Spring Training Week 5

Summary

• Brush your teeth (Leg lifts/squats)
• Stretch the Hip Flexor for 2 minutes (See Week 1)
• Do your push-ups and planks (9+9+9+9)
• Shower on your toes
• Juggling and Touches

WATCH MORE SOCCER. If you watched the Sounders, you saw over 60% possession by the home side and some much improved 1-touch passing that created some great scoring opportunities. Also, I would love for you to watch how many twist off moves Ozzie Alonso does in a game. The other thing you can count is the number of right back passes.

Lastly, watch how the midfielders and forwards are ON THE LINE (not near it, but ON IT). I'm telling you guys how the professionals play. If you can do it now while you are young, you will have great habits for your future.

You can also watch any EPL game and see defensive shape like none other in the US. I would love to hear what you see. Tell me what you heard us coach and what you see coming out on the field.

TOUCHES

Juggling 

• Increase your count or your duration on juggling.

Touches
I came across this last week and used it at practice. If you run each of these moves for just 30 seconds, your dribbling WILL IMPROVE almost instantly. If you are a midfielder or forward, you should be doing these when you get to practice and at every dead ball moment during practice. I also recommend this as a pregame warm-up for you. If you remind your feet and legs the feel for the ball, you will have more success on the field.

• Pull-back, laces
• Pull-back, laces, Pull-back, in-step
• Toe, Heel, Toe Roll, push 
• Inside-Outside Roll, push
• Toe-tap, V-Back
• Tick-Tock, 180
• Pull Backs
• Inside Outside Right
• Inside Outside Left
• Tick-Tock, Scissors
• Roll-over, outside cut 
• Roll-over, Tick-tock

That's 12 touches, 30 seconds each. You can do these in your bedroom! 6 minutes plus transition time.

Spring Training Week 4

Summary

• Brush your teeth (Leg lifts/squats)
• Stretch the Hip Flexor for 2 minutes (See Week 1)
• Do your push-ups and planks (8+8+8+8)
• Shower on your toes
• Juggling and Turns

There is nothing new this week. Although, I would desire that you WATCH SOME SOCCER. The MLS season has started and there are some great things to see out there that aren't the goals. If you like to follow the Sounders, you can watch Osvaldo Alonso perform a little toe twist off multiple times per game. If you want to see combination passing, watch the highlights of both Vancouver and Seattle.

You can also watch any EPL game and see defensive shape like none other in the US. I would love to hear what you see. Tell me what you heard us coach and what you see coming out on the field.

Juggling 

• Increase your count or your duration on juggling.

Turns

•  Increase the time. Do it for two minutes straight. Maybe Three minutes
•  Tripple your turns on each cone. Especially the Cruyff. You fake, fake again, fake again. If you pull this off, the defender will hate you.
•  Set up three cones and change the move on each cone
• Add your favorite turns

Cheers.

Spring Training Week 3

Summary

• Brush your teeth
• Stretch the Hip Flexor for 2 minutes (See Week 1)
• Do your push-ups and planks (7+7+7+7)
• Shower on your toes 
• Juggling and Turns

Apologies. I was out of town Sunday & Monday. Didn't get caught up yesterday - so....

This week, I'm only adding turns. Still do your juggling - improve by count or time. Attempt to improve your juggling at least 10 minutes a day.

Turns

I'm going to go over four turns. Your job is to do them for one minute. That means I'm only adding 4-5 minutes to your routine. You can do it!

So - for each of these turns, throw a couple t-shirts down so you can get 2-3 touches between them. Maybe that's about 5 yards. You can do this in your room, in the yard, in the front entry way, wherever. Next, do each of the four turns below for one minute straight. On one side, use your left foot, on the other side, use your right foot.

Pull back - This is when you stop the ball with the sole of your foot and pull it in the opposite direction from which you were going. The important thing is that the ball is always visible to you. I like to say the eyes of your chest can see the ball (because your real eyes should be looking for the goal or a pass!).
Outside (little toe) - Literally, use your little toe to cut the ball away from its current path and back the way you came from. Ideally, you burst away from this move getting not only an awesome change of direction, but also a change of speed.
Cruyff - This one you are faking a cross or a shot. Get your arms big. Sell this fake. Watch the defender go the wrong way. Imagine it. Do it.
Blocking - Use this one to buy time. It puts your whole body between you and the defender. It is a stepover and a pivot combined into one.

For a greater challenge:

•  Increase the time. Do it for two minutes straight. Maybe Three minutes
•  Tripple your turns on each cone. Especially the Cruyff. You fake, fake again, fake again. If you pull this off, the defender will hate you.
•  Set up three cones and change the move on each cone
• Add your favorite turns

Cheers.