Product WATCH: Strike Zone

February 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

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!

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Professional Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer by MySoccerGuide

January 11, 2011 By 2 Comments

Newest Player in the field of Individual Development, Youth Training and Parent Coaching .

MySoccerGuide Powered by Matt Avellino Enterprises is proud to present it’s newest Soccer training series. This innovative training method bring together progressive, step-by-step process for players, parents and coaches to systematically improve skills, tactic and physical fitness. The Spirrs Network is proud to announce the long awaited launch of MySoccerGuide: The Professional Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer.

What’s All the BUZZ behind the Training?

The highly motivating book was written for hard-working players trying to improve their game, dedicated parents looking to help their child practice at home, and volunteer coaches that are interested in becoming more knowledgeable in soccer and improving their team.

The book uses verbal descriptions, hand-made diagrams, and home videos to fully demonstrate every drill and technique of The 10 Stage Progressional Training Program. This training program begins with young players and systematically takes them through 10 stages of soccer development. It is a progressional training program because the players must learn the basic drills first in order to build on them and perform the more advanced drills. These stages are not only described to players, coaches, and parents through words, diagrams, and videos; the age specifications of each stage are included, in addition to every skill used during a game. All guesswork is taken out of the equation! Players who complete The 10 Stage Progressional Training Program will be playing soccer with technical mastery, tactical precision, and a high level of fitness.

SPIRReview and Who’s the Man behind the Method?

The author of this book, Matt Avellino is neither a professional author nor a professional publisher. He is a professional soccer player and coach. His specialty isn’t hidden in something he is not. The language used and the instructions demonstrated makes the series easy to understand and easy to use. The series is set up in a way very similar to how coaches speak to players or parents speak to children. It is down to earth and it gets to the point without confusing terminology or overly complicated training patterns. It gets the right information to it’s audience directly without complication. The series is direct and effective for players, parents and coaches to follow, as the valuable information can be used and implemented as soon as they leave the computer. I enjoyed the videos included. They depicted highly dedicated players with various skill levels, which is very motivating for anyone watching them. Overall, the instructions, videos and 10 step process easily breaks down the most essential parts of improving ones technical, tactical and physical ability as a soccer player.

For more information on The Professional Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer Please Check out MySoccerGuide’s Website at www.mysoccerguide.com

To Learn more about each of the 10 Step Developmental Method Click on the links below.

The Spirrs Network is a proud supporter of the MySoccerGuide in it’s pursuit to develop youth players across the country and around the world.

Filed Under: Software and Programs Tagged With: , , , ,

The Winning Formula

January 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

If you haven’t had a chance to take a look at this book or these set of tapes, you really have to find some time to do so. Really some remarkable information gathered from soccer’s history, cultivated and presents in the most direct and compelling way. This set of informational tapes not only sums up decades of soccer evolution and depicts the changing trend in soccer of the years, it also set the tone of the rapidly growing game in an era when soccer instruction seemed so indifferent. Truly, a break through in its time, providing the soccer world with invaluable technical and tactic instruction.

When I was in middle school, I remember when my father first brought home the set of VHS tapes and the book. Then, he often bought a lot of soccer material. Every week, I could expect a different package with books, tapes, or equipment to arrive in the mail. Exciting times for a kid who was always curious about new books, toys and things to watch. Anyway, I would watch these particular tapes and browse through the book meticulously taking notes on what I thought would be most useful to me at the time. Not the most typical thing to do during lunch time in the cafeteria at that age, but nonetheless it was fun and really helpful.

I would suggest certainly taking a look at this before you get any other newer tactical or positional DvD or book out there, because I think it truly sets a educational standard on what kinds of materials should and should not exist on the market. Although the series was created a couple decades ago, it still provides information that holds true to the game. Perhaps an updated Winning Formula is due? I’ll be waiting.

Tell Us what you think of the series. Leave comments for all or email Us here.

Below are links for each DvD in the series.
Soccer Winning Formula: Defending To Win DVD
Soccer Winning Formula: Scoring DVD
Soccer Winning Formula: Goalkeeping DVD
Soccer Winning Formula: Direct Play DVD
Soccer Winning Formula: Winning The Advantage DVD

And it you want to check out the book, click below.
The Winning Formula: Soccer Skills and Tactics
The Winning Formula: The Football Association Soccer Skills and Tactics

Filed Under: DvD's and Videos Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Coerver Goal 1-2-3

January 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Does “Goal 1-2-3″ resonate any fond memories for anyone? Or do you even recognize this title? I mean we see the words and combinations thereof in almost every soccer product and DvD out there, but this particular title comes from a very popular green cassette box released in 1989. Have you figured it out yet?
If your thinking the first set of training tapes by Wiel Coerver, you are right on. Yes, “Coerver” of Coerver Coaching. Now, world famous for his intuitive training method and his magnificent contribution to technical development, he and his team has expanded far from the realms of just a video and a book.
I have to say I really grew up on these sets of videos. Although then, with the limitations of technology and having to maneuver a VHS cassette deck to view area of interest on a video that had slow motion technology at best was a bit cumbersome, I did survive. I took notes and drew out little diagrams to remember technical moves and combination of more advanced skills. It was fun. I remember spending long hours rewinding, fast forwarding, slowing down and recording all the different little moves that I would later take on a small note pad to the park.
What a great set of technical instruction. This is one of the classics that leaves its marks on soccer’s establishing history of skills training and technical development. So, a great big thanks to this series’ contribution to my own development and I hope it continues to reach developing players throughout the world, inspiring them to be empowered by the great resources available.
More on Coerver Coaching, Training method, and skills development in later post. As for now, like many of the initial post. Cheers and special thanks. Stay tuned for more on everything Coerver.
If you want to get more information please visit Coerver Coachings Official website Here. Or, if you would like test the Coerver training method for a Free 30 day access, Click 30 day Pass.

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Starting with the “Small Ball”

January 5, 2011 By 2 Comments


“The ‘Magic Pill’ to finding your touch…”

With a clear and focused mind ready to start training and jump back into the rhythms of pre-preseason and pre-season, I decided to use the “small-ball” as the main equipment to sharpen up my touch. Many of you might have experience, worked with or seen people training with this “small-ball.” And if you haven’t tried it yet, and you are serious about training, developing and improving your touch, you certainly need to have this be apart of your training.

So, what is this magical method? Quite frankly, there’s nothing extraodinary about it. Simply put, you training with a ball significantly smaller than the current size ball you compete with. It can be a different size and a different weight or even a different material that effects the bounce or speed.

How to? and Why we do it?

Very simply, you perform all the same technical skills as you would practice with a normal ball, except with this different ball. This includes all technical skills from your feet all the way to your head: dribbling, passing/receiving, shooting, heading. Areas that small-ball training is particularly effective in is passing and receiving out of the air. This includes volleys, half-volleys, and work with the thigh, chest, and head. You can use anything from a skills ball (size 1.5 or 2), tennis ball, foam hand ball, or sponge ball be creative and make it challenging. I choose to use a rubber bounce ball that is smaller than a size 3 or a rubber size 2 ball that is weighted a bit heavier. This way the size, weight, and the type of bounce is altered. But remember when you get efficient and good with that this small-ball, be sure to change one of these attributes, so that you can maintain a challenging training method.

When training with a ball of different size, weight and bounce, you are subjected to a different kind of stimulus and therefore a different type of training. Your senses and perception of the ball are effectively heightened and you become more sharp. Concentrating on a smaller object will make your touch more efficient and more accurate.

So, if your looking to sharpen your touch and increase your accuracy try a small ball. And remember be sure to tell us how your working with it. Cheers!

What do you think of the Small Ball? 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!

Filed Under: Balls, Training, Training Aids Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Playing Past College: Is it Realistic?

January 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Spirrsblog.com November 4, 2010

So, What is the next step here in America? Every year thousands of Collegiate Soccer Players from each NCAA Division graduate with the same questions at heart: Where’s the next team I will play for? Some will find themselves trying out for local and domestic teams, some will settle for recreation leagues, some shoot for trials in the MLS, D1, D2 or PDL, some might seeks trials overseas, some might settle for weekly games on the Tele and stop playing indefinitely, but either way they have this uncertain feeling of “what next?”

Let’s take a step back and see how many players get to the MLS in America. According to recent research, only 1.6 percent of all NCAA male senior players will be drafted by a MLS team. So, you think, what about the 98.4 percent of players?

As I mentioned in my College Glimpse post, for some it is quite liberating to feel that another soccer chapter has completed, and of others a bit saddening to know how uncertain the future will look in terms of kicking the ball around. Juggling between taking a break from the game and traveling, finding a job and working right away, and pursuing teams and trying out, the possibilities are quite daunting.

When I graduate in 2008 I didn’t stand alone with this overwhelming feeling as to what I should pursue. I certainly wasn’t in the 1.6 percent of college seniors drafted to the MLS. What did I do? Like most, I took some time away from the game, packed my bags and traveled a bit. At that time I started Spirrsblog.com with my first post “Note from Spirrsguy” highlight this very feeling of where to and what to do next.

After spending significant time volunteering in South Africa, I returned to the states and sought comfort in what I was passionate about. Although I did not come back to playing on any professional team, at the time, being apart of the game through coaching and amateur teams was just enough to satisfy my need to be in and around soccer. As the weeks went by, the restlessness grew and returning to part-time teams and coaching kids really made me reflect on how much time I have left to play. The fire burning from within changed my mentality toward getting to the next level. It prompted me to write “Essential Components of getting to the Next Level” where I reflect on how prepared I was at that time to get signed by a pro club. The reflection made me realize a few very important aspects of becoming a professional and absolute thing I needed to have before I even consider trying out for any teams: 3 Pre’s; Pressure, Preparation and obvious Prefix (prior to).

Setting goals, applying pressure to be prepared and doing all in advanced will give anyone a good measurement of readiness and ultimately success. If you are one of the 98.4 percent out of college looking for direction, ask you self: how much do I want to get to any next level? Do I have to determination to apply the right amount of pressure on myself? Do I have and can I get what I need to be prepared? And to address the third “Pre” (doing it all prior to trying out): If the club of your choice invited you to a trial tomorrow, will you be ready?

Evaluating personal goals and determination will get anyone closer to get that break. Proper planning will get you to the do the door step and proper execution will get you through. Please Share your stories and experience with the Spirrs Team and we will highlight your personal “NCAA to Pro Start” story!

Next, we will look at Goal Setting and Finding the Right Level and Club. Stay Tuned.

Filed Under: Coaching, Playing Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Pressure of Preparation for Preseason: Essential Components of Getting to the Next Level

January 4, 2011 By 1 Comment

 

Spirrsblog.com April 22, 2009

So, a few months ago I really started playing with the idea of moving to another country and playing professional soccer for a season or two. I began doing some research and started looking into clubs, levels, locations, seasons and time-frame for the near future. But as I began to explore my contacts and do my research on this new chapter in my life, my father asked me one question that would smack reality in my face (which he has done very effectively throughout my development). He said “Even if we got everything set in place… flight, living, clubs and trials…will you be ready to leave tomorrow?”

Hello! The fact of the matter, and what he was hitting directly on the head was that I had just came back from a long trip to South Africa, having not played or trained for 3 months. Although, I felt confident and optimistic, the truth was, I was not ready. It’s funny how a player’s mentality can shift as they get older and more experienced. I remember growing up, preparing or season after season, team after team, try-out after try-out, and being very successful at each step of the way. And a big part of that was the pressure of preparation. I realize something strikingly similar about the feeling I had growing up each time I took playing to another level. Every time the pressure of preparation seemed to decrease a little. It was like getting use to taking tests, or feeling more and more confident and comfortable with preparing for something bigger. It was like preparing was a task you got better at and the better you got the easier, more efficient and more concise it became. Now, although I feel very confident and efficient with getting into playing shape, this feeling can not by any means replace actually doing IT.

Things to be aware of.

Now, although confidences and comfort in preparation can be a good thing, it should not and cannot replace the work and effort of preparation. There are 3 Pre’s in “pre-season” or “pre-tryout” that are absolutely crucial for success at any level.

The first “Pre” is the Pressure. There needs to be an initial urge, motivation, inspiration for training and getting ready. There needs to be a balanced and healthy level of pressure for success and failure that is the fuel for training. Because without the desire to succeed along with the aversion of failure, it is impossible to push to the next level.

The second “Pre” is the Preparation. There needs to be an effective and productive preparation that will train you in all aspects needed to get ready for the demands of the game. This involves “controlling the controllable’s.” Enhancing, training and preparing individual skill, technique, tactics, mental sharpness, nutrition, and lifestyle.

The third “Pre” is the simple Prefix. This is the simple meaning of “prior to,” “in advance of,” and “before.” This is a very easy concept, yet the one hardest to maintain. This takes discipline, consistency and planning. It is vital that time is allotted and maintained before hand so that you can maximize potential.

Together these three very important Pre’s can set the tone for success. The first two, pressure and preparation, sets the foundation for getting ready and the third, sets the tone and time frame for success. For anyone thinking about, or starting to get ready for preseason or any tryouts, here’s a bit of advise: “Control what you can, and do it with proper timing all in advance…Start early and be consistent.”

Stay tuned for Posts and Articles on My Training Schedule/Program. And Please…Share your current, past or future experiences about the Pressure of Preparation for Preseasons or tryouts, at any level. Cheers!

Filed Under: Playing, Training Tagged With: , , , , , , ,