The general consensus among many professional level youth trainers and coaches is that running two laps is not a sufficient warm up for your players.

What is sufficient then?

Many believe as I do that warming up with a ball is the best way to get players ready for training. Touching and using the ball at the beginning of practice promotes ball control for the duration.

How do we do this?

Fun repetition of basic moves used to control the ball. Consistently touching the ball with the inside, outside, laces, heel, toe and even sole of the foot helps players become used to the actual feeling of having it at their feet. That is the key to improving players comfort level with the ball.

Here is the best suggestion to improving this comfort level.

Aerobics Soccer Training, a new training method that combines ball control, agility training and fun, to push players to their limits and set the tone for the rest of training. The workouts are short 5-12 minutes, perfect for warm ups and set to music so players want to stay with it. It has been used with thousands of u-9 players all the way up to National Teams.

A.S.T. is great to finally have fun and skills blended together. Click here to learn more!

Coaches and Parents, this talk is for players 7 years old on up. The theme from the title is soccer etiquette (what everyone expects to happen on the field) and here is a sample of the dialog you can have with individuals or teams. Have fun acting it out.

“Who has ever been hit on the head by a ball that was missed kick?

This is a talk about proper soccer etiquette and what happens when accidents happen. The specific “ripping the ball” at someone kind of accident.

We’ve all been there. Not thinking about nothing, kicking the ball and bam, you unknowingly kick it at someone. It’s normally some adult that is minding his or her own business.

What do you do?

I know what you do. You grab your face and watch the horror as the ball smashes your coach in the head. Then the embarrassment kicks in and you plead and say your sorry, feeling like a donkey.

Where did you go wrong?

Yes, being careless with your kicks was the beginning and thinking ahead about what you are doing is important. But there will always be times where a ball gets away from you. So the real action is when the ball is in flight. No, not grabbing your face like “home alone,” but by seeing where the ball is heading and yelling “Heads Up.”

You are giving a warning!

Accidents happen on the field all the time. It’s minimizing the damage the accidents cause is what is important at that time. I can say through experience that getting hit in the head with a ball hurts in two ways. Yes the blow to your head hurts, but the thing that is really bad, is the shock of getting blindsided.

So don’t be paralyzed! Act and minimize the pain and problems you cause when the ball gets away from you.”

Good Luck and keep your “Heads Up”

Soccer Luminary
Kamal de Gregory

Playing in “The Big Time” and being a “Big Time Player” in soccer breaks done to “time”. The “time” is by way of “character building or decision making”. Sounds unrelated kinda, but the way to becoming an elite soccer player is if you can get a hold of your decision making when on the field.

This is why!

Are you a small cheap player or a big quality player? Even if you are four feet tall, you can be a big quality player, because you are looking to make good decisions constantly on the soccer field. It could be about making a pass or a defensive run, but you are trying to maximize your situation to achieve your team’s goals. You are trying to do your best to meet your team’s goals, which is normally to score!

You say, “Kamal, all you are really saying is work to make good decisions when you are trying to score a goal,” Correct, but I am also saying that it takes you making those good decisions every time you set foot on the field. Every time means games, team practice, guest playing, individual training, anytime you are booting up to ball. You should ball to a level where you are helping yourself out.

If you show up on the field and don’t do anything, the result ends in you deciding to do something else with your time. Sometimes that means just hanging on the block or your suburb and deciding to be an accountant or a gun runner. That is the potential player pool that soccer has now. So you can see how decisions are important. Regardless of those decisions, your not playing soccer anymore. For some very small reason, you’ve decided not to play. Yes, it is possible for you to say you don’t want to play anymore. I’ve seen many up and coming players decide to stop playing for the smallest of reasons, so yes, it could happen to you.

But this reason, really dealt with you didn’t improve enough to make it any higher. You stood around. You didn’t put in the time in making good decisions on the field and bam you aint on the field no more. At least not at the level you had picked out for yourself.

If you dreamed of playing in the Olympics or some pro team anywhere in the world. Hey, anywhere in the world you are playing soccer where flow and speed decrees who is the best.

So, what does it take to make good decisions?

It takes one simple thing, “Honest Actions.” Honesty in every choice you make. Decisions as small as telling the truth if the ball went out on you to as big as not cutting corners on a run. Sounds big? They are.

All of this honesty ads up to your character being that of a champion. Just think about it. A champion doesn’t need to lie about a ball going out or need to cheat a run. Champions don’t do that. They stay honest and positive and those traits create the winning character.

This is the character of a big time player, every great in the game somehow fits this description. I guarantee every professional and some amateurs have stories of a lot of work underneath their accomplishments.

All that hard work equals time spent with the ball actively doing something. Think about it, if you are on the field practicing good decision making the ball will be with you and you will learn from it. Once you put in the time, control and speed occur faster towards the end.

This kind of control builds character and the kind of speed generated assures players of your ability.

You work on it when you feel like it, which to someone who really wants to be good in soccer is normally everyday. Your touch will appreciate and your character will unify with one of a champion’s, no matter who you are.

So to be Big Time, you have to play Big Time, even when you are alone, which is a lot.

Good Luck and I will see you at the top of the Mountain. Maybe this will reinforce your climbing boots a bit.

Soccer Luminary
Kamal de Gregory

If you watched the Move of the moment last month, you would have learned the Old School Neck Catch. This month, we are teaching the Nu Skool Neck Maneuver.

So, for the New School here is the Nu Skool Neck.

For this move the same great touch needs to be there that gets the ball to your neck, but this time your head will not be lined up straight with the ball for a neck catch. This time you are going to welcome the ball in on the top of your shoulder, it doesn’t matter which one. What does matter is to create a movement that will allow the ball to roll across your shoulder blades to the other side.

So here are the steps:

1) Knock the ball over slightly over your head. Psst the ball can have some back spin on it so it will automatically travel across your back.
2) Connect with the ball on the top of a shoulder
3) Run your body to bring your opposite shoulder to meet the ball

And all that creates the Nu Skool Neck maneuver.

Good Luck and be on the look out for the next Move of the Moment.

To see a demonstration, please click here.

Do you think you have them? Super Powers are the ability to do something different. The Power to make something happen that normally does not. Can you control a soccer ball? That is something that is pretty hard for most people.

How do you normally get Super Powers? In all the stories, you are normally born with them or in Batman’s case, he has just developed them over time. What does that mean for you?

What that tells me is, whether you know it or not, you have super powers. This is because some players are born with super speed or super strength (these gifts are very different then others) and some can practice to the point that it appears they have super powers through their soccer skill.

Both ways gives you super powers because you show differently. Believe that you have these powers. Believe that you can train to move faster then anyone else. Understand that you can move and be as you believe. I believe I am just like everyone else in speed and skill or I believe that I can get to the ball quicker then anyone else and pass it immediately (that is super powers.

Which player do you think can change things?

There you go. You are believing. Remember, no one else can tell you exactly what your super powers in soccer are. You will have to find them. How can anyone encourage your super power to jump, if they don’t realize your super power is jumping?

As all super players, you must have courage to show your powers, even if someone laughs and says your powers are not good. Believe in yourself and the truth that you know. Don’t let another day go by without searching for your super edge. It is only you that really knows what it is.

Kamal de Gregory
Soccer Luminary
Virtual Soccer Trainer
Bahamas National Team

Parents, Coaches,

Please have any player who wants to play in College or Professionally understand this concept. If you or they have any questions, please contact me at training@4skills.com

Soccer Instinct

What does “soccer instinct” get you? It gets you two seconds extra on the ball. Without it, you still might get the ball, but how did you use those two seconds?

With an unfocused mind, the ball will simply bounce off your shinguard or you will be holding your head regretting that you weren’t quicker or smarter or more ready.

Welcome to the realm of soccer killer instinct. This is where everything inside you is focused on one thing. It could be to win a tackle or to find the back of the net. Somewhere in your mind you have come to a conclusion of, “Do this now! This comes naturally to everyone, whether we know it or not, but many people rarely use it. Only in case of a real emergency do they care to focus their mind enough to do something.

Well folks, a soccer player does that every day. Someone who has real potential in soccer, has the ability for the time that they are playing to make the ball do things. The things that you want the ball to do range from a simple 10 yard pass to dropping the ball onto a teammate’s foot after an air back heel.

Now remember this isn’t a try, you must make it. You are in the middle of using your killer instinct. So now multiple options are presenting themselves and you see the path clearly. Everything you are — is focused on accomplishing whatever you have set out to do in the moment, so failure or hesitation cannot hold you.

Then the outcome arrives and you see resolution. If what you attempted, was actually created. It could be a cross into the box or a finish off of the incoming cross with a volley. Each player at a high level use this instinct. That is how they get to high places, they are able to display this instinct of making. Professionals enjoy this state most of the time they are playing. Why?

It is because they need the two seconds to create that phenomenal goal or make a huge defensive stop. Think about it. All they need is two seconds, some players just one. You need soccer instinct if you want to go far in this game.

So back to work . To find out more about how to master this state of optimal performance. click here www.4skills.com/flow.html

All Smiles on the Field,

Kamal de Gregory

Hello everyone out there in soccer land. This is Kamal de Gregory back with another Move of the Moment. This one is called the Old School Neck Catch and it is demonstrated by Chamba Style himself Jason Utely at www.chambastyle.com

Most of us have the seen the Old School Neck Catch. This is where the ball is kicked a little above your head, then you position your head under the ball and lower your the neck down to catch it. This is a sweet move, that takes foot strength control, good timing and a restful sensation when receiving the ball.

If you have 6 Minute Soccer Skills Trapping, you would easily understanding the reason for this restful feel, for now though just feel it.

The biggest problem is when the ball is on its way down that you get your head down fast so there will be an open cushion for the ball.

You can practice by placing the ball on your neck with your hands, then dropping the ball on your neck as you make the cushioning movement.

That is the old school way, next month we will shift gears to the Nu Skool Way. To see the Old School Neck Catch demonstrated click here.

Good Luck and be on the look out for next move of the moment.

This issue of front volley we look at the role of being a substitute player on your soccer team. Now some of you might say, “I’m too good to be a sub. I always start.”

Wow, from that response it is easy to tell that you haven’t played soccer long or should I say long enough. Even if you have started for the last four years, still you have not played long enough. Whether it is tomorrow or five years from now, something will happen that will put you on the substitute’s bench. It doesn’t have to be because you are not good. What if you’re coming back from an injury and your coach decides to put you in at the end of the game to help regain your confidence and rhythm?” Circumstances can and will put you on the subs bench one time or another.

So once you’re on that bench, what should you think of? A sub must know how to be a factor! They must either know how to change the game or keep producing what the team is already doing without missing a beat. Why else are you there?

For sure it is not to bring the game down to a lower-level. Stop believing that the role of a sub is to receive a couple of mercy minutes at the end of each half. A subs job is to contribute with the skills and abilities that they have to continue the game moving in your teams favor. It is a positive contribution, maybe not at the rate of some of the other players, but positive none-the-less.

It is okay to ask yourself the question, “What if I am not as good as the player I’m replacing.” Well, since you are unique you will bring an aspect to the game that the player you replaced did not. It may just be with your effort, or it could be with your heading ability. It is your uniqueness that matters now, not what the team has just lost.

So, as you’re on the bench, find the spots in the game where you can contribute. Study the opponent that you are probably going to be playing against and find their weaknesses. Figure out how your talents can beat them. When you get on the field, execute your personal plan without hesitation. Of course if your coach has given you instructions you should carry those out, but at the same time you will need to overcome your competition as they appear.

With your plan and a focused mind you will play the role of a super sub not just a player who is being swept under the rug.

All Smiles on the Field,

Kamal de Gregory

Kamal de Gregory here, one of your Virtual Soccer Trainers, bringing you the insights that you need to excel in the game of soccer.

Let me remind you that this tip and hundreds of others can be seen in video form by logging into virtual soccer trainer.

This month’s tip is about the attacking thoughts of dribbling. It is short but very important, as is many of the tips you will find here.

We are going to look at the defender’s point of view and what he or she would like the attacker to do with the ball. So here is the question, “as a defender do you want the player with the ball to have the ball stopped and waiting for you or dribbling at you with speed.”

Most defenders will answer ball stopped and waiting. This allows the defender to attack the offender.

So as an attacker you want to do with the defender doesn’t like. That means dribble at them with speed, not speed as in out-of-control I’m running at you speed, but a hard confident dribble. A dribble that will allow you to control the ball but is pushing forward without hesitation.

You will see that the defender will have to make a decision because you have already made one, To attack! Defenders will be put on the spot and if they don’t act immediately you will have already floated past them.

Remember this tip is shown in video format in Virtual Soccer Trainer where soccer is fun to learn.

The boys from Munich totally dismantled Werder Bremen 4-0 on the road at the Weserstadion, warning the rest of the German steadies that this will be a season of maulings.

A Franck Ribery penalty (awarded for a foul on Luca Toni) before the break was followed by total annihilation in the second half. Involved in the buildup of the penalty, Toni added the second as the Italian target man settled fellow new-signing, Hamit Altintop’s cross and swept home in the box.

Ribery and Altintop linked up for the third goal as Altintop finished from the edge of the penalty area, and substitute midfielder Andreas Ottl added the bubbly as his thunder-strike from distance added insult to injury for the Bremen faithful.

The only other team to remain undefeated through the second weekend of the Bundesliga is Hamburg SV, who defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 on Sunday.

Hamburg will encounter 5th place VfL Bochum in an important early game this Friday while Bayern will match up against 11th place Hannover 96 on Saturday at home.

Unfortunately, German striker Klose will be out (also for the International friendly against England in the midweek) due to an injury sustained during his return to the Weserstadion against his old club, but with the power of Bayern, I don’t think that he will be sorely missed in this one.