2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - May

Week #3/7

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

PSG

Paris St. Germain

On course for continued football success!

Player of the Week:
David Beckham

Don't miss the slide show highlights!

Beckham retires as the only English player to win league titles in four (4) different countries. Beckham started his career with Manchester United and also played for Real Madrid and the Los Angeles Galaxy and PSG winning titles with all those clubs. Beckham also spent two stints on loan at AC Milan

What a career! Check out Beckham's career statistics and amazing accomplishments HERE

International debut: 10/09/1996 Moldova-England
International appearances for England: 115
Interational goals: 17

Playing honors - Everywhere a WINNER!
Champions League winner: 1999
International Cup winner: 1999
6 English Premier League Titles: 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003
2 English FA Cups: 1996,1999
1 Spanish League Title: 2007
2 MLS Titles: 2011, 2012
1 French League Title: 2013

Move of the Week:

Video of the Week:

2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - May

Week #2/6

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

Real Madrid

The world's most valuable team...many say the world's BEST team!

Player of the Week:
Ricardo
Kaka

Kaka is the complete package. His vision of the game is unparalleled and his shooting ability strikes fear into opponents. No one in Europe can control the tempo like the Brazilian. He is a consistent assist-man who concludes every season with more than a handful of goals. Kaka's leadership skills allow him to shoulder any responsibilities that may arise. He's a man whose football career has been based on his quiet, out-of-the-spotlight life and strong religious convictions. Watch him work HERE or HERE

How about this? How to play like Kaka

Week #6 Theme:

Video of the Week:

2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - May

Week #1/5

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

Bayern Munich

Player of the Week:

Thomas Mueller

Germany's boy wonder at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he emeregd from nowhere to lift the Golden Boot as the tournament's top scorer, Thomas Müller started all ten of his country's UEFA EURO 2012 qualifiers and will be one to watch again in Poland and Ukraine. His eye for a goal is matched by his versatility, and he can operate anywhere in midfield or attack. Watch him work HERE

Week #1 Theme:

Crossing

and Finishing

In soccer, a cross is a delivery of a ball from either side of the field across to the front of the goal by applying various kicking techniques. A cross is there to provide a goal-scoring opportunity. Crosses are generally airborne but a ball along the ground from a crossing position may be a low cross or a pass.

Here are the key steps to crossing the ball in soccer:

• Step 1) Push the ball a little ahead of you at an angle so you avoid the defender and give yourself enough space to cross the ball without the defender being able to block the cross.
• Step 2) Look up so you can pick someone out with your cross.
• Step 3) Plant your standing foot right next to the ball.
• Step 4) Turn your hips at an angle to the ball.
• Step 5) Wrap your foot around the ball to bend it with the inside area of your foot.
• Step 6) Strike the ball with pace, although not necessarily like a shot, take just a little pace off the ball, but hit the ball with enough power so you whip the ball into the player you're picking out with the cross.
• Step 7) Cross the ball from any part of the field in the attacking third, you don't have to get to the endline all the time to cross the ball.

Watch this 3-part video on Crossing from the SKLZ Training Center

Video of the Week:

Here's a Crossing Masterclass from the UEFA Training Ground

May Camp

1st Session
5pm - 6:15pm
Walt Hundley field
(U-08 to U-10)*

*Age group assignments are tentative. Depends on enrollment

May Camp

2nd Session
6:30pm - 7:45pm
Walt Hundley field
(U-11 to U-14)*

*Age group assignments are tentative. Depends on enrollment

Week 1
April 5

BAYERN - Thomas Muller
Crossing and Finishing

2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - April

Week #4

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

Juventes

Player of the Week:

Midfield Master
Andrea Pirlo

Andrea Pirlo is a world class player, possessing dazzling feet and a phenomenal ability to read the game. He understands his team-mates and knows how and when to stamp his authority on proceedings. Oh, and he really knows how to take a free kick. Watch THIS

Week #4 Theme:

Unbalancing your opponent to attack 1v1 using the Step-Over or Pedalada

Ideal in one-on-ones, the step-over can keep the defender guessing until the final moment. With your standing foot behind the ball go to kick with the outside of the boot, but instead lift it over and across the ball and then kick it in the opposite direction with your other foot.

Step-Over Dribble Video If you think you're good try doing a Reverse Step-Over Video

Video of the Week:

Learn how to master the Step-Over Move from the UEFA Training Ground

2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - April

Week #3

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

AC Milan

AC Milan HERE.

Player of the Week: 

Mario Balotelli
Spectacular Strike!

Mario is one of Time Magazines World's Most Influential People
Mario Balotelli

Mario Balotelli always makes his mark on a match.
Perhaps no one in the game is having more fun.

Watch his debut HERE

Week #3 Theme:

Receiving and Scoring Under Pressure

Receiving Back to Pressure

1. Awarenesss - Look, listen and feel where the pressure is coming from.
2. Feints and fakes moving away from the defender
3. Positive fist touch (to the side or behind the defender)
4. Change of Speed
5. Quality of product

Skill of the Week: Scissors and Double Scissors. Watch the video below

Video of the Week:

Scissors and Double Scissors

2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - April

Week #2

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund scored twice in stoppage time, including through a controversial goal that looked to be offside, to beat Málaga and reach the Champions League semi-finals in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Check out the match highlights HERE.

Player of the Week: 

Mario Gotze

"It is not possible to stop Mario Gotze. There is no one playing better than him. He runs through opponents as though they aren't there. He has the same assets as Lionel Messi in terms of his technique and understanding of the game. He is an instinctive footballer - just like Messi." -- German legend Franz Beckenbauer on Gotze.

Mario knows how to finish!
Mario's Goals and Assists

Week 2 Theme:

Finishing

Everybody Loves to Score!

Shooting
In a soccer game, shooting is the act of kicking the ball toward the goal in an attempt to get the ball past the goalkeeper and thus score a goal for your team. The Soccer Training Guide website lists an array of effective shooting methods designed to improve your shooting. Among these is the instep drive, also known as the knuckle shot, which offers a lot of power when shooting at a long distance from the goal but is also difficult to control, typically resulting in a shot that goes far beyond where you intended. Other shots you can practice include the swerve shot, and the full, half and side volley shots.

Finishing
In soccer, finishing is a term used when you score a goal. Finishing may refer to effective shooting, in that the shot you take makes it into the goal. However, you can finish without shooting, as any physical technique you use to score - so long as it's within the rules - is considered finishing. For example, if another player shoots the ball toward the goal and you deflect it with your head into the goal, that's considered finishing even though you didn't shoot.

Principles of Shooting
According to the Expert Football website, there are three general principles involved in successful shooting: Accuracy, power and surprise. Many factors go into taking accurate shots, including your own skill level and placement of the ball. Meanwhile, the level of power you put into a shot is also dictated by a number of factors, such as how far away you are from the goal. The third principle is also the most difficult to learn, as it involves tricking the goalkeeper by making him anticipate a shot he thinks you will take - but don't - so he'll be unprepared for the shot you do take.

Video of the Week:

Finishing Technique with US National Player Ella Masar

2013 WSSC Champions League Spring Training Academy - April

Week #1

Training Themes

Team of the Week:

Barcelona

No team in the world passes and controls the soccer ball better than Barcelona FC! Watch this video for a brief demonstration of their famous Ticki Taka.

Player of the Week: 

Xavi Hernandez

Watch Xavi Work:
The King

The World's Best Playmaker!

Week 1 Theme:

Passing and Control

Passing and Control - There's a certain art to controlling the soccer ball. If you watch the best players in the world, they don't just control the soccer ball but beat players or surprise players with their first controlling touch. Their first touch is perfect and puts them in a position to dribble, pass or shoot right away.

The first touch of elite players enables them to move past the defender or give them time and space to make a pass or take a shot. Controlling or trapping the soccer ball is a crucial skill that all soccer players should master. But again, the key is to control the ball so you can make that next play. In other words, it's about controlling the ball away from your body.

Thigh: Top of your thigh used to deaden the ball. Used when the ball is hit high in the air. Try to push yourself by hitting the ball to the side when controlling the ball, as if a defender is trying to get the ball or even make a quick pass with your thigh when a ball is played to you in the air.

Chest: Use the upper chest region to deaden the ball. Try to control the ball to the side away from the defender or control the ball up and out in front of you if you have space, so you can make the next pass immediately.

Head: At times used to control the ball to yourself - bringing your head to the ball to deaden it. More often used to flick or re-direct the ball to a teammate.

Inside of the foot: The most common surface area used to control the ball; large surface area.

Outside of the foot: Often used when coming back to receive a ball so as to have your body between you and the defender.

Top of the foot: To deaden the ball from a high pass, goal kick, or punt. See if you can re-direct the ball to yourself to the side and move with the ball.

Controlling the Ball to the Side: Once again you want to make use of your body to protect the ball when receiving a pass from a teammate. Turn your body to the side, so your hips are not open to the person who is playing you the ball but to the side you want to receive the ball. Receive the ball at an angle with the outside of your foot.

Using the outside of your foot to control the ball is rare, most often used when you are tightly marked and checking back to the ball. Forwards sometimes check back to the ball at an angle so they can turn their defender. Normally you want to use the inside of your foot to control the ball so you can make a quick return pass. And, with the inside of your foot, you have the most surface area of your foot to control the ball.

Spin or turn to the right if you are going to control the ball and make a pass with your right foot and the opposite for your left. This way your body is always between you and the defender. Be conscious of controlling the ball a little bit in front of you so you can make a pass or take a shot with your next step. This is knowing what you want to do with the ball before you receive it.

Control the Ball Out in Front of You: Using your body to protect the ball, make use of the space given to you by controlling the ball out in front of you. When you have space, control the ball ahead of yourself to a degree so you can get your head up and make a play with your next few steps.

This is controlling the ball into the open space. If you are a defender and you receive a pass with loads of time and open space in front of you, say just after someone has switch the ball from the other side of the field, you can even control the ball five or six yards out in front of you so you are ready to attack the space and make your next pass. By doing this you can get your head up and see the entire field. You are not back on your heels but pushing the ball forward when you receive the ball.

Whether you control the ball to the right or to the left or straight ahead, when you have time and space, controlling the ball a few feet in front of you gives you a chance to play the ball quickly since your next step can be a pass or a shot, and the ball is not tangled up at your feet.

When you control the ball too close to your body you will have to take another touch to set yourself up to make a pass. This extra touch gives the defense another chance to adjust and close you down and you will miss seeing a teammate making a run since you are busy trying to get the ball out in front of you to make a pass.

First touch is the key here. Make it sharp and a little bit out in front of you so you can see the field and make the next play. Of course, there are exceptions, as sometimes you want to control the ball close to you if you have a defender right on top of you. This is where shielding the ball and using your body to protect the ball comes into play..

See how the top players in the world control the soccer ball in this amazing video: The Art of Ball Control

Video of the Week:

Passing and Control