Studying the Soccer Game

November, 2007 - If you’re struggling to become a better soccer player, the help you need could come from an unlikely place: from study and observation. Now, before you start scoffing about how you’ll learn more by doing than by studying, think about it. If you never watch a game on TV, you’ll never see all those drills and soccer techniques you do put into practice. If you never ask a question about certain techniques, you may be learning it the wrong way and you’d have no idea.

If you enjoy doing something, you don’t just do it. You read about it, talk about it, and drive your friends and family crazy with it, all in an effort to get better. Become a better soccer player sooner by becoming a dedicated student of the game. Here’s how to do it.

1) Watch games on television.
One of the best ways to learn something is to watch a professional doing it. Watch the games, but don’t just watch them as a spectator. Watch their soccer techniques critically. Observe the attacking and defending strategies the players use. Look at how the team works together, and at what happens when they’re less than a well-oiled unit.
Watch the great players. They all have something to give you, whether it’s a lesson in how to be a better teammate or how to use those shots you’ve been practicing in a game situation. Take what they are offering and make it your own.

2) Hit the books.
While reading about soccer probably doesn’t sound all that fascinating, that doesn’t mean you should discount it. A quick search of Amazon.com with the keywords “soccer techniques” reveals more than 400 non-fiction books about soccer that include information on skills, techniques, fundamentals, tips, strategies, tactics, you name it.Do a little research to find out which soccer books would be best for you, and actually read them. There’s a good chance you’ll learn something you didn’t know, and you can start putting it into practice.

3) Discuss it.
It’s not hard to discuss our passions, but you’ve got to find the right people to discuss them with. If you’re having trouble with a certain soccer technique or want to talk about an offensive strategy that you read about, talk to your coaches or fellow players. Talking to somebody who doesn’t love soccer as much as you do means they won’t take any issues as seriously as you, which can make for a lame discussion.

Also, go to the Internet to find like-minded people. The World Wide Web allows niche groups of all sorts to meet and discuss on blogs and forums, and it shouldn’t be too hard to find a community of people that are just as passionate about soccer as you are.

Talk with them about systems of play, soccer tips and techniques, and offensive and defensive strategies as well. You’ll get a broader perspective about what works in which situations, and they may bring up ideas and tactics that you hadn’t previously considered.

4) Apply it.
As you well know, all the study and observation in the world won’t help you become a better player if you don’t actually get out to practice and apply what you’ve learned. Practice techniques daily with the soccer ball in order to develop ball familiarity: where your body gets so used to the ball that it naturally adjusts to the ball being there. This includes juggling for 30 minutes a day, and kicking the ball 500 times a day – 250 times with each foot.

Practice makes perfect, and it will also give you the opportunity to apply the ideas you’ve been learning in a real setting. All the studying in the world won’t help you become a better player if you never set foot on the field.

Studying, observation, discussion and actual practice are all important elements of becoming a better soccer player. By learning more about the game by studying it, watching it and talking to others, you’ll discover new ways of practicing that you may not have considered before. And when you combine those elements, you’ll become a better, more well-rounded player.

Joey Bilotta is the vice president of EduKick, Inc., which offers cultural soccer exchange programs in countries around the world.

Register now for their 2008 half-year soccer boarding schools by visiting http://www.edukick.com/ or calling 1-905-469-5661 or Toll-Free at (1-866-Edu-Kick)!

Edukick Opens Enrollment for Unique Israeli Soccer Camp

“We are very excited to announce the opening of EduKick Hebrew Language Immersion Summer Soccer Camp in Israel,” said Corey Zimmerman. “As President of EduKick Inc. and a Jewish-American, I am very proud to offer other Jewish families this unique opportunity in Israel.”

A once in a lifetime experience for youth

Edukick continues it’s tradition of combining international soccer training with once in a lifetime cultural experiences in this new Israeli summer soccer camp. It is the world’s only summer camp program combining intense Hebrew language instruction with high-level soccer training, complete with caring supervision and trusted security.

EduKick Hebrew Language Immersion Summer Soccer Camp in Israel is for boys and girls 12 – 17 years old. Tuition includes transportation while in Israel, room and board, daily soccer and language tutoring, regular cultural excursions, social activities and much more.

Edukick puts safety first

Parents can rest assured that Edukick takes the safety of its students abroad very seriously. The Hebrew Language Immersion Summer Soccer Camp is conducted in the heart of Israel, just forty minutes from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Students will play and learn at [Kannot Youth Village] [http://www.kannot.org.il/], an agricultural community for young people. This secure, gated community provides the perfect educational environment for youth. Professional security is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All outings are supervised as well.

The full-immersion Hebrew language experience

There is no better way to become fluently bilingual than through full-immersion language instruction. Edukick has teamed up with Israel Experts, the leading provider of educational tours in Israel to provide professional bilingual instructors and coaches for its Israeli Soccer Camp. Students will be surrounded by the Hebrew language and culture, constantly hearing and speaking the language.

World renowned soccer training

Players at Edukick’s international soccer camps receive the best youth soccer training available worldwide. Edukick’s Israeli Summer Soccer camp is no exception, offering at least two hours of professional soccer training each day. Edukick players will also compete with Israeli youth teams, gaining experience on the international field and embracing new friendships.

Edukick youth in Israel will be coached by former professional Israeli soccer player and longtime youth coach, Mr. Paritzky Isaac. Coach Paritzky has fifteen years of experience training young soccer players and has served as an instructor in Kannot Youth Village for twenty-five years.

Enrich your son or daughter’s summer vacation with culture, independence, and physical fitness. [Register today] [http://www.edukick.com/soccercamps.asp?cat=91] for EduKick’s, Hebrew Language Immersion Summer Soccer Camp in Israel.

EduKick Pod Cast Interview - International Soccer Camps & Soccer Boarding Schools

Listen to EduKick V.P. & Owner, Joey Bilotta, describe EduKick Soccer programs on a recent POD CAST Interview...
http://www.xeal.com/blog/index.php/2007/03/21/soccer_summer_camps

Contact EduKick today to register for 2007 programs at 1-866-338-5425!

Soccer Schools Help Players Sharpen Skills while Traveling Abroad

Young soccer players around the world can sharpen their soccer skills and get a stamp on their passports while doing it. EduKick offers soccer players the chance of a lifetime to attend a full-year or half-year academic soccer school in destinations worldwide. Players can learn about foreign cultures, train with professional soccer coaches, and even learn a new language.

Students who attend any of the EduKick soccer boarding school programs get the chance to gain a broader outlook while living overseas. Not only do players become more skilled in their soccer game, they live the daily experience of another culture, from speaking a new language to the foods they eat. Students learn to be a part of a team outside of their families.

In a recent press release, Richard Hough, whose son is in the EduKick program in the U.K., said: “We are very impressed with EduKick’s soccer school program. Our son is currently enrolled in an EduKick year-long football course and it’s everything EduKick promised and much more! My son is receiving quality professional soccer training daily and the Football Studies course at the college is just perfect for him.”

The EduKick boarding schools are located in fantastic countries such as Italy, Brazil, England, France, and Spain. Each country offers a very unique experience to the players and the players learn the style of soccer specific to that country. EduKick offers phenomenal foreign coaching through its affiliated professional coaches and clubs; including the Blackburn Rovers Football Club in England, the family of Luis Aragones (coach of Spanish national Team) in Spain, and Ascoli Calcio of the Italian Serie A in Italy.

The EduKick soccer schools are designed for competitive soccer players, both male and female, who aspire towards playing collegiate and/or professional levels of soccer. The boarding schools are for both high school and university level students between the ages of 10 and 24.

Enrollment is now open for EduKick’s soccer schools program. Visit www.EduKick.com or call 866-338-5425 to get started on an exciting international soccer career.