The Golden Age

Once upon a time Cuba was one of the best teams in the Americas. By the early 1930s, the Island finished first at the I Central and Caribbean Games. They defeated Costa Rica and Honduras. Subsequently,between July 4 and July 19, 1938, Cuba’s national soccer team became the best Caribbean team in soccer history when they placed seventh at the Third FIFA World Championship in Paris, France’s capital city. During that event, Cuba had defeated Romania. However the Island was not see again in the World Cup.

Country Profile: Cuba

This Spanish-speaking nation is located in the Caribbean Sea. It covers 42,800 square miles; Latin America’s largest individual island. There are at least 12 million people. Havana is the country’s capital. Politically, Cuba is a dictatorship.

Since 1959 Cuba, formerly a colony of Spain, has become a Marxist dictatorship. In practice the Island is governed by Castro’s family. Hereafter, the nation’s dictator Fidel Castro Ruz was elected as the first pro-Soviet leader in the Western Hemisphere. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the USSR (now Russia) provided heavy military and economic aid.

Unfortunately it is one of the most brutal human rights abusing states in the Third World since the 1950s. Due to this, the Cuban tyranny is an international pariah on the world stage, along with Iran, Zimbabwe, Burma and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (also known as North Korea). According Reports Without Borders, Cuba is one of “15 enemies of the internet on Earth”. For political and economical reasons, over 250 athletes, including Olympic champs, had left the country since 1990, the highest of the world’s developing nations. Economically, it has become heavily dependent on Venezuelan aid since the 2000s.

FIFA World Cup

Cuba’s national team has not qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 1938. In recent decades, many Caribbean and Central American nations, from El Salvador and Honduras to Haiti and Trinidad Tobago, have already outpaced Cuba. By the early 1970s, the Salvadoran team was the winner of the men’s soccer CONCACAF Tournament and because of this it was one of the 16 teams in the FIFA championship in Mexico City. Hereafter, twelve years on, El Salvador, along with Honduras, took part in its second men’s World Cup in Barcelona (Spain). For the first time in 44 years, Haiti, a virtual unknown before 1974, secured its place in soccer history when they competed at the X World Cup in Munich, West Germany. From 1990 on, Costa Rica has participated twice in the global event. At the FIFA 2002 tournament, the Central Americans finished 19th place (among 32 teams).

Unlike neighboring Cuba, Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in the late 1990s. The Jamaican squad placed 22nd in the FIFA championship, ahead of Scotland, Saudi Arabia and Japan. Subsequently, Trinidad & Tobago, a cricket-loving Island, participated at the 2006 World Cup. Meanwhile, Honduras has qualified for the South Africa 2010. Honduras, one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere, made its World Cup debut in the early 1980s.

From 1962 until the late 1980s, sports in Cuba had suffered an abrupt change when the USSR and other Marxist states sent up to 300 coaches to the Island. Also during that period, the Spanish-speaking nation received more money per capita to promote sports than any other nation on Earth, including South Korea, China and Greece. At the same time, several soccer coaches came to Cuba, from Hungarians to Soviets. In the meantime, the Marxist government sent a host of national squads to Eastern Europe, North Korea and the Soviet Union. Havana also hosted many international tournaments. But despite all of this, the Cuban soccer team did not qualify for the FIFA World Cup. But that was only the beginning of the tragedy.

A Nightmare

From the 1990s to the 2000s, only a handful of soccer players did not escape from Cuba. By the early 1990s, Fernando Griñan, one of the Island’s most popular players, sought political asylum in abroad. But Griñan wasn’t the only one. By 1998 Eduardo Sebrango fled Cuba to Canada. Shortly afterwards, Alberto Delgado y Perez and Rey Angel Martinez defected from its national team during the 20o2 Gold Cup in the States. Three years later, Maykel Galindo escaped from the Island. Likewise, between 2007 and 2008, Osvaldo Alonso, Lester More, Pedro Faife and Reinier Alcantara had left Havana. In March 2008, seven players sought political asylum in America: Manuel Miranda, Erlys Garcia, Yenier Bermudez, Yordany Alvarez, Loanny Duarte, Yendri Diaz, and Eder Roldan. As a result, Cuba failed to qualify for the 2010 South Africa.

Ever notice that there are some players whose performance in practice is fantastic, but they are not contributors at game time? There are also players who do not seem motivated at practice, but are extremely effective during the game. Why is this?

I think it has to do with psychology. Some players are very comfortable with the practice environment, because they know the players around them. There is an element of security and familiarity that is not present on game day. Some players also suffer from performance anxiety, so they think too much about the outcome and not enough about the task at hand.

It is also common for players to have mental blocks, so they associate failure with certain scenarios. These players typically stress after a mistake and it takes them very long to recover. Some never do and their performance deteriorates as the game progresses.

Then we have the player that coasts through practice and is your best player on Saturday. This is also a psychological issue. This player loves a challenge and rises to the occasion on game day. He/she is confident and wants to prove to himself/herself as well as to the opponents that they can play. This player is not motivated at training because they have the incorrect interpretation of its purpose. To them it is just practice and they do not see the need to go all out against their teammates.

There are pitfall with both players. The player that works at practice, but can’t translate this to game time has to overcome their personal fears. This takes time and experience. Some coaches do not have the patience and these players are left out. Especially at the higher levels. I know you are thinking how does a player with the ability, not translate it to the game? Well here is a possible reason. This player may have played for a coach when he was very young that stressed results…a screamer. This coach probably took players off every time they made a mistake and never offered a solution.

The game player is really no better off in the long run because they never get to full fitness. The training habits begin to catch up with them as their talent alone will not see them through at the next level. Training habits and discipline are key to success, so unless this player gains an appreciation for the intangibles, then they too will be left out eventually.

How is this type of player created? Here is another possibility. He/she was always physically gifted and the team relied heavily upon them for success when they were younger. He/she never had to push themselves at training because they were way ahead of the rest, so it was acceptable to the coach. This player played the entire game and was the focus of the team. They got the ball to him/her at all times regardless of outcome.

Obviously this player gained tremendous confidence, because of the treatment received from the coaching staff. The sad thing is that when these players become part of team where everyone is treated the same and is expected to work at all times, they sometimes fail. They now have to perform a function clarified at practice (an environment they have never taken seriously) and the game no longer revolves around them.

A well planning healthy eating plan is needed to support the lean, energetic and fit soccer player. Basic nutrition for the active person should include carbohydrates to give the body fuel and lean proteins to help promote speedy muscle recovery and repair. Also, a balanced diet needs whole grains, seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables to provide useful vitamins and minerals, while oily fish, olive oil, and avocado can give a useful intake of healthy fats.

The training load and match days are certain to have an influence on the food and fluid intake. For instance, a player involved in a long training session can benefit from a diet rich in carbohydrates to not only provide the required fuel, but also to help promote recovery, sustain performance, and reduce fatigue. But, on the rest days with lower energy demands, a diet that contains a lot less carbohydrates is more appropriate.

Here are six useful nutrition rules:

Cut back on processed foods

It is beneficial to restrict the intake of processed foods and instead eat a well-balanced and healthy diet that consists of high fiber carbohydrates, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Eat the rainbow

Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables at mealtime to increase the ability to introduce more vitamins and minerals to the diet. The widest range of colors is a best option. Plus, this is a great way to show young soccer players that eating healthy can be fun and colorful.

Healthy fats

The right kinds of fat can be heart-healthy. Any healthy diet can benefit from a varied range of healthy fats, such as flaxseed oil, fish, avocado, seeds, natural nut butters and olive oil. About 20 to 35% of your calorie intake should come from healthy fats.

Breakfast every day

A great way to jump-start the metabolism for the day is by eating a healthy breakfast. A couple of the great breakfast options to fuel the body include muesli which is packed with fruits and whole grain to provide slow-burning energy, while oatmeal is a further option that is rich in carbohydrates.

Stay hydrated

Stay hydrated to keep your body running smoothly. Any signs of dehydration can have a significant impact on your ability to maintain your performance while playing. Ideally, you should drink about 3 liters of water, green tea or other non-caloric beverages every day.

Post-workout recovery

After completing a workout, make sure to eat a post-workout shake or meal that is rich in both protein and carbohydrates.

Major League Soccer has been trying for years to gain traction in the heart of American sports fans, but they’ve re-amped their efforts following a wildly successful World Cup. The South African games had more viewers than any previous Cups. Major League Soccer managers and players are hoping that the soccer fever had more to do with the sport than the vuvuzelas, and that excitement for the game will carry into their current season.

With this new American understanding of the sport and its power players, MLS teams are scurrying to sign some of those names to their rosters. Thierry Henry was one of the first players to accept the trade or loan to MLS. The newest player to come to the land of the free is 26-year-old Nery Castillo. The Mexican will be joining the Chicago Fire.

Fire managers say they’ve been working to acquire the star attacker from Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk for about two years, and are excited to finally have him as a designated player on the team. Shakhtar had previously loaned Castillo to Manchester City (in the Premier League) and to another Ukrainian Team, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.

Castillo was left off of the World Cup team roster, though he has been playing with the Mexican national team since June 2007. The Chicago Fire is hoping that Castillo can help turn the team around. Their MLS record is 4-5-5 and they have yet to win a non-MLS game this year.

Though Castillo’s deal with Shakhtar and the fire is currently a loan, he is hoping to make the move permanent.

While attending United States Soccer Federation (USSF) A license audit I had the pleasure of listening to the U17 National Team coach from Holland. The views of the Dutch indicate clearly that a different soccer culture exists in their country.

The Dutch coach stated that the development of the individual and the team was of the utmost importance. The best players should train together and play against each other, talented players should train between 3 to 6 times weekly and should play 1 or 2 competitive games during the week. The most important thing he said to me was that youth development is a joined responsibility of the country’s governing body of soccer and the clubs.

There is organization and connectivity from top to bottom. The reason for this is that there is a common goal…to produce players that can play for the National Team, in the domestic professional leagues, and professionally throughout the other top leagues in Europe.

Let us look at the USA in the same categories. Players fall in love with the sport after they have started playing it. They do not start playing because they are in love with the sport. The most important thing is winning at many youth clubs, because it is seen as a measure of success. Individual and team development takes a back seat. The existence of so many clubs hinders the possibility of the best players playing together. In addition, our best players train 3 times a week at most.

The biggest problem is that there is no common goal or relationship with USSF and the youth clubs in the country. Let us examine first the goals of most clubs. They say player development, but constantly recruit players.

Why?…because they want to win a State Cup or league title. This attracts better players to the club. What happened to developing your own? Then we deal with the disconnect between the USSF Academy Programs and the Olympic Development Programs. Players have to choose one, so the best players are never all together.

Then we have the training centers established to identify players with the ability to play for the National Team, who may have been missed. Guess what? USSF Academy players are not allowed to attend. The United States is also the only country where the better you are the more you pay. Some players, therefore, do not have the opportunity to play.

As you can see, there is no defined path. Every man for himself. Despite this, we are still very competitive internationally, but I wonder what our potential would be if the soccer structure resembled that of the Dutch, or any other developed soccer country.

Most soccer cleats are laced but you definitely will find a few that does not feature laces and are designed in such a way that they keep the feet in firmly and do not interfere with performance. Lacing is among the most important things you should learn to have an easy time keeping your fit right and also ensuring that the laces do not end up causing any sort of fall risk or injuries. Whether you are getting soccer shoes for your child, youth or you are an advanced soccer player getting a pair, it is important to know the ins and outs of properly tying your laces.

Tips for children

When tying laces on children soccer shoes, the traditional criss-cross lacing pattern is best. The laces should be tight enough to keep the show in place, but not too tight to make the fit uncomfortable.

A traditional bow-knot should finish off the lacing at the top and the ends of the bows tied again to create some sort of granny knot.

It is important to choose laces that are long enough to allow double knotting, but not too long that a lot of bulk is left to flap around or even get caught under the shoe sole once tied. It is best for parents to tie their children’s shoe laces until they are in a position to tie them properly.

Tips for youth players

They should be able to tie the laces by themselves with the criss-cross still being the best pattern. The lace should be threaded underneath both eyelets nearest to shoe toe ensuring that both ends have equal lengths. The underneath threading should be done all the way to the ankle before a bow-tie is tied, followed by a double knot when the show is on.

The laces should remain tightly drawn from bottom to top and a bow knot tied at farthest point outside the feet as the shoes can allow. It helps keep the knot away from the instep to reduce impact on the knot from an instep-drive kick.

Tips for advanced players

Influence on laces is what needs to be focused by the advanced soccer players. The double knot should be away from midline of instep than last eyelet can allow.

The laces should also be tied in such a way that there is no risk of being raked by opponents. The issue can be addressed by using long laces that can go round the foot arch and using a surgeon’s knot to tie them.

Important to note is that some shoes may come with features that can have an effect on lacing. Tongue loops are some of the features and they help in preventing slipping of the tongue to the sides. Some may also come with a tongue flap which is an extended tongue that folds over knots after tying to create smoother instep surface. It is also not uncommon to find shoes with lace sleeves to cover the laces and knots. Choose a design you feel works for you in terms of lacing convenience and ensuring laces do not interfere with your performance.

Soccer shoes are very important because of the role they play in keeping your feet protected, creating traction and offering strong grip to ensure that your performance in the field is improved. Every player wishes to give their best performance in during matches and this is something that can prove hard to do without the right soccer cleats.

Fortunately, there are so many brands and designs from which players can choose what they find most suitable. But to get the best pair there are elements that matter most and size is one of these elements. No matter how beautiful a soccer shoe is or how many features it has to give you the best experience when playing, if it is ill-fitting, and then you stand to be frustrated when you are supposed to give your best. Your cleats should neither be too small nor too big otherwise they will interfere with your performance. It is of importance that you pay close attention to sizing so you get the perfect fit for your feet. If you are still wondering why size matters, here are a few reasons why.

· Soccer cleats that are too big will only hinder proper movement as they are likely to come off and they definitely will lag you behind.

· Too small a size on the other hand will keep your feet too tight and this is not only uncomfortable, but also exposes you to bruises and blisters.

· You are more prone to getting injured when wearing a bigger sized cleat because your feet do not have control since the conformity is all wrong. You may end up twisting your leg and probably even falling down as you run around in the field.

Getting the perfect size

The easiest way of getting the right size when buying soccer cleats is knowing your foot measurements. You also want to take into consideration factors such as wearing socks and how the type of socks you choose will affect the size of the shoe. Some socks are quite thick and they can make your cleat feel tighter and smaller.

Since there are manufacturers out there who make midway sizes like 7.5 or 6.5, you should consider such sizes if you have a hard time finding the right cleat size. The shoe should fit snugly but not too tightly. Think about the upper and what it is made of. The upper should mold to your feet as much as possible; remember that some materials like leather have a tendency of stretching over time.

When looking at the size, pay attention to areas where the ball will contact the show most. The toe box, instep, outer edge and upper edge are the most important to help you get a shoe that is proportioned to your foot shape. This will not only ensure you remain comfortable, but also reduces break-in time and gives you ball control in no time at all. Always try on your shoes if you can before making the purchase.

Kids soccer training is different than training high school or college students. Instead of getting a bunch of motivated sports players, you often start off with quite an unruly bunch. Yet with proper training, you can turn these kids into amazing soccer players. How do you do this? By keeping it fun, by building a great soccer culture and by instilling a sense of value in your players.

Keep it Fun

Remember that for kids, the only motivation for playing is fun. There are no awards or trophies on the line. There are no scholarships on the line. The only reason for playing is to have fun. A lot of coaches mess this up by yelling at their kids. This is a surefire way to destroy self-esteem and teamwork. Doing this will take the fun out of the equation, causing poorly performing players and sometimes even having kids drop off your team. No matter what you do, keep it fun. Believe it or not, you can build an amazing kids soccer team even while everyone is having a lot of fun.

Build a Solid Soccer Culture

When your kids first come to your team, they’ll probably be loud, disruptive and unruly. That’s perfectly fine. It’s important that as your team progresses, you start to instill a sense of soccer culture. You stress the importance of being on time. Your kids learn the importance of treating their fellow teammates with respect. You convey a real sense of what being part of a team is like. Kids will likely have never experienced this before. That’s only natural. As their coach, it’s your job to slowly lead them into a soccer culture they’ll enjoy being a part of. Proceed only as quickly as they’re ready to change.

Instill a Sense of Value

Kids will enjoy soccer a lot more and improve a lot faster when they believe they’re a valued member of the team. You can do this by acknowledging and celebrating specific instances of success, no matter how small. If someone’s passes were good, let them know. If someone made a great shot, let them know. A lot of coaches believe in more of a “tough love” approach to coaching soccer. Although this is certainly a valid method, it’s important that your kids feel valued first, before you start to employ tougher methods of training. If you don’t do that first, your kids will likely feel like they aren’t a valued member of the team. If you can build your team while having fun, while building great soccer culture and while instilling a sense of value in your teammates, then you’re well on your way to building a kids soccer team that will win game after game after game.

One of the first skills youth soccer players learn is how to dribble a soccer ball. The unfortunate thing is, many player never get beyond very basic dribbling. When it comes to changing directions, or making a feint on an opposing player, they are at a loss. Your job as the youth soccer coach is to give them the tools to take their dribbling skills to the next level.

Here are 7 tips you can use to help your players develop this valuable skill.

1. Maintain Your Balance

As you dribble the soccer ball it is important that you maintain your balance. Keep your feet wide enough that you can quickly stop, start, and change direction. When you play off balance it is impossible to do anything except move forward in a straight line without losing possession of the ball.

2. Keep Your Head Up

When players first learn to dribble they have a tendency to watch their own feet. Unfortunately when they have their head down they cannot see anything that is going on in the field. They have no idea where their teammates are, and they don not see approaching defenders.

Make sure that you work with your players to keep their head up when they are dribbling. Watching their feet is a horrible habit to get into, and it will hamper your players development in other areas of the game.

3. Look Where You Are Going

While it is important to look around to see what is happening on the field, you should not lose focus on where you are going with the ball. When a player stops paying attention to where they are going they can quickly get into trouble. When they see what is in front of them they can make better decisions about what to do with the ball.

4. Study Your Opponents

As players begin to develop they will start to be able to spot the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. Players have tendencies to play a certain way, and if you are aware of those tendencies you can use that knowledge to your advantage during the game.

For instance, if you see that a player has trouble defending attackers that move to the left, you can instruct your players to cut the ball to the left when they face that defender. While this may not be useful at lower levels, it can give you a nice advantage in older youth soccer games.

5. Use Both Feet

Players that can dribble with both feet are much more difficult to defend. Using both feet give the ball handler the ability to shield the ball better, and they are able to change directions with the ball much more quickly.

6. Don’t Be Predictable

As players start to learn more moves with the ball, some of them will have a favorite move that they use during the game. While this is understandable, it can lead to trouble if they rely onb a single move too much.

When you become predictable it makes it much easier for a defender to know what you are going to do with the ball. Once they know what you are going to do, it is very easy for them to take the ball from you.

7. Pass the Ball

One of the biggest mistakes a youth soccer player can make when dribbling is to miss the opportunity to pass the ball. They try to dribble through traffic, or they allow themselves to get hemmed in on the sideline or in the corner.

One of the fastest ways to move the soccer ball and to spread the defense is to pass the ball. Don’t allow your players to get so confident in their ball handling abilities that they miss open passes.

As a youth soccer coach you need to find ways to get your players plenty of touches on the ball during your practices. These 7 tips will help you to develop your players into talented ball handlers. That put you one step closer to victory.

Review of the Coerver Coaching System

The Coerver Coaching System has been regarded is the #1 soccer training program, and I thought I’d put it to the test, so after reviewing the free videos available on the Coerver website, I purchased the The Coerver Masterclass Series, which is a 3 part video/DVD.

The three videos are:

• A New Era
• Building Essential Skills
• Fast Break Attack

The videos also came with a number of complementary items, such as the “Play like a legend” video, and access to the online site.

Video 1 – A New Era

The first video is really a summary of the Coerver Coaching techniques and the philosophy behind the Coerver Coaching program. There is some great footage of passages of play from real matches that are inspirational and great to watch. My two boys aged 6 and 12 will happily watch this video.

Video 2 – Building Essential Skills

This video concentrates on individual skill, ball mastery and moves to beat opponents and has content on passing and receiving. There are literally dozens of great video examples of skills and techniques that have great voice over explanations with them.

Disc 2 has

• 11 Ball mastery drills
• 15 Passing and Receiving Drills
• 30+ 1V1 Moves
• 15 Skill Drills

In my coaching experience players that have been through the ball mastery program are far more capable and easier to coach.

It is far easier to progress to more advanced topics with players with a good 1st touch, which is what this video will achieve.

Video 3 – Fast Break Attack

This video concentrates on

• Speed
• Agility
• Finishing on goal and
• Group play.

Speed

I have used the speed and agility exercises with players of all ages. The techniques used are proven techniques that I used during my sprinting career (I was actually quite an accomplished sprinter, running 10.6 for the 100 metres and actually raced against Olympians such as Alan Wells). The use of resistance running and also assisted running will give you a great foundation for improving your players sprinting technique and speed

Agility

The drills for agility are well thought out and after using them, I found them to have a great effect on my players ability to get out of stick situations or compete

Group Play and Finishing

I have used the group play exercises for players of 11+. There are also some great examples of exercises for shooting and finishing that can be used for players of any age

The majority of exercises in this video are designed to be competitive I have found that players tend to relish the competitive nature of the exercises and are really keen and enthusiastic in their participation

Summary

I have seen all 3 videos, time and time again, and it really is the most comprehensive set of drills and instruction that will ensure technically excellent players. This product, and subsequently used content from all 3 videos in my training sessions with players from 6 years old to adults (18+).

• Content from this set can be utilised throughout all phases of your season
• I have used the contents of these videos extensively in the sessions that I have conducted for players of all ages with great success.
• There are dozens of techniques shown on how to beat an opponent
• There are numerous drills on passing and receiving and dribbling. They are all good drills that keep players moving, challenged and interested.
• The videos have drills for 1v1, 2v2 and small sided games, making it a well rounded set.
• All in all the content is fantastic and when combined with small sided games gives great results

The nature of the Ball Mastery program is to develop individual skill, meaning that parents can help their children progress their skills and techniques in the back yard.

I believe that the Coerver Coaching packages offered are must for any coach, parent or player that wants to get the most out of their soccer.