Thursday

The far reach of C.B.A. Soccer Blog

Besides promoting the camp / clinic business side of C.B.A. Soccer, I like to use the website to pass along information that is useful to coaches, players and parents alike.  Most of our views come from the United States as would be expected, but we truly have a global audience.  In the last few months we have tracked hits from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and other locations.

I am both grateful and thankful for the wide ranging exposure C.B.A. Soccer is receiving. We must be doing something right, but do not wish to rest on our laurels.  Here's your chance... If there is a soccer related subject you would like us to cover, please feel free to suggest it to us by using the comment section at the end of this article.  I will also entertain the idea of "guest columnists" if you have a soccer related subject you would like to write on.  This would include alternative or dissenting opinon to what we have published here if written in a respectful informative manner.

Thanks for a wonderful 2012 here at C.B.A. Soccer and we look forward to yourhelping us make 2013 an even better year!

Tuesday

 
 
MERRY
 
CHRISTMAS
 
May the PEACE of our Lord be with you all.


THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS


ON THE FIRST DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

A goalkeeper seven foot three

ON THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

 F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three. 

ON THE EIGHTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE NINTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three.

ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Ten foes a-sleeping, Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three

ON THE ELEVENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Eleven players playing, Ten foes a-sleeping, Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three

ON THE TWELFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME

Twelve months of soccer, Eleven players playing, Ten foes a-sleeping, Nine diving headers, Eight perfect crosses, Seven days of Graham, Six Penalty kicks, F  I   V   E   G O L D EN  GOALS, Four running wings, Three center mids, Two scoring forwards and a goalkeeper seven foot three

 

Wednesday

Coaching High School

It is the off season for high school soccer here in Ohio. There are a few job openings in the area and I have been approched about some of them either to judge my interest, make a recomendation or called upon as a reference for someone else.

Coaching high school athletics is difficult. Long hours, little pay and politics make this an endeavor of love for the game and the athletes you work with.  It is not for every coach.  And as I have learned there are distinctive differences between coaching boys and coaching girls.

Great People, Great Things

Something new today.  I am providing a link to an article writen by someone else. It gives a glimpse into one of the finest college basketball programs in the country. Written by former player, David Merritt whose own story is well worth reading, he titles the article Great People, Great Things. The blog is known as Goodness Determined. Enjoy the read!

http://goodnessdetermined.com/great-people-great-things/

Yes, you will be seeing quotes from this article on this site!  

Friday

REACT & RID for December 14, 2012

REACT moment for December 14, 2012

Have trouble gaining separation from defender and with receiving under pressure.

Real Time:
Did I remember to keep myself between the defender and the ball.
Did I "check away" or drag the defender away from where I wanted to receive?
Did I "check to" or go to meet the ball?
Did I receive sideways on so I could execute a self-pass?

Immediate:
When next receiving the ball under pressure make sure you know where the defender is by making light physical contact with him.
Get the defenders momentum started away from where you wish to receive.
Know before you ever touch the ball how you will solve the pressure you feel. Self-pass, change the path of the ball away from pressure

Delayed:
Play the ball against a kick-back wall or bench and practice receiving with a self-pass.
Play the ball against a kick-back wall or bench and practice using your first touch to change the path of the ball away from pressure.
Add a partner to the above exercises to add "live" pressure.  Pressure should be light to begin with and gradually increase as confidence is gained in receiving under pressure.
The above activities work great with 3 people - a passer, a receiver and a defender.

Wednesday

My apologies

My apologies for the lack of posts over the last couple of weeks. I became very busy breaking down film of high school players looking to be recruited. What was originally a couple projects ballooned into double that amount. The weather here has been cold, cloudy and rainy, perfect weather to sit in front of the TV and computer's watching 12-15 hours of high school game film each day! The sun is brightly shining and the temperatures are rising once again so my routine is returning to normal. Besides... the projects have been completed!

Back to REACT and RID shortly.

I am also going to be presenting passing progressions from notes I took years ago while one of my sons was training under Mr. Ken White. This particular set of progressions is also on tape / DVD conducted by another coach. I know I have it around here somewhere and when I find it again I will give credit where it is due. 

Finally, having just invested over 120 hours watching various high school teams I will be writing about some general observations. It really does begin with individual skill sets but tactical awareness is just as important. One point of emphasis I hear repeatedly from coaches is the need to play faster, Unfortunately the secondary accompanying complaint is that their teams are to nonathletic. Pish posh! And I will explain why.