I just had a revelation. If you have read my first post ever, on passion, you might remember that i said I got a shiver of excitement down my spine sometimes, just thinking about playing soccer. Well for several months now, my life has been hectic and filled with [...]]]>

I just had a revelation. If you have read my first post ever, on passion, you might remember that i said I got a shiver of excitement down my spine sometimes, just thinking about playing soccer. Well for several months now, my life has been hectic and filled with other things that sapped my energy and passion for soccer. I have not felt that shiver in a long time. Well in the last 30 minutes, I rediscovered my love and passion for the beautiful game. And its a beautiful thing. I’m not quite certain what brought it on, but I thank God for it. I have missed this feeling for too long now, and finding it again is something wonderful.

I can’t wait to play.

The scissors, also known as stepover or double stepover, is the single most effective trick for any forward or wide midfield player. It is best used when dribbling and confronted head on with an opponent.

Start off by dribbling the ball with the outside of your foot. Always make [...]]]>

The scissors, also known as stepover or double stepover, is the single most effective trick for any forward or wide midfield player. It is best used when dribbling and confronted head on with an opponent.

Start off by dribbling the ball with the outside of your foot. Always make sure to start your scissors far enough away from your opponent, between 5 and 10 feet. Starting too far away is always better than starting to close, at worst you are too far off and the opposition has plenty of time to recover from the move, you still have the ball, and can turn away from danger. But if you start too late you will run into him, and lose the ball. When you are the right distance away, quickly bring your foot around the inside of the ball and back to the outside. Your opponent will either be thrown off by the fake or frozen by the movement. Now use the outside of your other foot to take the ball away in the opposite direction of your fake.

Key Points:

1. Start your move far enough away from your opponent

2. Dribble with your forefoot

3. Start your foot from the outside, moving to the inside and then back to the outside

4. Always take the ball away with the outside of the other foot

5. Always go in the opposite direction of your fake

When doing the double scissors, simply do #3 with both feet before taking the ball away with your first foot in the opposite direction of your last fake.

Here is my accompanying video tutorial, with some fun tricks thrown in as well.

The Ronaldo chop is one of the most useful moves for avoiding a defender at high speeds. Usually it is used when you’re dribbling the ball at speed, and you are confronted with a defender directly in front of you. Here’s how it works.

These are for chopping the [...]]]>

The Ronaldo chop is one of the most useful moves for avoiding a defender at high speeds. Usually it is used when you’re dribbling the ball at speed, and you are confronted with a defender directly in front of you. Here’s how it works.

These are for chopping the ball with your right foot, for the left just reverse.

1. With your left foot step slightly ahead of the ball on the left side.

2. With inside of your right foot, knock the ball behind your left leg while simultaneously moving your left foot forward to allow space for the ball. Its a kind of hopping motion, with your left leg moving forward and your right foot knocking the ball sideways almost at the same time.

3. Try to knock the ball at a 90 degree angle, because that gives you the most space between yourself and the defender.

Here is a great video tutorial thanks to UEFA Training Ground.

Here are some of my other soccer-related posts. Have fun!

My Hobby, well, the one that I’m focusing on at the moment is Cars. The hit British TV show Top Gear is to blame for this. But how could I help myself? Hilarious guys with awesome accents doing crazy things with amazing cars. Seriously, how could I resist? Anyway, here [...]]]>

My Hobby, well, the one that I’m focusing on at the moment is Cars. The hit British TV show Top Gear is to blame for this. But how could I help myself? Hilarious guys with awesome accents doing crazy things with amazing cars. Seriously, how could I resist? Anyway, here is my personal list of dream cars, and all around cool cars, and the best cars overall (in other words, whatever picture I happen to run across that makes me think “THAT. Is awesome” while also sending a shiver down my spine when I look at the horsepower, top speed, 0-60 time, and price)…(more)

Hey Guys!

I was hanging out with the awesome Patrick Macintosh at the FC Sporting Showcase tournament yesterday. Its the first of what I hope will be an annual soccer showcase where video of top players is sent to Germany, and hopefully some of the players [...]]]>

Hey Guys!

I was hanging out with the awesome Patrick Macintosh at the FC Sporting Showcase tournament yesterday. Its the first of what I hope will be an annual soccer showcase where video of top players is sent to Germany, and hopefully some of the players at the tournament will have the opportunity to play professionally in Europe. Some of theme may be represented by Patrick, who is a sports agent; for more info on that, go here. I saw some fantastic soccer. There were some high caliber teams there, and several of them played some really well.

And then there was Sagebrush FC.

Yeah.

These guys are based out of Reno Nevada, and let me tell you, they are capable of a whole other level. Don’t get me wrong, the other teams were good, and at some times were great. Sagebrush was just better. At everything. Yeah, EVERYTHING.

The biggest eye-opener for me was the INTENSITY that they played with, every player was 100 percent concentrated on the present instant that they were involved in. I saw them score 3 goals in 4 minutes against one of the top teams in Northern California. They don’t play at that level every single moment, but they are capable of a complete intensity and concentration on the game that is amazing. Add that to a level of technical skill that is fantastic and you have something remarkable.

Time for me to raise my game.

I must. I will.

Picking the right Football, or Soccer boots for you is vital to your success on the pitch. Picking a boot that suits your position, style of play, and the shape of your foot can be the difference between scoring the goal, blocking the shot, getting to the ball first, and, well…Not. Between [...]]]>

Picking the right Football, or Soccer boots for you is vital to your success on the pitch. Picking a boot that suits your position, style of play, and the shape of your foot can be the difference between scoring the goal, blocking the shot, getting to the ball first, and, well…Not. Between starting the match and sitting on the bench.

Most boots have a general type of player they are aimed at, hopefully this guide can help you with this important decision.

Speed Boots.

Usually worn by: Wingers or fast forwards.

Star Players: Lionel Messi (Adidas f-50 Adizero Prime), Cristiano Ronaldo (Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly III Elite), Pedro (Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly III Elite).

Recommended for quick, fast responsive players who’s game relies on quickness with and without the ball.

Power Boots.

Usually worn by: Strikers, hard tackling central Midfielders, or Defenders.Occasionally worn by finesse players or wingers like Xavi, Nani or Angel Di Maria respectively.

Star Players: Wayne Rooney (Nike T-90 Laser Elite), Fernando Torres (Nike T-90 Laser Elite), Nemanja Vidic (Puma PowerCat), Rio Ferdinand (Nike T-90 Laser Elite), Steven Gerrard (Adidas Predator Adipower)

Recommended for a player that likes a bit more protection and some elements focused on helping improve power and accuracy on shots and long passes.

Control and Touch Boots.

Usually worn by: Central midfielders. Occasionally worn by wingers like Landon Donovan or Florent Malouda.

Star Players: Cesc Fabregas (Nike CTR-360 Maestri Elite), Ronaldino (Nike Tiempo Legend Elite), Andreas Iniesta (Nike CTR-360 Maestri Elite), Frank Lampard (Adidas Adipure IV SL).

Recommended for pass masters and touch and control specialists. Anyone who’s game relies on receiving and passing the ball should take a close look at these boots.

Is this not awesome? And I have to add, this is the BEST kind of advertising there is. Score for the Tempest Freerunning Academy.

The scissors, also known as stepover or double stepover, is the single most effective trick for any forward or wide midfield player. It is best used when dribbling and confronted head on with an opponent.

Start off by dribbling the ball with the outside of your foot. Always make [...]]]>

The scissors, also known as stepover or double stepover, is the single most effective trick for any forward or wide midfield player. It is best used when dribbling and confronted head on with an opponent.

Start off by dribbling the ball with the outside of your foot. Always make sure to start your scissors far enough away from your opponent, between 5 and 10 feet. Starting too far away is always better than starting to close, at worst you are too far off and the opposition has plenty of time to recover from the move, you still have the ball, and can turn away from danger. But if you start too late you will run into him, and lose the ball. When you are the right distance away, quickly bring your foot around the inside of the ball and back to the outside. Your opponent will either be thrown off by the fake or frozen by the movement. Now use the outside of your other foot to take the ball away in the opposite direction of your fake.

Key Points:

1. Start your move far enough away from your opponent

2. Dribble with your forefoot

3. Start your foot from the outside, moving to the inside and then back to the outside

4. Always take the ball away with the outside of the other foot

5. Always go in the opposite direction of your fake

When doing the double scissors, simply do #3 with both feet before taking the ball away with your first foot in the opposite direction of your last fake.

Here is my accompanying video tutorial, with some fun tricks thrown in as well.

Let me explain, but first let me say that I’m NOT talking about situations where there was a previous agreement about the way it something should be done or anything like that. That’s different.

Now that thats out of the way, let me continue.

Saying “right” adds tension to [...]]]>

Let me explain, but first let me say that I’m NOT talking about situations where there was a previous agreement about the way it something should be done or anything like that. That’s different.

Now that thats out of the way, let me continue.

Saying “right” adds tension to a question. Look at this example.

Suppose a family member asks you a question about, say, doing the dishes, to take something small. They could say something like, “Did you happen to run the dishwasher this morning when you got up?”

Suppose you like running the dishwasher at night instead, so you didn’t. (This is assuming that there were no agreements made to run the dishwasher in the morning of course.) That kind of a question doesn’t create any tension, you simply say that you were planning on running it that night. But, suppose they had worded it like this:

“You ran the dishwasher when you woke up, right?”

Stop right there.

Can you feel the difference? One simply asks a question, and the other asks a question that expects a certain answer.

They expect that you did it their way.

Simply by wording it differently, a whole lot of tension was added.

Although it sounds bad to say it, the difference is arrogance. Expecting things to be done your way is arrogance, because it assumes that your way is the best way, and that everyone would naturally agree.

At least thats the way I see it.

Do you disagree?

I have discovered that sense, is rare. Logic also seems to be dangerously close to extinction. Seriously, how many times do you see or hear about someone doing something so stupid you hadn’t even considered it as a possibility.

Why is this?

What has happened to people to make [...]]]>

I have discovered that sense, is rare. Logic also seems to be dangerously close to extinction. Seriously, how many times do you see or hear about someone doing something so stupid you hadn’t even considered it as a possibility.

Why is this?

What has happened to people to make them go against the grain of rationality like this?

I don’t know. I would assume it has something to do with parents increasing lack of involvement in their kids lives, they’re not grounded the same way they used to be.

What do you think?