<![CDATA[SoccerSkillsPro.com: Latest News]]> http://www.soccerskillspro.com Wed, 08 Sep 2010 10:34:57 +0000 <![CDATA[Do You Want to Sharpen Your Shooting Skills?]]> http://www.soccerskillspro.com/news/3/Do-You-Want-to-Sharpen-Your-Shooting-Skills%3F.html Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:34:33 +0000 http://www.soccerskillspro.com/news/3/Do-You-Want-to-Sharpen-Your-Shooting-Skills%3F.html All the dribbling skills in the world won’t amount to much if when you go to score, your shooting technique isn’t at 100%. Everything from your posture, to the angle of your foot, and your position in the field can affect your success in a multitude of ways.


Image Source: Reuters

Before you even start to practice your actual shooting skills, however, you’ll need to have a firm understanding of when to shoot…

Go Window Shopping

Not only should you focus your body and your concentration on the ball, but you should also keep your eyes on the field. Learn to spot openings through which you can shoot. Sometimes these windows of opportunity come and go in a fraction of a second.

In particular, look for situations where you can bend the ball around the defender and into the corner of the net. You are using the defender as a shield, so that the goalie doesn’t get a good look at the ball and where it’s going. You don't need to beat the defender to get a good shooting opportunity. Use the defender to your advantage to block the keeper's vision and take a quick shot.

There will be many times when your shot will end up being deflected by the opposing team and break through the crowd and slip into the goal. Or, a teammate may get a touch on the shot and throw off the keeper, with the ball going completely the other way, the keeper diving one way to save the shot, and the deflection putting the ball into the opposite corner.

In general, you want the opposing team to be worried about whether or not you’re going to take a shot. If there’s a small opportunity or even a half chance, take it with confidence, even if it's a long range shot or a shot into a crowd. When the defense thinks you’re going to shoot, they’ll rush towards you, allowing you to make a pass to an open teammate. You can also set them up for a fake shot. If they’re so used to you shooting, the simple impression that you’re going to shoot or even just a subtle cut of the ball will put them off.

Placing the Ball in the Net

These are easy opportunities where you simply redirect a cross or pass into the goal with the inside of your foot. As with playing a simple pass, you don't need to hit the ball with much power. Keep your ankle locked and almost re-direct the ball into the open space, low to the ground to the right or left of the keeper. Make sure you follow through. You don’t have to hit the ball with power, but you want to make it a crisp shot and not a flaccid, lazy strike.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you can pull it off and score, try new ways of shooting or putting the ball on goal. As a young player, don't be afraid to take chances, although you should build up your basic foundation of skills and do the simple things perfectly before trying to make heel passes or bending the ball with the outside of your foot like Roberto Carlos.

 

Source - Soccer Training Info

]]> All the dribbling skills in the world won’t amount to much if when you go to score, your shooting technique isn’t at 100%. Everything from your posture, to the angle of your foot, and your position in the field can affect your success in a multitude of ways.


Image Source: Reuters

Before you even start to practice your actual shooting skills, however, you’ll need to have a firm understanding of when to shoot…

Go Window Shopping

Not only should you focus your body and your concentration on the ball, but you should also keep your eyes on the field. Learn to spot openings through which you can shoot. Sometimes these windows of opportunity come and go in a fraction of a second.

In particular, look for situations where you can bend the ball around the defender and into the corner of the net. You are using the defender as a shield, so that the goalie doesn’t get a good look at the ball and where it’s going. You don't need to beat the defender to get a good shooting opportunity. Use the defender to your advantage to block the keeper's vision and take a quick shot.

There will be many times when your shot will end up being deflected by the opposing team and break through the crowd and slip into the goal. Or, a teammate may get a touch on the shot and throw off the keeper, with the ball going completely the other way, the keeper diving one way to save the shot, and the deflection putting the ball into the opposite corner.

In general, you want the opposing team to be worried about whether or not you’re going to take a shot. If there’s a small opportunity or even a half chance, take it with confidence, even if it's a long range shot or a shot into a crowd. When the defense thinks you’re going to shoot, they’ll rush towards you, allowing you to make a pass to an open teammate. You can also set them up for a fake shot. If they’re so used to you shooting, the simple impression that you’re going to shoot or even just a subtle cut of the ball will put them off.

Placing the Ball in the Net

These are easy opportunities where you simply redirect a cross or pass into the goal with the inside of your foot. As with playing a simple pass, you don't need to hit the ball with much power. Keep your ankle locked and almost re-direct the ball into the open space, low to the ground to the right or left of the keeper. Make sure you follow through. You don’t have to hit the ball with power, but you want to make it a crisp shot and not a flaccid, lazy strike.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule. If you can pull it off and score, try new ways of shooting or putting the ball on goal. As a young player, don't be afraid to take chances, although you should build up your basic foundation of skills and do the simple things perfectly before trying to make heel passes or bending the ball with the outside of your foot like Roberto Carlos.

 

Source - Soccer Training Info

]]> <![CDATA[Landon Donovan Debut for Everton ]]> http://www.soccerskillspro.com/news/2/Landon-Donovan-Debut-for-Everton-.html Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:06:59 +0000 http://www.soccerskillspro.com/news/2/Landon-Donovan-Debut-for-Everton-.html Landon Donovan today made his first start on loan at English Premier League side Everton, capping a confident debut with an early assist.

Donovan’s pinpoint corner allowed the diminutive Leon Osman to head Everton in front in the 12th minute. An enthralling game, played in heavy snow at the Emirates in North London, ended 2-2, with Tomas Rosicky scoring an injury-time equaliser to deny the American a winning start.

Donovan’s right-footed outswinging corner allowed Osman, at 5 foot 8 one of the smallest players on the park, to out-jump William Gallas and power home a header from eight yards out. Wearing the No.9 shirt but deployed on the right of an adventurous five-man midfield, Donovan’s pace and trickery gave Armand Traore a difficult afternoon. He flew past the young Arsenal left-back at one point early in the second half, before eventually being crowded out in the penalty area. David Moyes brought Diniyar Bilyaletdinov on to replace Donovan in the 68th minute, the American still searching for full match-fitness since his arrival in England.

Arsenal midfielder Denilson cancelled out Osman’s opener with a deflected first-half drive, before Steven Pienaar’s outrageous chip put Everton back in front. Substitute Tomas Rosicky’s 93rd-minute equaliser leveller kept the home side in the title race on a day when only two Premier League games went ahead due to heavy snow around the country.

Donovan will spend two and a half months with Everton, returning to LA Galaxy in time for the start of the MLS season in March. David Moyes has hailed the United States record scorer’s goal threat, while Donovan’s dead-ball ability should also prove an important weapon for an Everton side possessing the height of Marouane Fellaini and the predatory instincts of Tim Cahill – not to mention Leon Osman.

The 27-year-old joins countryman Tim Howard on Merseyside. The US shot-stopper moved to Everton in 2006, on an initial loan which later became a permanent deal, after three years at Manchester United.

]]> Landon Donovan today made his first start on loan at English Premier League side Everton, capping a confident debut with an early assist.

Donovan’s pinpoint corner allowed the diminutive Leon Osman to head Everton in front in the 12th minute. An enthralling game, played in heavy snow at the Emirates in North London, ended 2-2, with Tomas Rosicky scoring an injury-time equaliser to deny the American a winning start.

Donovan’s right-footed outswinging corner allowed Osman, at 5 foot 8 one of the smallest players on the park, to out-jump William Gallas and power home a header from eight yards out. Wearing the No.9 shirt but deployed on the right of an adventurous five-man midfield, Donovan’s pace and trickery gave Armand Traore a difficult afternoon. He flew past the young Arsenal left-back at one point early in the second half, before eventually being crowded out in the penalty area. David Moyes brought Diniyar Bilyaletdinov on to replace Donovan in the 68th minute, the American still searching for full match-fitness since his arrival in England.

Arsenal midfielder Denilson cancelled out Osman’s opener with a deflected first-half drive, before Steven Pienaar’s outrageous chip put Everton back in front. Substitute Tomas Rosicky’s 93rd-minute equaliser leveller kept the home side in the title race on a day when only two Premier League games went ahead due to heavy snow around the country.

Donovan will spend two and a half months with Everton, returning to LA Galaxy in time for the start of the MLS season in March. David Moyes has hailed the United States record scorer’s goal threat, while Donovan’s dead-ball ability should also prove an important weapon for an Everton side possessing the height of Marouane Fellaini and the predatory instincts of Tim Cahill – not to mention Leon Osman.

The 27-year-old joins countryman Tim Howard on Merseyside. The US shot-stopper moved to Everton in 2006, on an initial loan which later became a permanent deal, after three years at Manchester United.

]]> <![CDATA[World Cup Draw Results]]> http://www.soccerskillspro.com/news/1/World-Cup-Draw-Results.html Mon, 11 Jan 2010 22:47:30 +0000 http://www.soccerskillspro.com/news/1/World-Cup-Draw-Results.html The World Cup draw for the United States was not even so bad when England popped out first from the magician’s hat. Then the draw kept getting better for the Yanks as Algeria and Slovenia materialized.
This means the United States has a decent chance to advance to the second round, as of now, early December. But let’s discuss this again in mid-June — or in half an hour, when more sober thoughts intrude.
There is even less doubt about the most difficult group in the World Cup. That has to be Group G, with Brazil, Ivory Coast or Portugal doomed not to advance to the second round — with all due respect to North Korea, of course.
This is a brutal group. Look at it this way: Either Kaká or Didier Drogba or Cristiano Ronaldo will be getting a longer midsummer rest for his weary body, while he jealously watches his colleagues move on. That first match between Ivory Coast and Portugal is huge because one of them could be down 3 points before even playing Brazil. Or they both could play defensively out of fear, to make sure of gaining a point. Either way, Brazil looms ahead. Group of Death, no debate.
From the first act of the draw, the luckiest team seemed destined to be France, being drawn with South Africa, the host team. No host team has ever failed to advance in 18 previous World Cups, but South Africa was — and still is — likely to be that nation.
France did not do all that badly with its two other opponents, Mexico and Uruguay. This is particularly true considering that if any of the three officials on the field in the last qualifying match had been competent or even perceptive regarding Thierry Henry’s blatant two-touch handball, then France would not be in the World Cup, and Ireland would be. This theme is not going away.
Within a few minutes, the United States wound up with even more good fortune than France. Algeria just did slip into the World Cup final tournament, getting by Egypt. And while Slovenia did escape huge and rich Russia, Slovenia is the smallest nation in this World Cup, if that means anything. Historically, the United States has trouble with sturdy, disciplined European sides. But this is a good draw for the United States.
For that matter, it was already feasible for the United States to gain a point in its opening match. England is one of those nations — Italy is another — that seem to lug a disproportionate amount of angst into the group play of the World Cup. Their lineups and dispositions just seem to take awhile to settle down. England sometimes develops the urge to make an egregious foul in plain view of the ref. So when the United States hooked up with England for the first match, I was thinking this could be the chance to steal a point. Look at what the United States did to Italy in 2006, and almost did to Italy in 1990.
Any way they look at it, the Americans cannot feel fate or nefarious plots by FIFA are against them. They have a chance to play more than three games in South Africa in six months. But they will have to earn it in the first three games, starting with England.

Source – New York Times

]]> The World Cup draw for the United States was not even so bad when England popped out first from the magician’s hat. Then the draw kept getting better for the Yanks as Algeria and Slovenia materialized.
This means the United States has a decent chance to advance to the second round, as of now, early December. But let’s discuss this again in mid-June — or in half an hour, when more sober thoughts intrude.
There is even less doubt about the most difficult group in the World Cup. That has to be Group G, with Brazil, Ivory Coast or Portugal doomed not to advance to the second round — with all due respect to North Korea, of course.
This is a brutal group. Look at it this way: Either Kaká or Didier Drogba or Cristiano Ronaldo will be getting a longer midsummer rest for his weary body, while he jealously watches his colleagues move on. That first match between Ivory Coast and Portugal is huge because one of them could be down 3 points before even playing Brazil. Or they both could play defensively out of fear, to make sure of gaining a point. Either way, Brazil looms ahead. Group of Death, no debate.
From the first act of the draw, the luckiest team seemed destined to be France, being drawn with South Africa, the host team. No host team has ever failed to advance in 18 previous World Cups, but South Africa was — and still is — likely to be that nation.
France did not do all that badly with its two other opponents, Mexico and Uruguay. This is particularly true considering that if any of the three officials on the field in the last qualifying match had been competent or even perceptive regarding Thierry Henry’s blatant two-touch handball, then France would not be in the World Cup, and Ireland would be. This theme is not going away.
Within a few minutes, the United States wound up with even more good fortune than France. Algeria just did slip into the World Cup final tournament, getting by Egypt. And while Slovenia did escape huge and rich Russia, Slovenia is the smallest nation in this World Cup, if that means anything. Historically, the United States has trouble with sturdy, disciplined European sides. But this is a good draw for the United States.
For that matter, it was already feasible for the United States to gain a point in its opening match. England is one of those nations — Italy is another — that seem to lug a disproportionate amount of angst into the group play of the World Cup. Their lineups and dispositions just seem to take awhile to settle down. England sometimes develops the urge to make an egregious foul in plain view of the ref. So when the United States hooked up with England for the first match, I was thinking this could be the chance to steal a point. Look at what the United States did to Italy in 2006, and almost did to Italy in 1990.
Any way they look at it, the Americans cannot feel fate or nefarious plots by FIFA are against them. They have a chance to play more than three games in South Africa in six months. But they will have to earn it in the first three games, starting with England.

Source – New York Times

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