Things I learned in Acc 255

1. How to start a blog
2. How to update a blog
3. Learned different blog post types
4. Soccer referees have to much influence on the game
5. Contingency plans are a must when dealing with technology
6. How to put up ads
7. How to submit my web and blog to a search engine
8. How to write articles for my web site
9. How to promote Amazon products
10. How to promote Click Bank products
11. How to set up a donation button
12. How to create a Cafe press page
13. Designing products for the cafe press
14. Learning to save material often and in different places
15. Creating new pages and adding widgets to my web page

Problem with Online Soccer Jerseys

This is a touchy area of soccer products because there are so many knock-offs available online. The first jersey that I had bought on eBay was a knock-off, but then again I did not know what to look for because it was also my first jersey purchase and my first purchase on eBay. I have come a long way since that first purchase on eBay. The rating on the feedback is a great way to look at that individual’s profile. This is one of the biggest things that I look for when buying a soccer product from eBay. Most of the sellers on eBay do not want to tarnish their reputation, especially if it is their only source of income due to a home business. A good way to look at this is to see how many products they have sold since being a member of eBay and if the feedback rating is close to one hundred percent. Most of the very reputable sellers will be in the ninety-eight or ninety-nine percent ranges. Asking questions to the sellers is a great way to find out additional information about the product that could not be inferred on the description page. The seller will usually sell the same item a number of times, so a great way to analyze the seller is to look at the feedback that the other buyers have left about the product. If the feedback has been good for that product, then it should be fine to purchase from that seller.

Promote Another Blog Post

I have been posting blogs and articles for about five months now and there have been some amazing posts that I have viewed. The Problogger site was one of the most important blogs that I have viewed since starting my own blog. There are blogs that help people setup their own blog posts. Many of the posts can help with everything from common posts to different ways that a blogger can enhance their own blog sites. There is a great section that helps people build a better blog in just one month. It is amazing that the individual has just been blogging for a few years. The individual is an Australian and is a full time blogger. I like the way that the blog is setup in a way that is easy to navigate. The blog site also features a great section of videos. There is an amazing section under the videos area on the blog site and it has several great sections in it. The section is named Popular at Problogger. This has the blog post of how to build a better blog in 31 days. It is split up into the Current Hits, All Time, and For Beginners. The current hits section is a self-explanatory section of the most read or viewed in a given time. The all time section is the top blogs that have been viewed since the beginning of the Problogger site. The “For Beginners” section is the area that has all of the helpful tips for those bloggers just starting their own blogs.

List Post of Great Soccer Players

Soccer has been player for many decades across the world. It is something that everyone can relate too and is such an easy game to pick-up. Whether it is with a bunch of friends, or playing on a club team, the game of soccer can be viewed as a global icon. I have watched and played soccer for most of my life and I have noted some of what I consider to be the best players in the world. Here is my list of the greatest soccer players:

1. Pele

Edison "Edson" Arantes do Nascimento (nicknamed Pele) was one of the top Brazilian players of all time. He had a career total of 760 goals in 541 matches, making him the top goal scorer of all time.

2. Zidane

Zinedine Yazid Zidane is one of the soccer greats. He helped his teams win the World Cup in 1988 and the European Cup in 2000. He is also noted for being a recipient three times as FIFA World Player of the Year winner. Zidane won the Golden Ball as the MVP in the World Cups of 1998 and 2006. He was seen as a foul player when he seen head butting another player on the pitch at was ejected from the game.

3. C. Ronaldo

He is probably my favorite soccer player to watch. Starting in Manchester United, he now plays for Real Madrid as a forward, and currently the highest paid player in the world. His speed and quick footwork make him a force to be reckoned with.

4. David Beckham

Most Americans can think of this player as one of the all-time soccer greats, but that is only because of his coverage as a MLS soccer player. This English soccer player started in Manchester United and now plays for the LA Galaxy. He is known for his exceptional skill of curving the soccer ball.

Soccer Moves by Soccer Greats!

The Elastico

This is a magnificent trick that can be seen by the great player Ronaldinho. This is a very difficult move to perfect, but once done, can become a huge threat on the field. The player starts to shift the ball to the outside of the body, and then at the last second the ball is pulled toward the inside of the body. This quick flick is the hardest part of the trick because that is what is needed to sell the trick. The move is one quick motion, and needs to be executed flawlessly to prove effective in a match situation. I found that performing the trick slowly is extremely beneficial to learning the move because it breaks it down into the proper steps for easier learning. If the player can sell the trick, the player can end up running around the defender and scoring an easy goal with this great move.

The Cryuff Turn

This is one of the simplest moves to perform, and could be perfected with either foot in about twenty minutes. It was created by the 70’s soccer player, Johann Cryuff. This move was great when I was playing soccer as a child and it still works great today. The player just approaches the soccer ball, pretends to hit the ball as hard as possible but instead the player pulls the ball to the opposite side of the body by moving the ball behind the standing leg. Most players will try and turn into the shot to attempt to block it but then they become off balance and are easily passed by the offensive player. The other outcome, that is usually more prevalent than the last, is that the player will jump in the air to try and stop the ball. Then the offensive player makes a quick move around the defender. Such a simple move that works wonders on the pitch.

Review Post

Soccer has been a dominant sport in Europe for many years. The selection of soccer players in the local area are pretty difficult to find because this sport in America is not as prevalent as it is in Europe. Those players that I do play soccer with on a regular basis usually play the video game FIFA 11 as well. This game has been improving every year for a while now. The feel for the game of soccer continuously improves with each new edition of the franchise. The most beneficial aspect of this game is the rules of the game that are followed. The people who actually play this game have a better understanding of the sport when they get out there on the pitch. It is mainly the obscure rules that they have a better understanding of once they play the game and then apply what they learned out on the field. The graphic have improved from the last installment of the series and the controls of the players are great. The passing of the game was greatly improved in the sense of timing of the passes. The goal keepers have improved from the last installment as well. It is harder for the players of the game to score on a lob shot that was very easy to do in the last version of the game. Heading the ball has become more controlled with the player that is receiving the pass to make the shot more direct and to the designated area that the player aimed for.

Analyze a Top Blog

There are many great soccer blogs available for the public on the internet. Many of the better ones that I have seen are a hodge-podge of many different soccer topics that can interest any reader on the internet. I was looking on the internet for a blog to review, and I stumbled upon the blog called soccer blogs. I believe that I wrote an article about this blog on the recommended readings article on the Illinois Soccer University website. I did not recall this nifty little widget that was on their site the last time I visited. I have noticed that blogs have a tendency to start to run long if there are too many blog posts on the page. Readers do not want to have to scan the entire page for the information that they are looking for, so this website has a widget that helps readers look at all the information on the page. It is a little pop-up screen on the bottom of the page that lists the other blog posts that are below the viewers screen at any given time. As the viewer scrolls down the screen, the widget continuously updates the information on what is again below the viewers screen so that individual does not have to guess as to where a particular blog post is located. If it is not at the bottom in the widget, then the viewer knows that it is on another page. The tabs on the blog are set in a way to categorize the leagues into different sections. This blog also has an impressive list of other blogs that are related to soccer. In general, this is a great soccer blog with many great features on the site.

Sneeze Post

I have done many posts on this blog now, and things have never been better for the Illinois Soccer University blogger site. Most of my posts have been references to different aspects of the game of soccer. This is a listing of what I consider to be the best of the Illinois Soccer University blogger site.

1.Practice Games: World Cup and Knockout
This blog post consists of how to play the popular practice games of Knockout and World Cup. Other games can be viewed on the Illinois Soccer University website in one of the article pages.

2.Beach Soccer
Beach Soccer is commonly linked to the aspects of indoor soccer with fewer players and a much smaller playing field. The players do not wear shoes while playing this version of soccer. Substitutions are unlimited in this version as well.

3.Away Goal Rule
I liked this post because of the incite that it provides this unique rule in the UEFA league. The post also discusses the area of aggregate scoring in soccer.

4.Bend It Like Beckham
This post references the "how to kick a soccer ball" at the Illinois Soccer University website in one of the article pages. The post describes the way a soccer ball travels in the air with curve on the ball. The physics on the ball is known as the Magnus Effect. This is what causes the spin on the soccer ball, and other objects that have spin in the air.

5.The Big Dive!
I enjoyed writing about this subject in soccer because it is the biggest pet peeve of mine. The area of diving needs to be addressed in this area of the game for the sport of soccer to improve. This post discusses the penalties for diving are much too lax for the players committing this foul act.

Shielding the Soccer Ball

As I watched a soccer match today, I realized how much the players use their body to shield the ball. I do not see this that much watching the MLS league, but it seems more apparent in the UEFA league. The UEFA league seems to pass the ball more than in the MLS league, where players in this league seem to make more individual runs and challenge players more. I experienced shielding of the ball more and more as I progressed in soccer. Shielding is a very important aspect of the game of soccer. Shielding involves the player in control of the ball positioning themselves between the ball and the opposing player to protect the ball. This is the first step in shielding the ball, the position between the ball and the opposition. Then there is the aspect of controlling the ball with the foot that is farthest from the opponent. The back foot should have most of the player’s weight to keep the player off of the ball. If the opponent comes around the other side, the defender of the ball should switch sides of their body. It is important to keep you head up to look for available options to put the ball. This technique is used a lot on defense where the ball is usually being played towards the net. If the pass has a bunch of pace on the ball, the defender usually can get in-between the ball and the strikers, to have the ball go out of bounds. I usually notice this because I have this done to me on the pitch when playing the forward position.

Soccer Jerseys

Soccer jerseys are a great way to look and feel like a professional soccer player. I have many soccer jerseys, and I can say that they are much more comfortable that playing in a t-shirt. The materials that Adidas makes are able to breathe when the player wears it, and it does so far superiorly to that of a shirt. I have purchased all of my soccer jerseys on the internet and most of them from eBay. The selection that eBay has to offer is enough for almost any fan of soccer. If a person is looking for the real jerseys that the players wear, the best place to go would be the official site of that organization and it will cost you a premium on top of everything else. The replicas that Adidas makes are high quality as to say that I have not had any of the lettering on any of my jerseys, other than one that was purchased used, that have come off of the jersey. The one that did come off was due to improper cleaning techniques that I used in caring for the product. I would generally look at the pictures of the listings for these jerseys to make sure that they look authentic. The Adidas brand jerseys, for soccer replica jerseys, all have a tag on the bottom that is unique to the product line. That is a good indication that the product is authentic and not a knock-off. If the price seems too good to be true, then it usually is too good to be true.

Trapping a Soccer Ball

If you ask any soccer player about passing soccer ball, they will probably tell you that it is one of the most important aspects of the game. I would agree with them, but I would also add that trapping the ball is a close second place. Trapping the ball is one of the easiest areas that a player can work on. I would say that it is the best way to help a player in the game of soccer, because the first touch that a player has on the ball is often the best way to keep possession of the ball. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen the ball being given up on a poor trap by the player. One of the easiest ways to practice this by a player is to hit the ball against the wall. When the ball comes back to you, trap the ball with your foot and then repeat. Also try trapping the ball with the chest by kicking the ball into the air and controlling it with the chest. The thigh is another place that the ball is usually trapped when the ball is in the air but is too low to control with the chest. A ball that is bouncing a lot will require a judgment of where the ball where land next and then hitting the ball with the side of the foot to control the ball. By becoming an expert in trapping the ball, you will see better plays developing on the pitch.

Passing the Soccer Ball

Passing a soccer ball is one of the most important areas that a soccer player can utilize. If you ever view a professional soccer game, they pass the ball like it is on fire and no one wants to hold onto it for that long. It is obvious that better teams pass the ball more and are usually better towards the later parts of the game when the other team is too tired to compete at the level that they were at in the beginning of the game. Good passes eliminates the need for wasted energy on the pitch, especially when the game is nearing the end when plays need to be executed. The basic passing is done with the inside of the foot and sometimes with the outside. The inside of the foot pass uses the inside arch of the foot and should be struck in the middle of the ball. If it is hit on the bottom, that ball might travel through the air and be a less accurate pass. The hips should rotate a little and the player should follow through with the shot the same way a golfer finishes a swing. If the body is leaning forward, the player will be more likely to keep the ball on the ground. The outside of the foot pass is usually done when the player is on the move and wants to move the ball to the other players while continuing the run. This is usually done by using the lower half of the leg, but for added distance the player can take a full swing on the ball.

How to juggle a soccer ball

Soccer ball juggling is a great way to get a feel for the ball. The practical applications on the field are very limiting for a juggling expert. Juggling the ball will be a great way to attain better balance for the player. The best way to start juggling is to kick the ball with the dominant foot to begin with. Having the ball bounce in-between kick is a good way to get the timing of the kicks down. Once that is done, then the player should increase the number of kicks in the air before the ball hits the ground. The player should keep the kick to one foot at a time. If the player is able to become proficient in this area, then the player should start switching between the dominant foot and the non-dominant foot. This will aid in the players ability to stand in one area for a very long time. The next step that a player can take is learning how to start the ball off the ground with their feet. The ball should be pulled back with the dominant foot and then scooped up in the air. The way that most players do this is then kicking it with that dominant foot again and then alternating between feet. I have learned how to catch the ball with my dominant foot and stall it between my ankle and shin. I have been having some trouble with my other foot in this area because of the balance that it takes to do this move.

Corner Kick

I have always liked taking corner kicks when playing soccer. I am not the tallest player on the field, so I feel that my kicking and placement abilities far outweigh my ability to score on a corner kick. I do however only like to kick on the right side of the field because I am a left footed kicker; therefore I have a better chance of curving it towards the net. I was playing a pick-up game a few weeks ago where I curved the ball enough to where I scored without the aid of the other players, though this was not my intention when kicking the corner kick. Corners can be taken in really only about two ways. The first being the kick toward the net into the goal box, and the other being a short pass to a teammate. The shorter pass usually allows for the offense to increase the angle of the shot on goal. This was best seen with the controversial call on the Manchester United vs. Chelsea game in the 08-09 season. One of the players, Wayne Rooney went to the corner and acted like he was going to kick the ball. He put the ball on the corner circle any gentle touched it to the outside of the circle with his foot, essentially taking the kick. Another teammate then took the ball and passed it to the center, resulting in a goal. The player who headed the ball in was not awarded the goal because the play even tricked the line referee and was thus not called as a goal because a corner kick has to touch another player before it is touched by the initial corner kicker. Even though the corner kicker, Rooney, initiated the play, the referee did not see it so it was assumed that the other player touched the ball repetitively before it was touched by another player.

Nutmeg a player

It is always great seeing a player being megged or nutmeg as it is referred to. A nutmeg is simply playing the ball between the defenders or opponents legs and continuing towards the designated target. It is a simple move but it is a great spectacle when it is successful. I do not like to perform this move that much because if the player commits to the move the risk of failure can be devastating to the team. There are much better moves that can be performed to achieve the same results. The shock to the crowd or other player may not be as great with a different move, but the risk of losing the ball is less. The only time that I consider doing this move is when a player is off balance and rushing towards me. Another time that I try to utilize this move is going down the sidelines. If I fail to do the move properly there is a better chance that the ball will go off of the opponent’s legs and grant the team a throw-in. In general this is a last ditch effort to beat a defender for me, but it looks great when it is successful. It is great to do this when the opponent least expects it, and the player does not attempt the move too often so that the defender might expect it. Overall, this move is great to see but it is like the heel pass in that there are better options that can be used in its place to achieve the same results without the added risk.

Heading the ball

I am always surprised by the techniques that some soccer players use when playing soccer. Some are not even considered technique because they were just never taught the proper method of hitting the ball. The most prevalent is when a player does not know how to head the soccer ball. I have seen players head the ball on the very top of the head and even close their eyes which just make it harder to position the ball during a header. Properly heading the soccer ball will aid in possession of the ball and can help setup other plays when kicking the ball is not an option. To properly head the ball, the player must arch the back when the ball is traveling towards them. The key part to a header is to hit the ball with the forehead. Keeping a firm stance and having your feet spread apart will help make contact with the ball. Keeping the arms out when the ball approaches is a great way to keep your balance and to keep the other players away from the approaching ball. If the player needs to jump, the best time to hit the ball is at the apex of the jump. Striking the ball from the waist, moving the upper part of the body forward, with the neck and head moving at the same time will generate the most power in the header. Once this basic technique is developed, the player can begin to modify it to better help the team. I usually like to flick the oncoming ball off my head to a teammate to make the fastest transition possible. I am still working on the diving header, but it is taking a while to get down. Hope this helps with heading the ball.

Soccer Camp

I remember when I was a kid going to a few soccer camps during the summer. These camps helped us learn basic soccer moves and game play. There is a great soccer camp for those who a looking to gain an edge just before entering college. The website link is http://www.no1soccercamps.com/ . The two locations are in Georgia and in Connecticut, so it is somewhat difficult for anyone to use their services, but other types of programs are available closer to individuals that offer similar camps. The program is two weeks long and has many different drills that hone player’s skills to that level that college coaches are looking for. The camp is designed for strikers, but the other camp that is offered is a camp for goalies. In the camps, the two sessions come together to face off against the top strikers and the top goalies. One of the topics in the first week of the camp is called placement shooting. I have been working on this for the past semester and it has improved my striking abilities tremendously. There is no need to strike the ball with all your might when proper ball placement is much more effective. The camp also has a world cup tournament which I had talked about in a previous blog as a great way to practice soccer. In the second week the camp has a practice called “when in doubt…shoot”. This drill seems very valuable because shots on goal are always needed and wanted by any team.

Practice Games: World Cup and Knockout

Like most sports, practice is essential to becoming a better player. Playing soccer in scrimmages is my favorite way to practice because it shows what the player would be like during a regular game. There are many practice games that have a set focus that are very enjoyable to play, and most of these games do not require two full teams in order to play them. The first game can be played with a few players but the more the better. I know this game as knockout but others have different names for it. Each player in the game has a ball that they dribble around. There is a set grid that the players run around in to stay in play. Once the game start, the object is to keep your soccer ball within the grid for as long as you can while trying to kick the opponent’s balls out of the grid. Once there is one player remaining, the game is over and that solo player is the victor. This practice game focuses on ball control and defensive techniques. Another game that I play is called the World Cup. This version of soccer has many different rules but most are the same. There are teams, usually two per team, against a goalie with all the teams trying to score a goal. The game begins with a throw-in from the goalie, sometimes multiple balls are used. Then you and your partner try to score on the goalie before the other teams score and advance to the next round. The rounds end when there is a team left who gets knocked out. This continues until the last round with two teams against each other. Variations might require a set number of passes before being able to shoot; others require that the team shout out the name of the country they represent before shooting the ball.

Beach Soccer

I am a big fan of traditional outdoor and indoor soccer. I was unaware of most other versions of soccer because they are not that prevalent in the United States. I have played futsal a few times, but it is hard to find people who want to play or even know how to play that variation of soccer. I was roaming around on the ESPN website that streams live games of almost any sport that is being broadcast and I stumbled across beach or sand soccer. I watched a few matches and was quite excited about this variation of soccer. It was more representative of indoor because there are few players, usually five, but it seems even more extreme and labor intensive than indoor. The field is short and the goals are even larger so the opportunity to score is always prevalent. The scary part is that the players do not wear any type of shoe to protect their feet. They are allowed to wear an ankle guard though. This could prove beneficial to the amateur player who might be inclined to strike the ball using their toes. It would force the player to address the ball properly, rather than a manner that would prove hazardous to the player. They have three periods like in hockey and the lengths are in twelve minute intervals. They are allowed an unlimited amount of substitutions which seems awkward for any variation of soccer. Overall this game seems like a great way to stay active if you liked close to a breach or ocean.

Goalie Gloves

I do not play goalie that much when I play soccer. I usually feel that it is just common courtesy to take that position at least once during the match because no one wants to play it in the pick-up games. I was playing a few weeks ago and one of the other players brought his set of goalie gloves. I tried them on and they made playing goalie much more desirable. I felt that my hands were more protected from damage and my confidence went way up. Just wearing these gloves added a physiological attribute to the player wearing them, even if the protection was minimal. It made me want to do this blog about goalie gear because I personally do not know that much about the specific gear that is available for that position. I did some research on the ways to purchase new gloves.

1. Find a glove that fits your hand.

It is important that the glove does not move around on your hand. You also want to be comfortable so that you are concentrating on the goalie position rather than how uncomfortable your gloves are.

2. Research the different glove brands for their grip.

I am sure that there are reviews of goalie gloves by brand that can assist you in purchasing a glove that fits your specific needs.

3. Try the gloves on.

It may be hard to do this if you are purchasing these fro the internet, but reviews could aid in this area.

4. Spine or No Spine.

There are gloves with reinforced plastic on the backside of the gloves to aid in protection from the fingers from moving to far back when a ball is kicked at them. I did not know that this technology was available until a few days ago. This add-on would be beneficial to those who are worried about deflections off the tips of their fingers.

5. Glove Durability.

This is important if you are looking to make your purchase last long. Once this product is broken, it can be hard to fix and usually will need to be replaced.

Products that aid in performance

There are multiple factors that can help a soccer player perform better in the game of soccer. I perform better when I am comfortable. Comfort and functionality comes before the way that a product looks, and that should be on the mind of anyone looking to get better at the sport. There are a few products that I have seen and purchased that have helped my performance on the pitch. The one product that I came across today is called a soc-r-loc. It is a small band that goes around the ankle area of the player on the outside of the socks and shin guard. The purpose of this elastic band it to keep the shin guard in place throughout the match so there is no need for adjustment when the game is in progress. I have not personally used this product, but it is a big inconvenience when I have to stop playing soccer to adjust my shin guards that keep shifting throughout the match. It is just a good idea of using these products that can assist what the player already has at their disposal. There might not be a need to go receive new equipment if there are cheaper alternatives to improve the gear that one already possesses. This brings me to the next product that the website sells, which I have tested before. This item is an elastic band that goes over the soccer cleat and provides a smooth, even surface for the soccer ball to make contact with. This product is a little different because it has Velcro instead of an entire elastic band. More expensive cleats have a guard over the laces that act like this product except this product is much cheaper that buying new cleats that have this guard over the laces. The website where these products can be found is at http://www.socrnut.com/.

The goalie position and web promotion

The goalie position is a very difficult position to fill in the pickup games that I play in, largely in part because players, including myself, do not know how to play the position that well. I would say that I am not horrible at the position, but I would rather play another position that could be more beneficial to the team and one that I am more familiar with. I do see that some of the players are afraid to use their hands, which is one of the biggest mistakes that could be made for that position. Another problem that arises is the player does not address the run from the striker if it becomes a one on one situation. They will just freeze in the net and it is an easy score for the striker. Instead, what they should do is close in on the forward to decrease the chance of scoring; it also encourages more mistakes in the striker because he now has to choose much faster whether to shot on the net or to dribble around the goalie. This is discussed more in my article "How to properly play soccer positions" at illinoissocceruniversity.webs.com. While there you may find other links to sites were one can buy great soccer products and read soccer reviews. There are links to other blog as well as an article about other readings that would benefit any soccer player. Other articles can assist players in shooting a soccer ball and different techniques that can be used to add variations to your shooting arsenal.

Adidas Samba Shoe

            I have already done a blog on a few outdoor soccer cleats so now I want to take a look at the indoor side. I have played just as much indoor soccer as I have played outdoor soccer. Indoor soccer is a great way to stay in shape during the colder months in Illinois. You do not need as many people to play indoor soccer as well. The shoes are very important in indoor soccer as they are in outdoor soccer. Some players choose to just wear regular tennis shoes, which are fine for the most part, but indoor shoes are designed with soccer in mind. I currently have two pairs of indoor soccer shoes. They are both made by Adidas and work great. The one brand of indoor shoe that I wear as a tennis shoe and indoor shoe is the Adidas Samba shoe. This is probably one of the most popular soccer shoes that Adidas has ever made. They have been making this shoe for a very long time in a variant of different colors, but the traditional black with the three white stripes is still the highest selling version of the product. The bottom of the shoe is like nothing that I have seen before. The texture and material that the sole is made out of seems to be what is behind the amazing grip that the shoe has. If you ever have the chance to play indoor soccer, go pickup a pair of these Adidas Sambas, you will not be disappointed.

Throw-ins

I have been playing in these pick-up games for the past three years now and the players who have been there since the beginning have all been developing their skills. New players are getting better as they play, but there are a few areas that they lack in. One of those areas is the throw-in, and that is the topic of this blog. The throw-in is a critical part of resuming the game once the ball goes out of play. When we play the pick-up games, the other player’s just brush off the fact that the player does not know the concept behind a throw-in, but it is important if they ever compete in a competition. The throw-in has multiple parts in it. The player must keep both feet on the ground; I prefer to drag one foot because it adds additional distance to the throw. The ball must be thrown over the head, not like a pass of a basketball. The player needs to be facing the field, but that does not seem to be a problem with the group. It is important that the ball touches another player, especially before entering the goal. The goal will not count if the ball is directly thrown in the net, it must touch another player before it can count. The ball must also make contact with another individual before the person who threw the ball in can touch it again. If these steps are practiced, the individual will become much better at throw-ins.  

Kingsley Soccer Service

            There has been little discussion about the service side to Illinois Soccer University website. Those individuals who can make it to Bloomington/Normal can take part in the pickup games located at Kingsley middle school. Players are able to join a group on Facebook to receive updates on pickup games, and if the location has to change at the last minute but in general the location are at the middle school. Anyone can join the group on Facebook and is welcome to come out and play in the pickup games. Any level of player is welcome from beginners to expert players. Games are usually played with eight on eight, but sometimes the games are smaller than that. If that is the case then there are hurdles that the group usually sets up and the game is played without goalies. This game is great because in order for a team to score, the shot must be very accurate. This is an area that seems to be lacking in most of the players that play in this group. The group played yesterday and a majority of the player’s shots were way off target. These shots were just pure power shots without accuracy in mind. How is the ball supposed to make it to the back of the net if it is not shot on goal? This is a big problem with many of the players, but the feedback is great because there are so many different players with many different opinions to help the players get better at soccer.

Away Goal Rule

There is a big problem with the scoring in the game of soccer. I found out about this rule a few days ago. It is called the away goal rule, but before I go into that, the audience has to be familiar with aggregate scoring. Aggregate scoring is usually decided when two teams have won lost or tied a similar amount to where both teams should advance in a playoff or tournament. If Team A beat Team B, then Team A would advance to the next level of play. This covers a wide array of scenarios except for one. This is where both teams, A and B have both played each other and both of those matches resulted in a tie. This is where the away goal rule comes into play. If a match was played at the home field of Team A and the result was a score of 0-0. Then the next match was played at Team B’s home field with another tie of 1-1. The rule is that the winner is the team that scored the most goals away from home, so that Team A is the winners because they scored a goal at Team B’s pitch. This is the rule with the UEFA league, but with other leagues usually decide the victors be a shootout. I like the idea of the shootout because it is then up to the players to decide who the better team is rather than have it decided by that ridiculous rule. It seems like the idea of icing a football kicker before he kicks a field goal.

Loosening Up

I have been playing soccer for some time now and it has been going really well especially since I injured myself as a freshman playing indoor soccer. The shoes that I had just purchased had great grip and I took a turn that was too great for my leg to handle so I pulled my hamstring. Since then I have pulled the same hamstring about three more times and it has been almost seven months since the last pull. Every now and again it feels as though my leg wants to go out and reinjure itself but luckily that has not happened. That is why it is so important to stretch before any physical activity. I have lost a lot of mobility in that leg because of the injury but it has slowly been increasing in flexibility since the last pull, but that is due largely in part to stretching before I begin to play soccer. The two leg stretch is great to increase the level of flexibility in the hamstring. Also the hamstring split stretch is a great way to increase flexibility for the hamstring. For the best results of stretches, it is a good idea to do this three to four times a week. Remember to hold the stretch for twenty to thirty seconds and be sure not to bounce up and down while you stretch. Shake out the limb and joint then repeat the process for two or three sets. Doing this will greatly increase flexibility and help prevent unnecessary injuries.  

Bend It Like Beckham

          I mentioned on my soccer website how to kick a soccer ball. There was a brief section that talked about curving the ball that I just touched on. There are many applications where this shot is very helpful. It can provide a sense of illusion to the goalie because it might take a while for the ball to start to curve. This could result in a goal if there is enough rotation on the ball. The curve is explained by the physics term called the Magnus effect. This is where the object is spinning in one direction and it creates an aerofoil around the object that causes it to move in the direction that it is spinning in. If the object was in something like water, the effects would be easier to visualize because it create a whirlpool type of effect. The new 2010 FIFA match soccer ball was criticized for not having enough Magnus effect capabilities which made it more difficult to judge and caused the ball to travel a farther distance. This soccer strike is achieved by kicking the ball off center with a great amount of force to attain the proper amount of spin on the ball. If the ball is hit on the center, it cannot attain that spin and will not curve. It must be struck on the side to spin enough to curve. This is very valuable in corner kicks where players have the ability to score without any other player interaction simply because they were able to put so much curve on the ball.  

The Big Dive!

I wrote a blog the other day that included judgment calls in the game of soccer. I spoke of a hand balls and the honesty/dishonesty that surrounds it. The one factor in professional soccer that really gets me going is the exaggeration of a foul. What is known as taking a dive, diving, or simulation has become a big concern in the soccer world. The referees can only see so many things at one time on the pitch. They have to make calls that they might not have seen to clearly and if they see a downed player holding a body part in agony, the closest opposing player stands a good chance of receiving a yellow card. These dives can be exaggerated to the point that where they were initially contacted was not the area that they were nursing when the referee comes to make a judgment. The players could have been running side by side and one of the players would contact the other player in the chest. It would not be that uncommon for that player to then take a dive and roll around on the ground holding his face. Simply by looking at the review of the play, which the referee does not have access to, the player is obviously putting on a show. What the leagues are now starting to do is they will give the player who is faking the injury a yellow card if they can prove that they were simulating the foul. It is one way to make the players think twice before they try to pull a fast one on the referees.

Clearer Judgment with Sensors

There has always been a problem with judgment calls in soccer. I really like to play fairly. If a ball clearly touches my hand or I have a better view on the ball that I am dribbling that goes out of bounds, I will make it known in the game that I am playing in. It does not feel right if there was a benefit that derived from an action that should have stopped the play and turned the ball over to the opposition. Well there is a ball that has been engineered with a sensor in the center of the ball to help with those calls. It is currently inside one of my premium match soccer balls and is used in the English Premier League. The ball has a sensor that is stabilized in the center of the ball, and it almost looks like it is held together by rubbery threads to keep it in the center. It must remain in the center of the ball to accurately assess if the ball truly broke any designated plane. This has come into question many times when a player strikes the ball and some fraction of the ball passes the plane. The whole ball has to pass the line and with these sensors on the balls, it makes calling a goal that much easier for the referee. There is a wire that goes around the goal that creates a magnetic field that can retrieve the signal of a sensor in the ball. Other applications can be seen with an application of this wire around the whole field to help justify if a ball goes out of bounds.

Promoting Other Blogs

As far as blogs go, soccerblog.com has a good selection of soccer videos of games that are being played all over the world. It is a great way to keep people up to speed on most of the major games in the world. There are many great highlights and recaps of games so the general public does not have to watch every game to know the general ups and downs of the soccer match. News about soccer matches are also described in short articles on the blog and comments are available for every post on the site. Most of the blog is comprised of these videos of soccer matches, so the content is mostly visual. It seems that most of these videos can be looked up on youtube.com, but it is a great way to see different games other than just ones from the English leagues.

            Another great blog that the public can look into is soccer blogs.net. They have many great reviews on new soccer products and general information about what is going on in the soccer community. They have a couple of reviews of the concave pt+ that I did a review on in my blog. They also did a review on some soccer video games which is a great way for people to pick up on soccer updates for the current team’s roster. These games are able to do live updates for players who might have been trade to keep the teams accurate. It is also a great way to pick up on the rules of soccer if one is not familiar with them all. A few minutes of playing one of these games, and the player will start to pick up on those rules that might have been a little obscure to them.

Juggling

It may be really cool to juggle when there is not a game going on or if it is just for fun. Juggling the ball does not have that many practical applications when a game is actually playing, but it is a great way for a player to increase their handling of the ball. It also works on that player’s control of the ball when it is in the air, which is a great asset when the ball is passes off of the ground. This generally occurs in the long pass across the pitch because there are just too many players on the pitch between you and the player across the field to play the ball on the ground. That first touch on the ball when it is played through the air is very important. Most of these balls will require the players to fight for the header, but if it was a good enough pass to the player, then the control of the ball is critical. It is an easy pick for the opposition off of a player because the ball just bounces too far off the player’s foot on the long pass. For the most part, the ball is the safest on the ground where the player can easily change the direction of the ball, as opposed in the air where it usually has a set path that the opposition can easily pick up on and intercept. Another application that juggling does have on the pitch is that one can generally get the ball up in the air, under control, in a very short amount of time. Other than that, most of juggling is for show.

Ouch...

I have been playing soccer for a while now, and I remembered a time when I was playing a game in little league. It was just before the game was about to start and the referee came over to all the players. He did this every game to ensure that none of the players had any jewelry on that might hurt the other players or might get lost on the field. He would also check to see if we all had our shin guards on. I have always worn shin guards and it wasn’t until recently that I have stopped wearing them. I did not realize how vital they were for the legs until I got kicked in the shins just a few weeks ago and I was not wearing any protective gear on my shins. It was the worst feeling not just if anything hit the area but even just by walking the shock of each foot step sent pain right to the area that was hit. It only took one time for that to happen so it is important to wear shin guards. There are two types of shin guards. One type is a full guard that usually has a band that attaches to the ankle and a strap that goes around the back of the leg. The other type is what is known as a small guard. This type usually just rests on the shin and is supported by the player’s socks. Either one is fine, but whichever one is more comfortable for the user is the one to choose. Whatever you do, just be sure to wear them when playing, that’s the reason you purchased them!

Concave PT+ Soccer Cleat

I wrote a blog not too long ago about the F50 Tunit cleats because I have been looking at them for some time now and I am in the looking in the market for a new pair of soccer cleats. I was looking around the internet today when I stumbled across an unusual soccer cleat unlike any that I have seen before. The soccer cleat is called the Concave PT+. One complaint, that seemed a useless one, was that the logo of the brand came off somewhat quickly because it did not have the glossy protective finish that most soccer cleats have over the logos to protect them from rubbing off to fast. I am really curious to see what these cleats feel like and how they perform. One can see from the picture that the name obviously speaks for itself. The sweet spot on this cleat is HUGE! Not to mention that it is concave in shape. This part of the cleat covers the lacing of the shoe completely which is very important for the shoe to be uniform in its shape. The makers claim that the cleat adds an additional 15% power boost when kicking the ball. It does make sense that this could be true because of the enlarged sweet spot on the cleat. Other reviewers suggested that this was accurate when they did make contact with the enlarged sweet spot. I hope that there is a pair at the local sporting goods store so that I may try a pair of these cleats out. Have a great day and try to play some soccer!

Futsal

As I have stated before, soccer has many variations that can make it a very unique sport. There are variations in games that focus on shooting skills, teamwork skills and ball handling skills just to name a few. The last one, ball handling, is very important to the game of soccer. The first touch is a crucial part of becoming a great soccer player. The first touch is exactly what it sounds like; it is the moment in time when a player first comes into contact with the ball after something like a pass or shot. I know that I sometimes have problems with the first touch on the ball, usually because of a sense of urgency to get the soccer ball out of, or into, a scoring area. There is a soccer ball that is referred to as a futsal ball. It is a very heavy soccer ball and a little bit smaller than a typical soccer ball played with by adults. This ball can also be referred to as a low-bounce ball or a reduced bounce ball. This requires the player to make a more accurate pass to his or her teammates. Just like indoor, the number of players allowed on the pitch is reduced. This version of soccer requires a lot of physical activity on the player’s part, because the number of players is only 5. Control and technique will favor the player in this game because the room for error is much higher in the game of futsal. Go ahead and check out futsal if you are serious about increasing your skills as a soccer player. It’s getting close to 5:30 so I’m going to go play some soccer out on the quad. Get out there and play some soccer everyone!!!

F50 Soccer Cleat

I have always been amazed at the volume of different soccer cleats that are in the market today. I have bought multiple brands of soccer cleats and I am looking into purchasing another set soon because mine are definitely past their prime. I ran into a soccer cleat that has actually been around for some time now, but I will have just started to do research into the product. The soccer cleat is made by Adidas and it is called the F50 Tunit. This soccer cleat is different from most cleats because it is so customizable. What the player is actually purchasing is a kit to build a soccer cleat custom to that player’s preference and field condition. This is like the build a bear for soccer cleats. The standard kit comes with three parts: the upper, the chassis and the studs.


The Uppers.

The upper is the boot part of the shoe. There are many different types of uppers that a player can buy to customize his or her set. They also range from synthetic leathers to standard leather.

The Chassis

This goes into the bottom of the upper and then connects to the studs. There are two chassis that I am aware of that comes with the set. There is the standard chassis and one that is designed for extra comfort and support.

The Studs

These are the really unique feature of these soccer cleats (and a real selling point for me). The set comes with soft, firm and hard studs. These can be changed with the Adidas stud wrench that comes with the starter kit. When the conditions of the field changes, so can the players studs to keep playing at a superior level.

Adidas Jabulani FIFA World Cup 2010 Official Match Ball Review

Since the world cup is now over, and has been for some time now, I have decided to do a review about the Adidas Jabulani FIFA world cup 2010 official match ball. The ball is priced similarly to all other world cup balls, around 100-150 dollars. Sometime one can get lucky off an eBay listing like I have done. I have purchased two world cup soccer balls thus far (one from 2006 and this most recent one from 2010) and I must say that they are both incredible soccer products. I have not played with better quality soccer balls in my life. There were major differences between this world cup soccer ball that with the previous version.


The Design

The Jabulani match ball had a revolutionary panel design unlike any ball I have seen before. A standard soccer ball has 32 octagon panels that are stitched together. This ball has 8 panels that are thermally bonded together so the ball is virtually seamless. The other Teamgeist match ball from the previous world cup had 14 thermally bonded panels. The other difference with the Jabulani world cup ball was the texture of the outer casing of the ball. There are multiple raised groves on the surface of the soccer ball. This is what Adidas called “Grip ‘n Groove.” It is suppose to enhance the contact made with the product and assist the balls flow through the air.

The Controversy

There was controversy with the ball from multiple players, from goalkeepers to strikers; the ball was unpredictable in the air. Here is a link to a youtube video of some players kicking the soccer ball. As you can see the ball dips and dives in a manner that is very uncommon to traditional soccer balls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEaQCHBIyFs&feature=related

Outdoor or Indoor?

Soccer is a very versatile sport. There are many different versions that can be played with many unique rules that can be incorporated into the game to make it more interesting. I would say that the two main versions of soccer would be to section them into indoor and outdoor soccer. Each of these sections has a different set of rules and guidelines that the players must abide by.


The Field of Play and Players

The typical outdoor field is 70-80 yards wide and 100-120 yard long. The outdoor field generally accommodates 11 players per side of the field. The younger the player, the smaller the field and player count will be. In my post yesterday about ball sizes, the lager fields will use the size 5 soccer ball and then the smaller sizes would go down accordingly. Indoor fields are generally 80 feet wide by 200 feet long. This is a much shorter field, but there are usually 5 players per side in an indoor soccer game. The out of bounds area is not existent in an indoor game, with the exception that some leagues count that off of the ceiling will result in a change of possession. This makes playing the soccer ball off the wall a fun ability for indoor soccer. The goals are usually built into the walls of an indoor soccer field.

The Pace of the Game

Indoor soccer is generally a more fast paced game than its outdoor counterpart. That is partially due to the fact that there are no out of bounds areas in an indoor field. Thus, there is a less likely chance of the game play being halted at any given time.

Hope that explanation will clear up any differences if outdoor vs. indoor soccer. Have a great day!

Soccer Ball Sizes

I was playing a quick soccer game the other day with a few friends when I noticed that the soccer ball was not performing the way a traditional soccer ball would perform. It seemed smaller than a standard size soccer ball that adults would play with, so I took a closer look at it when we switched sides after the half way mark in the game. The ball was different because it was a size 4 ball rather than a traditional size 5 ball which is a little bit bigger in diameter and weight. The individual did not notice the difference because a size 4 and a size 5 are actually pretty close to each other. If he did not notice that the ball was different then there are others who might not be able to tell the difference either. The size of the soccer ball ranges from a 1 to a 5. The first two sizes (1 and 2) are generally used for promotional type events. There are even collectable versions of most major premium match soccer balls that someone could buy online that are in these small sizes. The other three sizes (3, 4, and 5) are for regular soccer play. Adults play with the size 5 soccer ball and it generally goes to the smaller soccer balls with the younger aged players. Generally the size 4 soccer ball is targeted towards the 8 to 12 age group. Finally the size 3 soccer ball is to be used for children up to 8 years in age. I hope that can clarify any predicaments that others might come across in the future. Have a great day and play some soccer!

A soccer ball that will light up your day!

I was reading a Reader’s Digest a while ago when I stumbled on this cool new soccer ball. A company called Soccket designed this one of a kind soccer ball that can be used for electricity. Some people have seen the flashlight that requires no batteries to run. That product just needs a few shakes to charge the coils to produce energy. This soccer ball derives its energy in the same manner. When the soccer ball is kicked or passed, there is an internal coil that stores that energy for later use at home. This inductive coil produces and stores electricity from the metal slug moving back and forth from repeated kicks and passes. This product was designed to satisfy the need for electricity in countries where the general population does not have access to electricity, like Africa where 95% of the population is living with no access to electricity. The user can play with this soccer ball and then use its electricity for a light to illuminate his or her house. The product claims to offer lighting for 3 hours for a LED light with only 15 minutes of actual soccer play. The current plug-in is for DC objects (direct current) only. The team who is designing the soccer ball has future goals of making it available in AC (alternating current) objects as well. The product is currently still in beta testing so there is still some time before the product will be available for the general public. The company also claims that the ball will cost around the price of a higher end ball, but with help from select organizations, they will be able to deliver the product to less privileged individuals for the cost price. For more information about the Soccket soccer ball, you can visit their website at http://www.soccket.com/

Getting Started

This is my first blog post ever. My name is Brandon and I love to play the great game of soccer. I am from Tinley Park, IL. I have been playing soccer for about 15 years now and I do not plan on stopping any time soon. I am currently attending Illinois State University and I'm trying to promote more soccer play in the area with local pick-up games. Most of those who play in the pick-up games are enrolled in the college, but it is open to anyone who is willing to play. I am always happy to see new faces out their on the pitch (field). Hopefully some of these posts will help others become more aware of the game of soccer. There are many different aspects to the game and I would be glad to help anyone who has any questions about soccer. I really want anyone who is interested in soccer to just urge them to get out and play with their friends in a little scrimmage or a quick pick-up game. There are many local fields in the Bloomington/Normal area that have open soccer fields. Even local park districts have leagues and tournament for all ages and skill levels for individuals to partake. I have tried many different products, some that were great and some that were not too good. If I am unable to answer your question, I should be able to lead you to another site that might have more expertise in the area that the question is directed towards. I am looking forward to future posts. It’s always a great day for soccer. In fact, I’m going to go play a pick-up game in a few hours with some buddies of mine.