Product WATCH: Strike Zone

Can you remember years back, perhaps in elementary school, middle school or even in high school, when physical education class was the highlight of your day?  Remember the basketballs cleverly marked with a “hand print” so that children can learn how and where to place their hands. Imagine that simple concept transformed to fit the growing need of skills development in youth players for the game of soccer. At the NSCAA convention, I had a chance to speak with creator of the Strike Zone, Paul Gallagher about his new soccer training product. With today’s specialized profession in the field of Physical Education, Coaching, and child development we see many innovative learning aids that take cognitive understanding to a whole new level. With more of an emphasis on systematically teaching skills and technique, educators and product inventors alike look to reinvent the teaching and learning models to reflect the ever changing sport.

Why did Strikezone decide to use color in the Visual Training Aid system?

Studies suggest that color is a basic and vital factor in memory retention. Color, as a reference guide, is understood by all age groups, whether you are a young player, a coach, or a parent. As coaches and trainers, it is crucial for us to know how to use color to our benefit. Color affects memory by imprinting a feeling to go along with it. When you see a certain color, an association is imprinted in your memory. It can be a feeling, smell or sight or even an action. The Strikezone Complete Technical Training System uses the visual reference of color to reinforce certain actions, in this case it is soccer’s basic techniques. With our system, players will associate the green part of the shoe to push pass, the red part of the shoe to drive the ball, the blue part of the shoe to cross and chip, the yellow part of the shoe to bend, and the orange part to swerve. As players perfect these basic skills, they can move to more advanced skills that require 2 or more moves by remembering which colors to use in the combination.

The Spirrs Team is a Proud Supporter of new innovative products and services that have visionary goals of improving players, parents, coaches and the games as we know it.

Discover What’s out there. Inform Yourself. Inform Others. Contribute to… Passing the Word Around. TM

To Learn More about Strike Zone Products Please Visit StrikeZoneSoccer.com

What do you think of the Strike Zone? Please leave your comments, questions, concerns and opinions about this product below. Get the conversation started and keep the ball rolling… Let us know what you think!

Learn About Footwear: Interchangeable (6 of 6)

Interchangeable Cleats (Tunits)

These cleats are at the forefront of cleat technology. The construction is based on a series of replaceable studs made of plastic and metal. These studs are attached to a hard removable plastic insole located inside the shoe. Customizable parts include type of desired studs (small, short, medium, or high), type of desired shoe, type of desired plastic stud connecting insole, and lastly, type of desired insole. [Read more...]

Learn About Footwear: Indoor (5 of 6)

Indoor Shoes

Indoor shoes are soccer shoes specifically designed for flat indoor surface, such as gymnasium floors. The soles are generally made of soft gum rubber, providing great traction on a hardwood floor or any kind of smooth [Read more...]

Learn About Footwear: Turf Shoes (4 of 6)

Turf Shoes

Turf shoes generally have a hard rubbery sole with a raised dotted surface.This type of footwear performs particularly well on hard ground surfaces or synthetic field turf, hence the term “turf” shoes. Turf shoes are favorable because they are typically constructed like indoor shoes, having a more sneaker-like feel. [Read more...]

Learn About Footwear: Hard Ground Cleats (3 of 6)

Hard Ground Cleats

Hard ground cleats have been a relatively new concept-or should i say recently new “product type.” Prior to this “hard ground” cleat categorization, players only had the choice of molded cleats or turf shoes. Companies found that there was a consumer interest and a need for a specialized cleat made just for extremely hard surfaces, such as dried hard grass, dirt and rock fields, and firm sandy field. [Read more...]

Learn About Footwear: Replaceables (2 of 6)

Soft Ground Cleats (Replaceable Cleats)

The construction of the shoe is based on removable studs, usually made of plastic or metal. the tall stud height combined with the 6-stud standard make the replaceable cleats especially good for wet, muddy and tall grass conditions. [Read more...]

Learn About Types of Footwear: Molded (1 of 6)

What are the different kinds of Soccer footwear? Let’s start with the types of soccer footwear out there. It is important to keep in mind the type of surface you or your child will be playing on, as this will reflect the type of footwear needed for such surfaces. With the explosion of new technology in footwear construction and field turf creation, there seems to be a specific cleat for every single soccer condition possible. So, let’s identify the footwear that corresponds to these various field conditions. [Read more...]

Mizuno Morellia PRO Japan

On The Record: Best Boots Ever.

Ok. Now we all have our one favorite pair of cleats we hold dearly in the deepest depths of our hearts. The cleat you have grown to love and cherish. You know, that one pair of boots that you hold high above all, ones that you can take to your grave or fight to the death for. OK well, maybe not so far, but ones that you’ll definitely spend countless pints arguing for. For the younger audience, go out and get a pair of these, you’ll fall in love, and as for the pints you’ll know what I mean when you a wee bit older. And for you all who spent many night reminiscing over a couple cold ones, engaging in heated discussions about college ball, pro and world travels, you’ll have another for these cleats here.

So, I thought it would only be appropriate if the first ever footwear post on Spirrsblog.com be my vote for best cleat ever thus far. On the record, Spirrs Guy’s cast for greatest boots constructed for the sport and athletes alike…the Mizuno Morelia Pro Japan.

Arguable, the best constructed cleat of all time, player approved and time tested, are the Adidas Copa Mudial. No doubt about it, truly a revolution in the craftsmanship of soccer cleats. But, if you have ever own a pair of these, you can attest that the construction and design does transcend the structure of the Copa’s and the comfort, feel, and suppleness surely surpasses. The performance of these boots are stellar, and quite frankly unmatchable. Again, truly, and undoubtedly the BEST BOOTS EVER!!!

OK, Let’s hear what you have to say about this one. Tell Us what your cast is for Best Cleats ever made. And if you haven’t ever worn a pair of leather boots, please save your synthetics for an other vote. Cheers!

12-Stud Replaceable

Anyone ENJOY using 8-stud removable cleats? What about 12 fully removable and interchanges studs? Have you even seen anything of this sort? OK Yes. You might think I’m talking about the Adidas Tunits…But does anyone remember these?

Some of you old-timers might know of the Diadora Morpho. I would say these were one of the first cleats that founded the concept of versatile and customizable cleats. These boots came out over a decade ago, and features 12 removable studs. Their construction is that of a 6-stud removable cleat (standard Soft Ground Cleats), except there are 12 of them (standard Firm Ground Cleats). You can say they were the first breed of soft ground and firm ground cleats. At the time, they were quite innovative and they intrigued many, but the costly price tag on a pair of these boots made them a lot less appealing. The need for such a specialized cleat, with endless transformations wasn’t too strong, as playing conditions didn’t call for such specific catering. Plus, from my experience with these cleats back then, i ask myself…Was it really necessary for me to change stud that often for more or less the same fields I played on? Not so much, but it was fun to do it!

Much like the Adidas Tunits now. Do you really need that much specifications and customizations? Not so much, but it’s fun to do it!

So, to the Diadora Morpho’s. Shout out to a Cleat that shed light on the concept of customization, individualization, and versatility.

Also in my books, as cleats that founded the Spirrs Guys Catergory of “not-necessarily-all-so-necessary” Cleats.

8-Stud Replaceable

 

So, here’s a pair of cleat that truely gives you the benefits of a quality boot-comfort, feel, suppleness, touch, fit, and stability-and the versitily of a customizable cleat. The Morelia collection, great cleats as molded firm ground boots, great cleats as replacebale 6-studed cleats and even better cleats as an 8-studed soft ground cleat.
I can go on for days about why these cleats are so great, but Hey.. Mizuno is not paying me this, so I’ll keep it brief.
If you use Soft Ground Cleats often, or play in wet conditions often that require tall replaceable studs, and want a little bit more from your normal “6-Studs” but don’t want too much from “Tunits” this might be worth checking out. Very unique and innovative, yielding superb performance.