path of your goal!

Passing back to the goalie can be the smart and safe option but it can also make an outfield player the goat in blowing a close game.  Be smart and use common sense when you think about sending that ball backwards.  Most importantly, remember to keep your head up when playing soccer so that when you do pass back to your goalie, you are making the best pass for your team!

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This is your time to shine! - (Photo: Christendom.edu)

Any young soccer player that has dreams of greatness will eventually have to go through a soccer tryout.  Tryouts usually begin when players wish to engage in travel soccer teams or want to play on school teams, which typically starts in middle school.  How a player handles the nerves of such judgment can go a long way to determining whether or not they will make the squad.  This can be a tough experience for any soccer player, but it is one that you will have to go through for the rest of your playing days, as tryouts and competition between teammates are a never-ending battle for college and professional players.  Here are some tips that will help you shine at your next soccer tryout:

Get a good night’s rest before the day of the tryout. You need to be well prepared and fully awake to play soccer at your best, therefore try to ensure that you are ready by getting a full night’s sleep.  Don’t make a big deal of it by going to bed 3 hours early, but do try to get to bed at the time necessary for you to feel refreshed the next day.

At the tryout, don’t try to compare yourself to the other players.  That is the coach’s job.  You simply need to play your game and show off your skills.  If there are skills you are particularly good at, show them off.  A coach will never know how powerful your shot is unless you unleash it in front of them.

Also, don’t stress about misplaced passes or losing the ball.  Yes, poor play won’t help your cause, but chances are that everyone is making some mistakes.  Also, you don’t know exactly what skills the coaches are looking for.  Therefore, just play your game and try to show them what a great player you are.  The way you handle failures shows a lot about your confidence and ability to handle pressure, so if you let one mistake ruin the rest of our tryout, it will be clear that you have less confidence in your skills.  If you mess up one time but then perform a great skill successfully, you will impress the coaches greatly with your determination.

Be respectful.  A lot of players will be cut from a soccer tryout simply because they act like annoying brats.  Big talk or trash-talking your potential teammates will not impress the coaches.  They want players who will listen to them and work hard to improve.  Don’t be a nuisance!  In fact, sometimes such antics will have you cut regardless of your skills.  A player trying out should be humble and respectful to the other soccer players and the coaches.

Most importantly, remember to just have fun and play soccer.  If you are enjoying playing at the tryout and not stressing out too much it will show, and the coaches will see you as a winner.  Coaches are looking to create a cohesive team, and often times the hardworking soccer-loving kid will earn a spot on the team, even if someone else was slightly better.  Therefore, give the tryout your best chance and come ready to play.  Good luck with your next soccer tryout!

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

The joys of scoring a goal! - (Photo: Gamblingbeat.com)

Soccer is a game that is about the goals!  Everyone wants to be the goal-scorer, and him or her that scores is always the center of the glory and celebrations in soccer.  But scoring goals is no easy feat.  Defenders and goalies live for slowing down goal-scoring chances and can make the task incredibly difficult for any soccer player.  Additionally, the pressures of a big time game and the high speed of soccer can pass by any chance, and many players struggle to find the back of the net.  Here are some tips to help you be better prepared for the next time you find yourself with the ball in front of the opponent’s goal.

Practice shooting.  Having a strong and well-aimed shot is a crucial aspect for any forward to score a goal.  Weak shots will be easily saved by the goalie.  Additionally, misplaced shots will simply go off-target.  You need to be able to aim for the corners of the goal and get the ball there.

Shooting is an especially difficult task for young player whose bodies haven’t developed the strength to really put power behind their shots.  The only way to correct this is to work on your shooting.  But instead of endlessly taking penalty kicks at a goal, try to re-create a live game situation.  Shooting is a totally different game when you are in motion, and players should practice like such to really learn how to shoot while sprinting at full speed.

Also, this training will help improve confidence and composure in front of the goal.  You will never score a goal if you don’t fully believe that you can score, so be sure to practice the high-speed chances so that players can improve their confidence.

Scoring goals is often a mind game for forward players.  Professionals often go long stretches without scoring before they erupt and score a goal per game for weeks on end.  How is this possible?  Players find form when things go their way and the game slows down.  Improving your confidence and shooting ability will surely help you achieve a consistent level of goal scoring.

Another important thing to remember is that it is okay for a player to be a bit selfish in front of the goal if you think you have a good goal scoring opportunity.  Soccer players are often taught the importance of passing and not trying to win the game all by themselves, but if a team just passes the ball around and no one shoots, how likely is it that the team will ever score a goal.  When you see an opportunity and think you can take a shot, go for it and score the goal!

A last point to make about goal scoring prowess is that you have to want to score a goal.  In fact, turn this idea into an obsession and build a “need” to score a goal.  If you play with a clear goal of scoring goals in your mind, you will probably go out there and find the ball in front of the goal.  But do try to enjoy the game, regardless of goals scored, and try not to put too much pressure on yourself to score.  Just relax and believe in yourself.  If you can do that, the goals will come naturally!

For information about buying soccer uniforms, please visit Totally Soccer.

Always fight hard to win back the ball! - (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

Young soccer players often wish to play striker or forward so they can have the most opportunities to score goals.  Yes, goal scoring can be a thrilling and rewarding prospect, and surely goals are the vital moment of any soccer game, but too many strikers refuse to help out in defending, and such a lame way of playing will definitely hurt your team.  Here are some reasons why any team’s forwards should be working hard to defend in addition to orchestrating goal-scoring chances.

Your team needs to have the ball in order to score goals.  That is a fact.  When your opponent has the ball, they are more likely to score a goal.  Don’t let them hang onto the ball for too long or else they will be scoring goals.  As a forward, get in the action and help your team win the ball back.

Defensive pressure works best as a team unit, not with individual players. Yes, the defenders earn their positional title because they are the team’s back line, but the entire team needs to be working hard to prevent the opposition from scoring.  That means you too, super star forward!

Forwards who maintain strong defensive pressure make excellent goal-scoring opportunities for themselves as well.  Because of your advanced position on the soccer field, if you are to win the ball from a center back, there is a good possibility that you will have a clean breakaway and a golden chance to score.

Defensive pressure up top is an excellent way to force mistakes from the other team too.  As they nervously pass the ball around the back, pressure from your team’s forwards can force a player into making a mistake or hurry them into sending an errant pass right to your team.  Opportunistic teams latch onto these moments and score goals.  Not only does this give your team another point, but it absolutely crushes the confidence of your opponent.

Also, consider how any traditional attack in soccer is started.  Players retrieve the ball in defense and prod their way up the field with passes.  If you allow a team to gently move the ball around the back, they will build an attack with confidence and find an easy way to your goal. If every player faces immediate pressure upon receiving a ball, they will have limited time to find openings and instigate their attack.  More likely, someone will mess up and your team will regain possession.  If your forwards are engaged in this defensive duty, your team will have the vast majority of possession and opportunities.

Strikers and forwards will also have other instances when they absolutely need to be in front of their own goal making defensive plays.  During opposing free kicks or corner kicks, defending becomes an entire team effort and surely requires defensive prowess from all players for any team to succeed.  Additionally, when your team is defending a slim lead at the end of a match, you forwards need to drop back and help defend.  Either way, don’t ignore the responsibilities of defending, at any position on the field, because a strong defensive unit is often the side that wins.

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Podolski confidently runs with the ball - (Photo: Article.wn.com)

Momentum is a key ingredient in life.  There is a natural flow and rhythm of your body and you need to embrace it and follow it at all times.  Today I was re-living all the goals scored by Arsenal this past EPL season in a 30 minute video of glory and this fact stuck out to me:  In each goal, the players seemed to be running in full stride or confidently moving with the soccer ball as they scored.  Best utilizing your forward momentum seems to be a vital part of goal scoring.

Watch any highlight video of soccer players and you will quickly notice how easy soccer looks when it’s played right.  It seems as though the players effortlessly glide about the pitch, weaving through defenders, and calmly placing the ball into the net, but the task is actually tremendously difficult.

As an Arsenal fan, I can confidently state that this season was rather nervy and tense throughout with few real moments of glory, although if one were to simply watch all the goals it looked like a real feast of football.  Such is the way of highlights…

In reality, plays constantly break down when players stutter or try to awkwardly change direction, or simply miskick the soccer ball.  Fans of other sports often criticize soccer and call it “boring” because the moments of brilliance are so few and far between.  Players laboriously pass the ball around and often make mistakes, losing possession and turning the ball over.

But that’s why the highlights are so fun to watch and shows how in those vital moments of genius, games are won and lost.  Soccer players need to be confident and believe in themselves.  Trusting the momentum and following your soccer instincts are a major plus and are crucial for orchestrating successful plays and goals.

Another thing to watch in highlights is how the players rarely hesitate when they make a goal-scoring charge.  This trait enables them to power their way through defenders and get in front of goal.  There, a calm finished further illustrates the importance of feeling the momentum and going for shots.

My favorite goal for Arsenal this year was this one:

Notice how Theo Walcott simply makes the run and is basically in constant motion, feeling his way through the maze of defender’s legs.  His momentum is so strong on this run, that when he is tripped up he manages to slide and regain his grounding and stand up with just the keeper to beat.  The cool finish is exemplary considering the awkwardness of the tumble, but in trusting his momentum and maintaining a cool head, Walcott scored one of the goals of the season.

So next time you see yourself with the ball and feel like making a serious run at the goal, go for it.  You must trust your soccer instincts and allow your momentum to push you through your opponents.  Trust your feet and where you are going with the ball.  Any shakiness and you will probably mess up, so just feel your way to glory and let your body take over!

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Cazorla is a pass master - (Photo: Fiestafootball.org)

Yesterday saw the powerful team of Arsenal defeat Wigan and send them tumbling down into the basement of English soccer’s second league, the Championship.  During the 4-1 victory for the London club, a player by the name of Santi Cazorla orchestrated all 4 goals and earned an assist on each occasion.  Such a player is instrumental to any team’s success and has been a vital addition to the London club this year.  For youth players who want to improve their ability to set up goals, Cazorla is a fascinating player to watch and can provide great insight into how to generate an assist.

One of the most important things for any player who aspires to assist on goals is to maintain strong ball control and keep your head up. You will never find your teammate that is running towards the goal if your eyes are always at your feet.  Therefore, learn to control the ball as best you can so that you can be comfortable not always focusing your attention on the ball.

Also, you will want to analyze the defense and read where open pockets of space are.  If your teammate is smart, they too will be looking for the open space and making a solid run into it.  To set up the pass, you must predict where the player is headed and put the ball ahead of their stride so they can find that open space and hopefully score a goal.

A tricky part of this is that you need to analyze the risk of each pass you make.  Although the central plan of any playmaker is to set up goal-scoring opportunities, these passes are quite difficult to make as the defenders will have superior numbers and space in front of the goal is limited.

Therefore, exercise patience and only send in a ball if there is a strong possibility that your player will be able to connect with it on the other end.  Don’t be afraid to pass sideways or backwards because changing the movement of the ball could enable another opening to spring up, especially if the players are crowding around you.  However, do keep in mind that you will have to press the issue at some point in order to score goals.

For a great assist maker, you want to act quickly.  Many goals in soccer occur when teams break away on a counter-attack, and the defense has few players back to properly defend. In these situations speed is an absolute necessity, and you will need to make the final pass quite fast as defenders will be sprinting back to break down your attack.

By reading and analyzing the space at a rapid pace, you will need to know where the ball should go by looking up for your teammates, then sending the ball into that area so they can pounce upon it, and all at the high speed of a full sprint down the field. Of course this is a challenging prospect for anyone, but as Santi Cazorla showed for Arsenal yesterday, such playmaking capabilities can pay off with great rewards.

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The setting of the big game! - (Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org)

For both of these clubs, 3 points are absolutely vital when they play against one another on Tuesday.  The English Premier League provides great excitement and drama at the highest level as the season winds down for a variety of reasons.  First off, the bottom three clubs in the league are relegated to an entirely lower soccer league, the Championship.  Additionally, the top 4 clubs earn a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League tournament.

Both Wigan and Arsenal are in the heat of these two battles.  Wigan is currently 4 points within the drop zone, meaning that they must earn points in both their last two games.  Travelling to London and the Emirates stadium will surely be a monumental task for Wigan, but they have shown a tendency to mount late season charges in the past, often just scraping by to remain in England’s top soccer league.

Additionally, Wigan just became winners of the FA Cup.  Having beat Manchester City at Wembley stadium this past weekend, Wigan showed that on their day they can beat anyone.  In lifting a trophy, they have also accomplished a feat that Arsenal hasn’t managed in over 7 years.

However, Arsenal has qualified for the Champions League in the last 15 years or so, and also seem to always benefit from a late-season surge to find themselves in the necessary position for Europe’s grandest stage.  This year, Arsenal are again in an absolute dogfight with Tottenham and Chelsea that looks to come down to the final day again.  Arsenal would qualify with two wins in their last two matches, but any slip-ups, a draw or a loss, and those dreams would fade fast.

For both clubs, success in these last games has monumental importance in both financial reasons and for the sake of players and fans.  Playing in the Premier League will earn Wigan a considerably larger cash prize than the Championship.  For Arsenal, the Champions League is a cash cow with bountiful television rights deals and adds roughly 5 highly priced home games to the schedule.

Also, with the summer transfer window approaching, both clubs will have their eyes on new players.  Though, most would believe that a large number of players would want to move to clubs that enable them to play at the highest level.  Should either club not reach their goal, their prized transfers may sign with rival clubs.  And worse yet, several current players will surely seek exits to clubs that better fulfill their goals.

And so when Wigan and Arsenal lock horns tomorrow, it will be an absolute thriller of a match.  The Arsenal home crowd will surely become more and more nervous if the team doesn’t take control as the game winds down, and the players will surely get more and more desperate.  As for predictions, I like Arsenal.  Therefore I will predict a 3-0 Arsenal victory.  They are a vastly superior club and are equally as desperate as Wigan is.  They will prove their worth and leapfrog Tottenham into that vital 4^th position in the league.  Wigan, for all their excitement over the FA Cup win, will have a bittersweet end to the season and will be relegated.

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